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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 429 —<br />

that <strong>of</strong> Shen-kwang f^ ^fc, and called him henceforth Hwei-k'o U<br />

"pf i.e. "Intelligent Ability" (1).<br />

Hwei-k'o i§ pf begged the Great Teacher expound<br />

the doctrine<br />

<strong>of</strong> all the Buddhas. "That is a thing quite ignored <strong>of</strong> mortals,<br />

replied Bodhidharma". — "My heart is filled with unrest, added the<br />

disciple ; I beg yon grant me inner peace". — "Give me your heart",<br />

answered the patriarch, and I shall set it at rest". — "How can 1<br />

give you my heart, replied the disciple?" (2). Hereupon, says the<br />

legend, foreseeing that his end was drawing near, he appointed<br />

Shen-kwang ff -fc his successor, and bequeathed to him the secret<br />

symbol <strong>of</strong> the Law, and a special prayer to Buddha.<br />

Bodhidharma wished to return to India, but died before he<br />

could accomplish his purpose. His rivals attempted five times to<br />

poison him, but ever in vain (3). His disciples placed his corpse<br />

in a c<strong>of</strong>fin, and buried him on the Bear's Ear Hill, Neng-eul-shan<br />

ft 5 \Ui to the West <strong>of</strong> Lohyang. To commemorate his life and<br />

work, a pagoda-tower was erected in the Shaolin monastery, Shao-<br />

lin-sze 'J; $c ^, A.D. 536 (4).<br />

Two years afterwards, Sung-yun ^ :§f , an <strong>of</strong>ficial <strong>of</strong> the House<br />

<strong>of</strong> Wei §j|, who had been sent to India to procure Buddhist books,<br />

returned to Lohyang fg. [5J|. As he crossed the Onion Bange,<br />

Ts'ung-ling ^ |g, suddenly<br />

he beheld the shade <strong>of</strong> Bodhidharma<br />

passing on the way. The Sage bore a sandal in one hand, and was<br />

accompanied by the Buddhist monk Ngao-cliwan-slii j$iij 1|l |=j(jj.<br />

Sung-yun ^ ||| asked him whither he was going? "To the Western<br />

(1) Edkins. Chinese Buddhism, p. 103 (Bodhidharma's latter years).<br />

(2) You will not find Buddha in images or books, was the teaching <strong>of</strong><br />

Bodhidharma. "Look into your own heart; that is where you will find<br />

Buddha". The Chinese word "heart" might be more appropriatel}- rendered<br />

by "mind". Johnston. Buddhist China, p. 83 (Bodhidharma).<br />

(3) Edkins. Chinese Buddhism, p. 103. — Giles. Chinese Biographical<br />

Dictionary, p. 6.<br />

(4) Having reached China A-.D. 527, and lived there 9 years, the probable<br />

date <strong>of</strong> his death is as given here.

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