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2. Introduction of Zen
into China by Bodhidharma.
An epoch-making event took
place in the Buddhist history of China by Bodhidharma's coming over from
Southern India to that country in about A.D. 520.1 It was the
introduction, not of the dead scriptures, as was repeatedly done before him,
but of a living faith, not of any theoretical doctrine, but of practical
Enlightenment, not of the relies of Buddha, but of the Spirit of Shakya Muni;
so that Bodhidharma's position as a representative of Zen was unique. He was,
however, not a missionary to be favourably received by the public. He seems to
have behaved in a way quite opposite to that in which a modern pastor treats
his flock. We imagine him to have been a religious teacher entirely different
in every point from a popular Christian missionary of our age. The latter would
smile or try to smile at every face he happens to see and would
talk sociably; while the
former would not smile at any face, but would stare at it with the large
glaring eyes that penetrated to the innermost soul. The latter would keep
himself scrupulously clean, shaving, combing, brushing, polishing, oiling,
perfuming, while the former would be entirely indifferent to his apparel, being
always clad in a faded yellow robe. The latter would compose his sermon with a
great care, making use of rhetorical art, and speak with force and elegance;
while the former would sit as absolutely silent as the bear, and kick one off,
if one should approach him with idle questions.
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