muthos are far more potent than mere historical biographies, than logos itself: muthos encapsulate teachings and to really imbibe the teachings, we have to make the impersonal personal.
this is what we do when we sit with a koan: we sit with it until we become intimate with it. then we suddenly realize that Bodhidharma gets up and stretches their legs, eats breakfast, and gazes out to sea!
there is pure violence.
here is pure violence:
Emperor Wu first met who was called Bodhidharma when Bodhidharma first reached China on their dangerous voyage from India.
when Bodhidharma appeared before him, the Emperor said, “i have built temples and ordained monks; what is my merit?”
Bodhidharma replied, “no merit.”
the Emperor then asks Bodhidharma, “what is the first principle of the holy teachings?”
Bodhidharma replied, “vast emptiness, no-thing holy.”
when the Emperor heard this he became flummoxed.
finally, he rallied and asked, “who is standing before me?”
Bodhidharma said, “i don’t know.”