Talk:Dazu Huike

Use of Chinese characters
This article could use some Chinese characters for names, etc. Thinman10 06:42, 24 January 2007 (UTC)thinman10

Lost book
Does anyone know what happened to the Marrow Cleansing Principle? Daily Rubbings 15:05, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

Some information
WOMEN IN ZEN BUDDHISM: Chinese Bhiksunis in the Ch'an Tradition by Bhikshuni Heng Ch'ih
 * "The first `bhiksuni` mentioned in the Ch'an literature was a disciple of the First Patriarch of of Chinese Ch'an Bodhidharma, known as Tsung-chih. The Ching-te chuan-teng lu tells us that before returning to India after many years of teaching in China, Bodhidharma asked his disciples to relate their realization of the Dharma.

Tao-fu said, "I perceive that the Buddhist path is transcending language and words and yet not separating from language and words." Bodhidharma said, "You have attained my skin."

The Bhiksuni Tsung-chih said, "What I comprehend is like joyfully seeing the `Aksobya's` Buddha-land." After seeing it once, you never see it again.

"You have attained my flesh," said Bodhidharma. Tao-yu said, "The four elements are originally empty and the five aggregates are non-existent. Not even one thing of what I comprehend is attainable."

"You have attained my bone," said Bodhidharma. Finally Hui-k'o made a bow to the teacher and stood aside in silence.

Bodhidharma said, "You have attained my marrow."12

This is the story of how the Dharma was transmitted to the Second Patriarch Hui-k'o. Bhiksuni Tsung-chih was one of Bodhidharma's most advanced students. Although she was not the top disciple, the mere fact that she played a role in the scene of the Dharma-transmission is itself very significant. We might say this makes a good beginning for `bhiksunis` in the Ch'an tradition.

Can we insert it into the text of the mainpage somehow?
 * Austerlitz -- 88.72.20.158 (talk) 14:23, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, it is there already. Beautiful.
 * Austerlitz -- 88.72.20.158 (talk) 14:24, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Huike Cuts Off His Arm
I've reverted the story of Huike cutting off his arm to the earlier version to reflect more accurately Ferguson's story (as this is the citation). I must confess I've never read that Huike "screamed" when he cut off his arm. Also I find it difficult that someone would "realize" that he had cut his arm off. I think that if you cut off your arm, no "realization" is necessary! Anyway, that's why I've reverted to the previous edit. After all, this really is a legend. Let's not layer it with details. Thinman10 (talk) 06:55, 30 October 2008 (UTC)