The Bodhidharma Anthology

The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen is a groundbreaking scholarly edition and translation of five essential texts associated with Bodhidharma, the semi-legendary Indian monk credited with bringing Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China in the early sixth century. Edited and translated by Jeffrey L. Broughton, this anthology presents the earliest known written materials about Bodhidharma's teachings and life, offering a direct window into the formative period of Zen thought.

The texts explore core Chan ideas such as direct perception of the mind, the non-reliance on written scriptures, and the practice of meditation as a means to awaken one's Buddha-nature. Broughton provides careful translation alongside extensive notes that clarify historical context, doctrinal nuances, and textual transmission. He situates Bodhidharma within the intellectual and religious currents of medieval China, showing how these writings helped shape the later Zen emphasis on enlightenment through direct experience rather than scholastic study.

This volume serves both scholars and general readers interested in the origins of Zen Buddhism. It reveals a raw, sometimes austere vision of spiritual practice—emphasizing simplicity, personal realization, and the stripping away of conceptual barriers. The Bodhidharma Anthology is an invaluable resource for understanding how one enigmatic teacher inspired a tradition that would transform East Asian spirituality.

Jeffrey L. Broughton is an American scholar and professor emeritus of religious studies at California State University, Long Beach. Specializing in Zen and early Chan Buddhism, he is known for his meticulous translations and historical analysis of foundational Buddhist texts, making complex early materials accessible to modern readers and scholars.