
Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism, was the direct disciple of Prajñātāra, the 27th Patriarch of Indian Zen Buddhism.
One day, Bodhidharma asked his master, “After I receive the Dharma, where should I go to spread the teachings?” Prajñātāra replied, “Go to Chen Dan (China).” Following his teacher’s instruction, Bodhidharma journeyed eastward and arrived in China. His first stop was the Southern Dynasty’s capital, Jinling (modern-day Nanjing), where he had an audience with Emperor Wu of Liang. However, the two held differing views, and their conversation did not go well. Without further words, Bodhidharma left and traveled north across the Yangtze River toward Luoyang, the capital of the Northern Wei.
When he arrived at the banks of the Yangtze River, Bodhidharma saw the river was wide, the current swift, and no boats were in sight. Worried about how to cross, he noticed an elderly woman sitting nearby with a bundle of reeds beside her. Approaching her respectfully, he asked, “Madam, are you planning to cross the river using those reeds?” The old woman glanced up and, seeing his sincere demeanor, said nothing but nodded.
Bodhidharma thought, If this elderly woman can cross the river on a reed bundle, why can’t I? So he humbly requested, “May I ask for one reed to help me cross the river?” Without speaking, the old woman pulled out a single reed and handed it to him. Bodhidharma accepted it with both hands, thanked her, and walked to the river. He placed the reed on the water, gently stepped onto it, and—amazingly—glided smoothly across the river.
At that time, in Longmen Xiangshan Temple in Luoyang, there lived a monk named Shenguang. Hearing that a great master from India, Bodhidharma, had come to the Southern Capital to spread the Mahāyāna Zen teachings, Shenguang set out to meet him. However, upon arrival, he learned that Bodhidharma had already crossed the river and gone north. Without resting, Shenguang immediately pursued him.
When Shenguang reached the river, he saw Bodhidharma calmly standing on a single reed, crossing the Yangtze with ease. Looking around, he noticed the same old woman by the riverside with a bundle of reeds. He figured that Bodhidharma must have used one of her reeds to cross. In his haste, Shenguang ran to the bundle, grabbed it without asking, threw it into the river, and leapt onto it. But instead of floating, the bundle spun and splashed, tossing Shenguang into the water. Luckily, the water near the shore was shallow, and he managed to climb back out, soaked but unharmed.
Dripping wet, Shenguang approached the old woman and asked, “The man before me used only one reed to cross the river. I used your entire bundle—why did I nearly drown?” The old woman replied, “He asked with respect, so I helped him cross. You took without asking—how could I help you without reason?”
Realizing his rudeness, Shenguang quickly apologized: “Madam, I was in such a rush to catch up with the master that I acted disrespectfully. Please forgive my offense and help me cross the river.” Seeing his attitude had changed, the old woman agreed. Shenguang turned to thank her again—but she had vanished. Just then, the wind stirred the river, and the bundle of reeds floated gently back to shore. Shenguang bowed deeply toward the spot where she had been sitting and said, “Thank you for your guidance. I shall go now.”
He slowly stepped onto the reed bundle and crossed the river. Upon reaching the northern bank, he reflected with humility, Sigh… I am still not as virtuous as he is.
Shenguang, filled with admiration and humility, caught up with Bodhidharma and respectfully requested, “Master, please come to Mount Song’s Shaolin Temple and spread the great Dharma.” Bodhidharma accepted, and together they traveled to Luoyang, then on to Shaolin Temple in Mount Song. There, amid the serene mountains and flowing streams, Bodhidharma found a cave beneath the Five Breasts Peak and began his legendary nine-year meditation, facing the wall in silence.
After nine years of intense practice, he achieved enlightenment, and the teachings of Mahāyāna Zen Buddhism began to flourish in China.