Legacy of Bodhidharma: 10 Questions for Grandmaster

[Joan]

Dear Markus and Family,

I have just sat down with a cup of coffee and gone through the whole thread.

WOW absolutely incredible Thank you Sifu for those wonderful answers and to everybody who posted great questions.

I have just been checking out flights from Ireland to Oslo and fingers crossed I will make it.

The Legacy of Bodhidharma should be honoured by our presence.

Markus, what a wonderful opportunity Sifu and you have given to everybody! Thank you!

Smile from the Heart,
Joan

[Markus Kahila]

Dear family & visitors,


The "10 questions" Bodhidharma series has ended, but as is typical in our school, there is a bonus.

Below is a clear answer to a clear question that's a good cap for the Q&A part of this thread.


Enjoy!

Question 11:

If you had to summarise the Great Bodhidharma's teachings in a single sentence, what would that sentence be?

- Sifu Andrew Bartnett

Answer to Question 11:


"
Bodhidharma’s teaching, when practiced correctly, will give you good health, vitality, longevity, mental freshness, combat efficiency and spiritual joys.
"

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

Apply for the Winter Camp "Legacy of Bodhidharma" -course here

Best wishes,

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Spencermk,


Unfortunately, submitting questions for Grandmaster's Q&A on this thread has closed, so there are no more answers forthcoming. I'd recommend sending your question to Sifu on his website www.shaolin.org.

Or better yet, attend Winter Camp and receive the answers in person!


Best wishes,

[spencermk]

~*~

Sifu, When Buddhism and Kung Fu Mingled it was the same in essense as the traveling yogis of India and Himalaya. And living conditions linked the student and teacher to a very close connection so that direct transmission and teaching was guiding the student every step of the way. Today Modern society and life style makes a different challenge for living in such persistent practice. Shaolin temple seems to have changed for tourist interestes, though Wudange Mt appears to also maintian their roots (but I dont really know anything about shaolin or wudang, I just look this up on internet and make my own assumptions... During the cultural revolution many masters fled to Asia and indonesia. Are there still teachers and places, for students to go to in order to find this kind of close training?

Amitofu!
Thank YOU

[DarkCosmoz]

Why is Bodhidharma almost always depicted as a wild-eyed, crazy looking character?

Because Bodhidharma supposedly fell asleep while meditating one time. He got annoyed and cut off his eyelids.

[Markus Kahila]

Answer to Question 10

Dear all,


This is the final installment of Grandmaster Wong's "Legacy of Bodhidharma" questions and answers.


If you have more questions, there is actually a vastly better way of receiving answers than asking the master - you can receive the answers in training through direct experience!

There is still room at the 2012 Winter Camp "Legacy" course. It bears reminding that this is a one-off special course not to be missed.

Grandmaster Wong in lotus sitting Zen meditation

Question 10:

Sifu, can I start practicing Zen effectively after attending the Legacy of Bodhidharma courses?

- Markus Kahila

Answer to Question 10:


"
Yes, those attending the Legacy of Bodhidharma courses can start practicing Zen effectively after the courses. They will derive wonderful benefits form their practice.

The practice needs not even be formal. It becomes part of their daily life.

The hallmark of Zen is being simple, direct and effective. These qualities will be inculcated at the Legacy of Bodhidharma courses so that almost effortlessly they can apply these qualities in their daily life to enhance their work and play. They will also have a lot of energy and mental clarity."

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

Attendance to the Winter Camp courses is limited, so we recommend to act fast.

If you wish to participate in the "Legacy of Bodhidharma" -course, you can apply here:

www.shaolinwintercamp.com

Best wishes,

[Markus Kahila]

Answer to Question 9

Dear family and visitors:


Here is the next Grandmaster's answer no. 9:

Question 9:

"Sifu, there are fantastic stories of past practitioners of Sinew Metamorphosis. Do you think it would be possible or feasible for modern practitioners to attain marvellous feats through diligent Sinew Metamorphosis training."

- Markus Kahila

Answer to Question 9:


"
Of course.  Not only it is possible and feasible, it is actually happening in our school – on a routine basis. Those attending the Legacy of Bodhidharma courses in the coming Winter Camp in Norway are expected – not just hoped – to have similar results.


Today many people suffered from so-called incurable diseases, like cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, depression and addiction to alcohol and drugs.  Many of our students have overcome such diseases by practicing chi kung from Bodhidharma’s Legacy.

Breaking a brick with a palm strike is quite a feat; breaking the lower of two bricks without breaking the top one is considered impossible by many people.  But many of our students have done than.  Sinew Metamorphosis is excellent for developing the internal force required for such a seemingly impossible feat.


Many people have read that past masters could spar for hours without feeling tired and without panting for breaths.  They wonder how this could be done, seeing many martial artists today out of breath after 10 minutes of sparring.  It may be incredible but true that most of our students can do this!  This feat can be derived from practicing chi kung of Bodhidharma’s Legacy.

It is fantastic to read about stories of elderly female kungfu masters beating able-bodied young men. How could a small-sized person defeat a much bigger, much stronger opponent?  The answer lies in internal force. The chi kung in Bodhidharma’s Legacy is excellent for developing internal force. Those interested can find a lot of videos on my website showing free sparring where size, age and gender are not important.


Bathed in celestial light, inner light radiating out of the body, seeing God, expanding into the Cosmos, being nowhere and everywhere – these are fantastic experiences of great masters in their spiritual training.  Some people may wonder whether these experiences are real.  We know for certain that these are real, because many of our students have such beautiful, spiritual experiences in our Sinew Metamorphosis courses. Understandingly, many other people may not believe it, but it is true. We are going to have such beautiful, spiritual experiences at the coming Winter Camp.
"

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

(Text emphasis added)

Best wishes,

[Markus Kahila]

Dear family and guests,


Here is a very concise answer, and a very enlightening one:

Question 8:

"Sifu, do you think there are lineages other than ours who practice genuine, high-level chi kung of Budhidharma’s teaching today?"

- Markus Kahila

Answer to Question 8:


"
Yes, there are but they are rare.

They are also not as generous as we do in giving our teaching, and not as wide spread as our school.  Aspirants would have to spent much more time and effort to find them than to find us.
"

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

Best wishes,

[Markus Kahila]

Answer to question 7

Dear family and guests,


Here we go: Question and Grandmaster's answer 7.

Come back in a day or two to read number eight!

Grandmaster Wong in Standing Zen

Question 7:

"Sifu, would you say that the Bodhidharma’s arts have changed over time, or have they changed at all?"

- Markus Kahila

Answer to Question 7:


"
As in many other questions concerning chi kung, the answer can be yes and no.


In principle, Bodhidharma’s teaching is timeless.  It was as valid then as it is now.  Fundamentally, both the methods and the benefits have remained the same throughout time.

Regarding methods, it is getting into a chi kung state of mind and use appropriate form to generate energy.  Regarding benefits, it is employing energy to clear blockage to attain good health, vitality and longevity, to enhance performace in whatever we do, and to break through the illusory physical body to attain spiritual goals.


Even the form is similar.  The chi kung patterns we practice now in our school are similar to those taught by Bodhidharma as recorded in classic texts and pictures.

We don’t mean to be presumptions, but it appears that we are even more cost-effective than the Shaolin monks in the past, though their level of attainment was much higher due to the amount of time they dedicated to the arts.  Our students experience chi flow, internal force and spiritual expansion into the Cosmos in much shorter time than past Shaolin monks as described in classical records.
"

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

(text emphasis added)

Best wishes,

[Zach]

Thank you, my senior brothers, Markus and Dr. Damian for your posts.

I am enjoying the Zen Answers! And the intellectual answers, too.

My best,

Zach

[Damian Kissey]

Damo .....Sant or Vagrant ?

Intellectual answer ( IMO ) :

Most depictions are from China or Japan , hence the round eyes and thick-coarse-curly hair-beard of The Indian to contrast with the slanted oriental eye and silky-straight hair of far easterners .

Shaolin answer ( IMO ) :

Tremendous internal force and presence of mind shine forth through the eyes .....hence wild-wide eyed .

High level elite non-mainstream Wise Sage ....the mainstream ignorant public will classify all eccentrics , whether pyschotic or Mystic , as crazy

[Damian Kissey]

Truth and Perception

......Why is Bodhidharma almost always depicted as a wild-eyed, crazy looking character?

Zen answer

[Damian Kissey]

Bodhidharma went East and returned to the West

Thank You very much Sifu and Markus Kahila for the answer and the vehicle

The Great Indian taught the Chinese

..now our beloved Chinese Grandmaster wil transmit the torch to Caucasian Masters like Markus

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Zach,

Why is Bodhidharma almost always depicted as a wild-eyed, crazy looking character?

- Good question. I haven't done much scholarly research on the subject, but here is an explanation I've come across:

The traditional sternness of his expression is to reflect his unswerving determination to become enlightened.

Furthermore, I think the style of depiction you're referring to is distinctly Japanese; most "stern" looking portraits of Bodhidharma (Daruma in Japanese) I've seen are of Japanese origin, and the Daruma-painting is a quite popular topic in classical Japanese painting.

Therefore, I would attribute a part of the reason to cultural emphasis and characteristics in artistic depiction.


However, as I said, I'm no expert in the topic. If anyone has more information, post away!


Best wishes,

[Zach]

The Zen answer is to enjoy a cup of tea.

Thank you Sifu, and thank you Markus for your contributions to this thread. What a perfect Zen answer!

I was not near a computer for an extended period and missed the beginnings of the post. I have had a question about Bodhidharma for a long time. Perhaps someone can answer my question, if they have a clue.

Why is Bodhidharma almost always depicted as a wild-eyed, crazy looking character?

I am very curious.

Zach