Kung Fu and the Shaolin Monks
Before Da Mo arrived, the monks at Shaolin Temple spent their days hunched over desks, translating texts and sutras. As a result, they were in dismal physical shape. Da Mo found the monks falling asleep during meditation. To help keep them healthy, Da Mo taught them exercises that were designed to improve internal and external strength that he developed from hatha and raja yoga. His teachings were also based on the movement of animals.
Since the temple was isolated, the monks had to defend themselves against wild animals and roaming bandits. Over time, the monks developed Da Mo’s exercises and techniques into the now world-famous Shaolin kung fu. Thousands of martial arts styles have since branched out from there.
Da Mo’s student, Huike
According to legend, Da Mo initially refused to teach a man who had followed him to Shaolin temple after witnessing his genius. Originally called Shenguang, he stood in the snow outside Da Mo’s cave all night, until the snow reached his waist. In the morning Da Mo asked him why he was there. Shenguang replied that he wanted a teacher to “open the gate of the elixir of universal compassion to liberate all beings”.
Da Mo refused, saying, “How can you hope for true religion with little virtue, little wisdom, a shallow heart, and an arrogant mind? It would just be a waste of effort.”
Finally, to prove his resolve, Shenguang cut off his left arm and presented it to Da Mo as a token of his sincerity. Da Mo then accepted him as a student, and changed his name from Shenguang to Huike, which means “Wisdom and Capacity”.
One day, Huike came to Da Mo and said, “My mind is anxious. Please pacify it.”
Da Mo replied, “Bring me your mind, and I will pacify it.”
Huike said, “Although I’ve sought it, I cannot find it.”
“There,” Da Mo replied, “I have pacified your mind.”
Years later, when Da Mo wished to return to India, he called together his disciples. He asked them to say something to demonstrate their understanding so that he could choose his successor at Shaolin.
Dao Fu stepped forward and said, “It is not bound by words and phrases, nor is it separate from words and phrases. This is the function of the Tao.”
Da Mo: “You have attained my skin.”
The nun Zong Chi stepped up and said, “It is like a glorious glimpse of the realm of Akshobhya Buddha . Seen once, it need not be seen again.”
Da Mo; “You have attained my flesh.”
Dao Yu said, “The four elements are all empty. The five skandhas are without actual existence. Not a single dharma can be grasped.”
Da Mo: “You have attained my bones.”
Finally, Huike came forth, bowed deeply in silence and stood up straight.
Da Mo said, “You have attained my marrow.”
Da Mo passed on the symbolic robe and bowl of succession to Huike, then either returned to India or died.
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