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Thread: Odd Zen Images

  1. #1
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    Default Odd Zen Images

    The image of Bodhidharma I am most familiar with shows him with his eyes fixed wide in deep meditation, but every so often I come across a depiction that has him looking extremely apprehensive--as if he's fearing an attack from an unseen enemy. Then recently I saw a painting of Ikkyu looking much the same; he was peering to his right, his lips pursed in a distinct grimace. Is there a tradition in Zen imagery of representing the patriarchs in this fashion? Is it meant to illustrate some principle?

    Thanks
    Ben Persons

    "Kimi ga yo wa, ama no hagoromo mare ni kite."

  2. #2
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    Greetings:

    The kinds of images you are referring to are fairly common in the Zen traditions. The Bodhidharma imagery represents the legend that in order to stay awake during extended periods of meditation he tore off his eyelids. When he threw them on the ground, the eyelids turned into tea plants.

    What this kind of image really symbolizes is that zazen is not sleepy; it is wide awake and attentive, focussed, but with a broad scope.

    Best wishes,

    Jim Wilson
    Dharmajim

  3. #3
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    Maybe they were looking to the West.....
    Harry Cook

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