● Buddhist · Person
Bodhidharma
बोधिधर्म
The fierce monk who stared at a wall for nine years and founded Chan Buddhism
Bodhidharma (c. 5th–6th century CE) was an Indian Buddhist monk who travelled to China and became the founding patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Famous for meditating facing a wall for nine years at Shaolin Monastery. When asked by Emperor Wu how much merit his patronage of Buddhism had earned him, Bodhidharma answered: 'None whatsoever.' His Zen is known for direct, uncompromising pointing to the nature of mind, bypassing doctrine and ritual entirely.
DarumaFirst Chan PatriarchDa Mo
See it as a constellationTap connections to travel, one hop at a timePlaces
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A 60-second practice
Face a blank wall. Sit. What is the mind that is aware of the wall? Don't answer in words — just look.
Best at any time of profound stillness.
Keep this offering free
MyBrahman is free and ad-free for everyone. If it has given you something, dāna keeps the lamp lit.
Educational purposes only. Compiled from general reference sources and not reviewed by any religious authority. No disrespect is intended to any deity, tradition, scripture or community. For authoritative guidance, consult qualified scholars and primary texts.