10 Lessons From Zen Master Bodhidharma

10 LESSONS FROM THE FATHER                OF ZEN GREAT
              BODHIDHARMA

The Dharma Master (c. 440 AD - 528 AD) was a South Indian of the Western
Region. He was the
third son of a great Indian king of the Pallava dynasty. His ambition lay in the
Mahayana path,
and so he put aside his white layman's robe for the black robe of a monk. He
subsequently
crossed distant mountains and seas, traveling about propagating the teaching
in China.

Bodhidharma was said to be originally named Bodhitara.

His surname was Chadili. His Indian Dhyana teacher,

Prajnatara , is said to have renamed him to

Bodhidharma.

“Bodhidharma’s name appears sometimes truncated as Bodhi,

or more often as Dharma (Ta-mo).”

Here are 10 Life Lesson from him :

Lesson 1 : Be utterly present

Be present with the things that are already present. Your body, your breath, the

tingling in your hands, the sense of sound, the sense of sight when you

simply experience and not divide or label, a plant, a flower, the sky…these are

utterly present. Awareness does not need the seer or the seen; it is just pure

seeing. If you don’t get this, start with Observing Thought.

58 Methods in Jainism to Maintain Dravya Samgraha by Nemichandra Siddhantidev

Dravya Samgraha by Nemichandra Siddhantidev

1. I always salute with my head that eminent one among the great Jinas,

who is worshipped by the host of Indras and who has described the

Dravyas (substances) Jiva and Ajiva.

2. Jiva is characterized by upayoga, is formless and an agent has the same

extent at its own body, is the enjoyer (of the fruits of Karma), exists in samsara, is 

Siddha and has a characteristic upward motion.

3. According to Vyavahara Naya, that is called Jiva, which is possessed of

four Pranas, viz., Indriya (the senses), Bal (force), Ayu (life) and 

Anaprana

(respiration) into the three periods of time (viz., the present, the

past and the future), and according to Nischaya Naya, that which has consciousness is called Jiva.

The Five K's of Sikhism

Sri Guru Nanak

1. Kesh (hair):

The keeping of uncut hair is given a great deal of

importance in Sikhism. But what is so special about

hair?

Historical significance: 

Well the history of hair

goes back to the Bible. The Bible talks of a man

called Sampson who obtained supernatural powers

through his long hair. His hair was later cut and

consequently, he lost his powers.

It is also a fact that most of the world’s prophets

and saints including Jesus, the Sikh Gurus and

Hindu prophets kept uncut hair.