Bodhidharma: The Monk Who Carried Wisdom Across Continents

Some of the greatest lessons in history didn’t stay in classrooms but walked across mountains. Mentioned in “The Record of the Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang,” Bodhidharma did not travel but spread the message of peace and ahimsa across the globe, mostly in China. His journey wasn’t just physical; it carried ideas that changed cultures.  

The origin of the monk’s story remains a mystery to date. Contemporaries of Bodhidharma wrote two known extant accounts. According to these sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, and is described as either a "Persian Central Asian" or a "South Indian, the third son of a great Indian king." Later sources draw on these two sources, adding additional details, including a change to being descended from a Brahmin king, which accords with the reign of the Pallavas, who "claimed to belong to a brahmin lineage." Bodhidharma was the one who traveled the sea/land route to China, intending to spread Mahayana Buddhism across the country. 

His contributions to the development of present-day Buddhism in China are unparalleled. He introduced Zen(Chan) Buddhism and popularized its concept across the land in the 5th or 6th century. Zen, in Bodhidharma's view, is not about intellectual study or reliance on scriptures, but about direct experience and seeing one's nature. His teachings included meditative practices rooted in discipline. He was connected with the Shaolin Temple, legendary for Chan psychology and martial arts. 

The account of Bodhidharma in the Luoyan Record does not particularly associate him with meditation, but rather depicts him as a thaumaturge. Thaumaturge, especially in Christianity, is the art of performing prodigies or miracles. More generically, it refers to the practical application of magic to effect change in the physical world. Historically, thaumaturgy has been associated with a supernatural or divine ability, the manipulation of natural forces, the creation of wonders, and the performance of magical feats through esoteric knowledge and ritual practice.

Just like the quote that says- “Wisdom knows no national boundary”, his journey shows how one person’s knowledge can reshape an entire civilization. 

What students can learn from his journey is that learning itself is not limited to geography. Ideas become richer when they travel and evolve across cultures. One should always be open to knowledge from unexpected places. 

A student needs to be Bodhidharma because their minds are curious, mobile, and open to cross-cultural learning. This would not only help sharpen the minds but also gain confidence. It is very important for one to be Bodhidharma in this time because “After all, the greatest minds never stayed in one place for too long.”

By Jishnu Mukherjee