Patriarchs & patriarchate; Zen Buddhism; Dharma; Buddhism; Mahayana Buddhism
摘要
The article focuses on Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism, and the true transmission of the Dharma. It describes this transmission as the backbone of Zen school and cites the use of transmission stories, such as the transmission from Bodhidharma to his Dharma heir and second patriarch Eka, as teaching devices to make training point. It also presents transmission stories of several Zen masters including Master Kyogen and notes that these stories are often misunderstood.
