The Conversation Doesn’t Take Place
There is a famous koan in our Zen tradition about Bodhidharma meeting Emperor Wu. This strange fellow from India blows in on a large Dharmakaya wind and presents himself at court. He must have cut an odd figure in his ragged robes and sandals amidst the formality and finery of the Emperor’s palace.
The Emperor was a devout Buddhist and had used his power and wealth to build many Buddhist institutions such as monasteries and temples.
The Emperor asks Bodhidharma what is the essential teachings of Chan (Zen), and Bodhidharma replies, “Vast emptiness, no holiness.” In one version of the story the Emperor then asks Bodhidharma if there is any good merit gained from doing charitable works, and Bodhidharma replies, “No merit”. At this point the Emperor must be feeling non-plussed and slightly irritated with this strange man who has no credentials and is not even Chinese. So he asks him, “Who are you?” And Bodhidharma replies “I don’t know.” This is the icing on the cake. The Emperor has heard enough and immediately dismisses this offensive fellow.
As the story goes, Bodhidharma then leaves and crosses the Yangze river to depart to the north.
Later the Emperor is muttering to his attendant about this when the attendant says, “Don’t you know who that was? That was the very embodiment of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.” When the Emperor hears this he feels deep remorse because he realizes he missed a golden opportunity to have a deep conversation with such a great spiritual and gifted human being. So he suggests to his attendant that someone should go fetch Bodhidharma, but the attendant tells the Emperor that is not possible. The ship has already sailed. The opportunity is lost. The conversation did not take place. And Bodhidharma is not going to return again.
In our vows we say “Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to open them.” Yet, every day, like the Emperor we are meeting Avalokitesvara face to face without recognizing him or her. The conversation doesn’t take place. The opportunity is lost because of our lack of curiosity, our self-preoccupation, insecurity, fear and fixed ideas. So next time you meet Bodhidharma don’t squander the opportunity for face-to-face transmission.