Zen Achievements Require Sacrifice

Zen uses the lives of its founders as examples for its followers in the same way that the saints are used in Christianity, and Bodhidharma’s story is no different. He encounters a young monk in Shaolin called Sheng Kuang, who wishes to be enlightened. Bodhidharma ignores him. To show his dedication, the young student waits outside Bodhidharma’s cave all night in the snow. Bodhidharma is unimpressed and continues to ignore him. Finally, Sheng Kuang cuts off his own hand to show his sincerity. Bodhidharma asks what he wants and the student says he wishes to pacify his mind (achieve nirvana). Bodhidharma orders Sheng Kuang to bring him his mind so he can pacify it and after a long search, Sheng Kuang admits he can’t find it. Bodhidharma says ‘mind-pacifying is over,’ and Sheng Kuang is enlightened.

At first, Bodhidharma’s cold-heartedness seems out of place, especially in a religion that preaches compassion to all sentient beings, but it is symbolic—showing how the teacher does not pander to the student’s whims or make false promises of swift gains, rather he holds back and waits, allowing the student to develop the depth of desire required to reach the highest levels. This anecdote is not meant to provide an answer; instead, it demonstrates two important points in both Zen and the martial arts. The first is that great achievement requires great sacrifice. Sheng Kuang must be prepared to sacrifice more than, at first, he is prepared to do. Standing in the snow is not enough; it is only when he is prepared to give up all worldly attachments (the symbolic severing of his own arm) that Bodhidharma knows he is ready to make the leap. The second is the importance of asking the right questions. As many experienced instructors will tell you, the questions of new students (and even advanced students) are often misplaced, and in seeking answers to these questions the student is looking in the wrong place, or ‘barking up the wrong tree’ as the English saying goes. Sheng Kuang discovers that his mind (consciousness) is not a finite object that can be held down and ‘pacified.’ Once he realizes his mind is not separate from the universe as a whole, Bodhidharma says, essentially: ‘so what’s the problem?’ and Sheng Kuang realizes he never had one to begin with.