Uncanny Japan Bodhidharma and Daruma Dolls: Zen Buddhism Origins (Ep. 163)
In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a journey that involves supernatural balance, a touch of kung fu fighting, cringeworthy acts of concentration, a lucky toy that heals disease and helps you achieve your dreams, and will end delightfully in a moment of sheer, utter unadulterated and quite literal zen.
Let's start with a baby, a mysterious baby, born in southern India in the 5th or 6th centuries. He was a studious child who was drawn to Buddha's teachings. Let's call him Bodhidharma.
What happened after he traveled to China? How did he cross the Yangtze River? Why did he sit meditating for nine years until his legs fell off? And how did this legendary monk become Japan's beloved red Daruma doll that keeps popping back up no matter how many times you knock it down?
Come learn about the blue-eyed barbarian who founded Zen Buddhism, the "seven times down, eight times up" philosophy of resilience, and how to practice zazen meditation yourself.
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Credits
Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura
About SpectreVision Radio
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
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