| The Patriarch Prajnatara instructed Bodhidarma, | | | | cut off his eyelids, and where they fell, tea |
| "Tathagata bestowed Mahakasyapa with the | | | | bushes grew. Since then tea has become the |
| absolute dharma-eye, and was transmitted as | | | | beverage of not only monks but also everyone in |
| such until it reached me. Now I shall instruct you: | | | | the Orient. Faithful to this tradition, artists |
| Even though China of the east is vast, there is no | | | | invariably depict Bodhidarma with bulging lidless |
| other path. The future shall depend upon our | | | | eyes.Shortly after Bodhidarma transmitted Tao to |
| uncle's descendants to carry on. A golden cock is | | | | Huik'u in China, he died in 528 AD on the fifth day |
| holding a single grain of seed to nourish and feed | | | | of the tenth month, poisoned by a jealous monk. |
| all the saints and monks everywhere."In the | | | | Three years later, an official met Bodhidarma |
| temple of Tao, Bodhidarma said, "Coming from | | | | walking in the mountains of Central Asia. He was |
| the far-away land to spread the wonderful Truth | | | | carrying a staff from which hung a single sandal |
| to man. Manuscript and Dharma, I cannot bring, | | | | and he told the official that he was going back to |
| but all are contained in my heart instead. Riding on | | | | India. Reports of this meeting aroused the |
| a reed, I crossed the River Yangtze and people | | | | curiosity of other monks, who finally agreed to |
| wonder how I could do such a thing. People hope | | | | open Bodhidarma's tomb. All they found was a |
| to learn the power equal to this but what a pity | | | | single sandal and ever since Bodhidarma has been |
| that none has achieved. What is the power and | | | | pictured carrying a staff from which hangs the |
| how to attain it? When one sees power, power is | | | | missing sandal.This is a true story and not a |
| actually nil. But people hope for power, thereby it | | | | legend. Spiritual people of the past are very divine. |
| grows from the heart. Taking root, it grows into | | | | During the time of Confucius, when he needs the |
| power of a million kinds. Without power, yet | | | | answer from Heaven, the Heavenly bird with long |
| power is there. With power yet one cannot find it. | | | | beak will descend from Heaven and write on the |
| To achieve the understanding of the Truth, one | | | | sand the answers and hence it is called sand |
| must use the right method. Practising the inner | | | | writing. In this modern time in the temple of Tao, |
| heart meditation, one may realize more. All | | | | divine messages are delivered through similar |
| realizations take place from inside and not from | | | | process but instead of divine bird, it is young |
| outside. When the heart grows, everything will | | | | purified lady used by Heaven to deliver messages |
| grow. When the heart dies, everything will cease. | | | | on the sand box.Author: T.A ChewT.A Chew |
| Passionate desire begins its growth from the | | | | grew up near a Tao temple where his father was |
| seed. The root takes place and one sees the | | | | the head of the village with surname Chew. In his |
| plant. If there be no seed or root, there will | | | | childhood days he saw mediums in trance and |
| neither be newborn nor death."Bodhidarma is the | | | | curing people with sickness. A deity told him that |
| Patriarch and founder of Zen Buddhism and | | | | he will one day be able to spread Tao because he |
| master of "Kung-fu". He also brought tea to China | | | | has divine bones. Thanks a lot Heaven. |
| and to keep him falling asleep while meditating, he | | | | |