Ep. 9

After nine years, bodhidharma, the first zen patriarch, who took zen to china from india in the sixth century, decided that he wished to return home. He gathered his disciples around him to test their perception.

Dofuku said: 'in my opinion truth is beyond affirmation or negation, for this is the way it moves.' bodhidharma replied: 'you have my skin.' the nun soji said: 'in my view, it is like ananda's insight of the buddha-land -- seen once and forever.' bodhidharma answered: 'you have my flesh.' doiku said: 'the four elements of light, airiness, fluidity, and solidity, are empty, and the five skandhas are no-things. In my opinion no-thing is reality.' bodhidharma commented: 'you have my bones.' finally, eka bowed before the master and remained silent. Bodhidharma said: 'you have my marrow.'

Season 3

Of the ultimate realization of Zen, Acharya says, "Suddenly you become aware of a music that has always surrounded you… Your heart throbs in the same rhythm as the heart of the whole." This essential Zen reader also dips into a number of other themes - cowardice, boredom and restlessness, recognition and rejection, maturity, and moving from the non-essential to the essential.