Bodhidharma was born on Oct 5th around 440 ad in the city of kanchi, which is the capital of the southern Indian kingdom of pallava. He was the third son of King Sugandha belonging to kshatriya or warrior caste. Bodhidharma being the next in line to succeed his father as king was very well educated but would give it all up to pursue the spiritual training of Dhyana master prajnatara. Bodhidharma studied under prajnatara for 40 years and excelled in Kalaripay at which is a ancient karate like arts that included both weaponry and weaponless forms that were drilled along with controlled breathing techniques. After attaining a high level of spiritual enlightenment Bodhidharma was sent to china to revitalize Buddhism which had started to fade.

It is said that Bodhidharma traveled to china by crossing over Tibet’s Himalayan Mountains surveying not only the harsh terrain but also countless encounters with bandits. In 527 Bodhidharma arrived in china and was greeted by a very large crowd. Many of the local villagers had came out to see and hear from the monk who had traveled such a great distance. To the crowds disappoint Bodhidharma was not interested in speaking he proceeded to mediate for a few hours. During this time many people were asking questions of Bodhidharma but he continued to mediate never breaking his silence. After many hours had passed Bodhidharma got up and proceeded on without saying a word. 

On Oct 1 of 527 Emperor Liang Wu invited Bodhidharma to his royal palace. When Bodhidharma arrived at the royal palace the emperor spoke of the donations, the statues that were erected and support he had given to Buddhist Temples. The Emperor then asked Bodhidharma if all the deeds he had done were good. Bodhidharma reply to the emperor was no. This response frustrated the emperor who then order Bodhidharma to leave his palace. Bodhidharma simply turned around and left the palace.

Bodhidharma continue traveling north until he reached Nanjing City. In Nanjing City he traveled to a famous meeting place called Flower Rain Pavilion. When he arrive he met a Buddhist Monk named Shin Huang. Shin Huang had been a famous war generally who at the end of his career converted into a Buddhist Monk. At this time there was a crowd gathering to listen the Shin Huang lecture. Bodhidharma took his place amongst the crowd. During the lecture Bodhidharma nodded his head in agreement with some of the things Shin Huang had been speaking about and at other times shook his head in disagreement with some of things that were said. After a while Shin Huang became upset. He was upset that this foreign monk would disagree with him in front of a crowd. Shin became enraged and started flicking the Buddhist bead from around his neck at Bodhidharma. A couple of the beads hit Bodhidharma in the mouth and knocked out tow of his front teeth. Bodhidharma began to bleed at this point Shin though for sure there would be some kind of confrontation but instead Bodhidharma smiled and walked away.

 Shin became intrigued by the discipline that Bodhidharma displayed and proceed to fallow him. Bodhidharma continued north towards Shaolin temple. The path Bodhidharma took led him to the Yangtze River, which is the dividing t point of southern and northern kingdoms of china. He traveled to the waters edge where he came across an old women. Next to the old woman was a bundle of reeds. Bodhidharma stopped and asked the women if he could have one of her reeds. The women replied yes. Bodhidharma then took the reed a placed it on top of the water surface. Then Bodhidharma stepped out on to this reed and was carried across the river by the force of his chi. Shin Huang had just reached the waters edge in time to see Bodhidharma crossing. Feelings that he would be able to do the same Shin proceed to take a couple of the reeds with out asking from the women. Shin then through the reeds on top of the water and stepped out onto them. He began to sink. The older women seeing Shin predicament felt sorry for him and pulled him from the river. The older women explained to Shin by taking the reeds with out her permission he had disrespected her and himself. She also told him that he was in search of a master and Bodhidharma was that master. As she spoke the reeds began to surface from the river and this time shin to was carried across by his internal force. By this time news had spread to Shaolin temple of Bodhidharma arrival, the monks gathered together to invite Bodhidharma to the temple. 

When Bodhidharma arrived the monks invited him to stay at the temple, he did not reply and continued till he reached a set of caves just behind Shaolin temple. He then went into the cave and began meditating facing a wall. He meditated for nine years. During this nine years Shin kept guard over Bodhidharma protecting him from wild animals and any other threats. Periodically Shin would ask Bodhidharma to teach him, but he would never respond. At the ending of the nine-year period the Monks from Shaolin decided to do something special for Bodhidharma. They created a special room at the temple, which was called the da mo ting. When the monks invited Bodhidharma to come stay at the room he did not reply but responded by getting up and going directly into the room. When he entered the room he began to mediate. He stayed there for four years. Now after thirteen years had passed Shin had become upset. It was wintertime and Bodhidharma room was full of ice and snow. Shin decided to break the silence by picking up a large ice brick and hurling it at the floor. The impact awakened Bodhidharma from his deep meditative state. He was very angered and frustrated by shins actions. Shin then asked Bodhidharma when he would teach him. He replied that he would teach him when red snow falls from the sky. Shin at this point took out his sword cutting off his left arm. He then took the severed arm and started waving it into the air. The blood from the arm froze like red snow falling from the sky as it hit the ground. After seeing this Bodhidharma decide to teach Shin.

 At the foot of the Shao Shi Mountains there are five little mountains. The names are Drum, Sword, Bell, Stamp and Flag Mountains. They got their names because they are shaped like the item’s they are names after. Bodhidharma took Shin to the Drum Mountain. By taking shin to this mountain Bodhidharma was sending a silent message to Shin that he must flatten his heart in the same way that a drum is flat. On top of the mountain Bodhidharma dug a well for shin. The water from the well was very bitter. Bodhidharma left shin on the mountain for a full year. The water from the well was to used for all Shins needs (cooking bathing cleaning and to drink.) After the year had passed Bodhidharma returned and this time dug a second well. This time the water from the well was spicy. Again Bodhidharma left Shin for another year. After the year was up Bodhidharma returned for a third time and dug a third well. This time the water was sour. Once again he left and did not return for a year. Now when he returned he dug a fourth hole and this time the water was sweet. After some meditation Shin realized that the four wells represented his life. Sometime his life would be bitter then spice and sour and then sweet. Without speaking Bodhidharma was able to teach Shin the most important lessons through his action. Upon making that realization Shin Huang was given the name of Hui ke and became Shaolin Abbot under Bodhidharma. 

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