The Way is basically perfect. It doesn’t require perfecting. The Way has no form or sound. It’s subtle and hard to perceive. It’s like when you drink water: you know how hot or cold it is, but you can’t tell others.
BODHIDHARMATo have a body is to suffer. Does anyone with a body know peace? Those who understand this detach themselves from all that exists and stop imagining or seeking anything. The sutras say, “To seek is to suffer. To seek nothing is bliss.” When you seek nothing, you’re on the Path.
More Bodhidharma Quotes
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The ultimate Truth is beyond words. Doctrines are words. They’re not the Way.
BODHIDHARMA -
Reality has no inside, outside, or middle part.
BODHIDHARMA -
This one life has no form and is empty by nature. If you become attached by any form, you should reject it. If you see an ego, a soul, a birth, or a death, reject them all.
BODHIDHARMA -
Regardless of what we do, our karma has no hold on us.
BODHIDHARMA -
The mind’s capacity is limitless, and its manifestations are inexhaustible. Seeing forms with your eyes, hearing sounds with your ears, smelling odors with your nose, tasting flavors with your tongue, every movement or state is all your mind.
BODHIDHARMA -
The Way is basically perfect. It doesn’t require perfecting.
BODHIDHARMA -
To have a body is to suffer. Does anyone with a body know peace? Those who understand this detach themselves from all that exists and stop imagining or seeking anything. The sutras say, “To seek is to suffer. To seek nothing is bliss.” When you seek nothing, you’re on the Path.
BODHIDHARMA -
To give up yourself without regret is the greatest charity.
BODHIDHARMA -
If we should be blessed by some great reward, such as fame or fortune, it’s the fruit of a seed planted by us in the past.
BODHIDHARMA -
People of this world are deluded. They’re always longing for something – always, in a word, seeking.
BODHIDHARMA -
An Awakened person is someone who finds freedom in good fortune and bad.
BODHIDHARMA -
Not suffering another existence is reaching the Way.
BODHIDHARMA -
One clings to life although there is nothing to be called life; another clings to death although there is nothing to be called death. In reality, there is nothing to be born; consequently, there is nothing to perish.
BODHIDHARMA -
To find a Buddha all you have to do is see your nature.
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The awareness of mortals falls short. As long as they’re attached to appearances, they’re unaware that their minds are empty. And by mistakenly clinging to the appearance of things they lose the Way.
BODHIDHARMA