Bodhidharma

Hakuin Ekaku is arguably the most influential figure in the history of later Zen Buddhism. He is admired for having revitalized the Rinzai sect of Zen through teachings expressed in many writings published during his lifetime. In the latter half of his life, Hakuin traveled far and wide and used lectures, sermons, paintings, and calligraphy to convey Zen insights to a broad cross section of the populace. A self-taught artist, he used ink in a direct and vital way, depicting familiar figures from Zen lore, landscapes, and, occasionally, genre subjects. One of Hakuin’s favorite subjects was Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Following established conventions, he represents the monk from the shoulders up, with a large, balding head and bulging, lidless eyes. A popular legend attests that Bodhidharma, known in Japan as Daruma, cut off his eyelids to prevent himself from falling asleep while meditating. Here, a powerful curving line defines the edge of Daruma’s monk’s robe, underscoring the fixity of his resolve. Shaggy eyebrows, unkempt beard, and a bulbous nose allude to the patriarch’s origins on the Indian subcontinent, whence he brought Zen teachings to China.
The portrait successfully conveys the intensity of Daruma’s spiritual quest and the inward concentration required for enlightenment. Above the portrait Hakuin enjoined viewers to take up a similar quest with the inscription, “Pointing directly at the human heart, see your own self to attain
Buddhahood.” Mitigating the seriousness of this message is the somewhat cartoonish quality of the image, with its exaggerated features and unpolished style. This playful spirit helps to disarm the viewer and offers a means to communicate complex, abstract principles to ordinary people.
—LWA