Tag Archives: Bodhidharma

The Hierophant-Bodhidharma

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Vajragoni

Historically the Hierophant stands for wisdom and the ongoing strength and teaching of a living spiritual tradition. In our study it relates to mystical-spiritual respiration: There are two kinds of respiration: horizontal respiration which takes place between “outside” and “inside”, … Continue reading →

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Birthing the Bodhichild

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Vajragoni

Within you is the Buddha-seed or gotra, which we refer here to as the Bodhichild. But this child cannot be birthed in a forced or worse yet, in an artificial manner. Its potentiality is already there, it just needs a … Continue reading →

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The untrapped Mind

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Tozen

The untrapped Mind is the Mind of Nirvana. Where defiled minds dwell in countless positions of their own making, the untrapped Mind remains free in the shining reality of its own uncreatedness. Any mind given to the most minute desire for resistance against … Continue reading →

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Open your mouth

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Tozen

Open your mouth, utter a single syllable, type a single word and you merely are spreading the illusion of your own perception of what you believe, at any given moment, to be the equal or part of an absolute reality. … Continue reading →

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Bodhidharma Dhyana

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Vajragoni

Some might suspect from reading this series that Tsung-mi was someone who only emphasized the scholastic-side of Ch’an Buddhism. They would be wrong. Tsung-mi’s spirituality was a healthily balanced one—one that took Sūtra Study very seriously, yet at the same … Continue reading →

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Eunuch Power and the Two Entrances

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Vajragoni

The Sweet-Dew Incident It may sound hard to hear for modern ears that the great Tsung-mi’s downfall was at the hands of Eunuchs. However, these were no namby-pamby fellows that appear in some Mel Brook’s comedy, but rather fierce-warriors that … Continue reading →

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(5) The Black Dragon

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Vajragoni

When the birdcage is open and the illusion of the false bird dies the virtuous one recollects the unborn essence. Transcending the sensory addicted mind, finding the gateless gate to its original source of perfection. This is a black dragon’s … Continue reading →

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Emperor WU´s Memorial Stele of Bodhidharma

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Tozen

On the north side and lower flank of the Bear Ear Mountain in Luoyang there is an old stupa. This is Bodhidharma´s burial stupa. [1] Some 100 meters away from the stupa is a Temple known as Kong Xiang (literally … Continue reading →

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Tozen: The Spirit of Zen Buddhism

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Tozen

  The Zen Master wanders the temple yard, while slowly waving a paper fan against his face under the hot summer sun. A monk approaches fast]. “Yes, Master?” “It is a hot day, and all beings suffer the sun of … Continue reading →

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Seven-Heads Villainous Low

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Vajragoni

  The monk Huike had come a long way, hoping to learn from Bodhidharma. But Bodhidharma sat facing a wall at the Shaolin Monastery all day, ignoring him. It was getting dark and beginning to snow. Huike thought to himself, … Continue reading →

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