The Monk Da Mo’s Marrow Washing Classic.
1. History
The history and form of the Marrow Washing Classic is subject to considerable controversy, claim and counterclaim. Here’s a brief history of the monk, born in Kanchi, the capital of the southern Indian kingdom of Pallava around the year 440. By birth he was of the highest Brahmin caste, the son of the king Simharvarman. Alternatively, he was not a Brahmin but of the Kshatriya warrior class. The king’s connection with the guru Prajnatara, who was the 27th patriarch of Indian Buddhism, saw Bodhidharma {Da Mo} soon convinced of the Buddha path and he was encouraged to go to China to teach. He arrived there around the age of 35 in about 475.
Already at that time in China there were some 2,000 Buddhist temples in the south and some 6,500 in the north. Others censuses put the figure even higher. Whatever the numbers, Buddha’s teaching had already had a great impact on the Chinese by the time Bodhidharma arrived, so he was by no means the first Buddhist missionary to China.
Another version of events [Tao-Yuan’s ‘Transmission of the Lamp’] puts Bodhidharma’s arrival in China about eighty years later following an invitation from the Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty. In this version of events the Emperor asked about the teachings of the Buddha. Bodhidharma simply left: a reflection on the highest teachings of sunyata - that all phenomena are essentially empty, an example of the Cha’an [later to become Zen in Japan] tradition of direct pointing, without words or scriptures.
During his early years in China, Shaolin monastery was built [apparently for another meditation master] and here is where his reputation is most famous for sitting in a cave for six, seven or nine years according to different accounts. Shaolin was originally a meditation temple but became famous and still is for its martial training of monks and it is Bodhidharma who is attributed with establishing that tradition.
There are many more stories of the famous monk Da Mo and undoubtedly during the retreat more details of his life and teachings will emerge: “ the way is basically perfect. It doesn’t require perfecting. The way has no form or sound……”
As the patriarch of millions of Zen Buddhists, students of Shaolin, of qi gong, he is probably better known now then he was in his own lifetime. It’s impossible to separate the facts from the legends and the fiction. So, boldly, unashamedly, here is an offering from that very mix of legend, fact and fiction: Bodhidharma’s Muscle Change and Marrow Washing Classic Series. The man, the legend, the energy inspires us to open to the transmission and find for ourselves the truth of the teachings in this physical body.
2. The Forms
In the version being presented by Ram there are a basic 24 forms. Some are standing forms; some involve moving the whole body. All the forms comprise yin and yang aspects. Some of the forms are explosive; some are very gentle. On the level of external grace, there is much beauty to behold in these forms.
This training will suit youth as well as middle age. It will suit those wishing to pursue inner stillness as well as outer strength; those in pursuit of the Tao; those seeking the original face.
The forms eventually lead inwards. At the bodily level they lead to the bones and to the marrow. From the Taoist perspective, at the level of mind they lead to the central channel; from the Buddhist perspective they lead to the basic space of phenomena, to the consciousness that can perceive that space and to the emptiness of that mind, and beyond perception and non-perception. But make no mistake, these are aspects of the training that may be alluded to quickly, they will take a lifetime to practise and are entirely concordant with Buddhist and Taoist philosophy, practice and science.
There is a healing element that is rare: it was taught to me by Burgs and over the last three years it has become clear to me that it is accessible to people through this kind of movement. As far as possible this healing aspect will be made clear: it takes the forms to their highest potential, beyond even the marrow, beyond the centre that fabricates the cellular material of blood and chi. One glimpse is enough to begin the process, the rest depends upon the constant application of the practitioner.
3. The Programme
Early morning sessions will be meditation. Instructions for the morning meditations will be adverted to during the previous day’s instructions
The morning sessions will be dedicated to learning the external form of the Muscle Change and Marrow Washing Classic.
The afternoon sessions will be dedicated to examining the different layers of the forms studied during the morning.
Evening sessions will vary between discourses and meditations or group practice.
4. Some Principles
One principle is to change the working muscle, change the muscle in the moment. That is a manoeuvre of flexibility, of mind gradually going into the body and encouraging the load or concentrated stress points to be spread. Instead of stress being focussed on one or two groups of muscles, the body opens, unifies, to allow the whole body to equally hold the stress. Thus, stress diminishes and efficiency increases. No single part takes the load. This aspect alone begins to allow body and mind to harmonise and embrace the principal of healthy chi: if it moves and circulates, it’s healthy and going to increase longevity and resist disease.
Another principle is that the muscles and tendons change, they transform. They become strong, they become part of the map for chi. While the muscles and tendons may change in terms of strength, flexibility, stamina, they also change in terms of chi: the internal pathways begin to open and chi moves along the pathways that have been initially sensed and developed in the muscles and tendons. We move from the coarse to the subtle as the mind becomes more able and more practised. In the meantime, the practice clears the body and the mind of stagnant energy.
The form includes aspects for receiving chi directly into the marrow and also for releasing stagnant chi at increasingly profound levels. Breathing chi directly into the marrow is possible through the practice of marrow washing.
A third principle is all that the body parts are supported and nourished by chi. Excess in one body part may be detrimental to another body part - too much emphasis on certain parts of the body, or types of movement can have a detrimental effect. The set will move and use every muscle group, tendon and ligament; all the meridians become apparent, all the organs will benefit. This was Da Mo’s gift and the tradition is still alive.
The marrow wash aspect is more subtle: ideally, this training and practice would take place over several years, allowing each layer of subtlety to evolve quite naturally and to mature. At the highest point, the Marrow Washing Classic enables the unified body to unify with the external environment, the cosmos and beyond that the emptiness of all phenomena. Access to energy becomes unlimited and this access is made available once the mind is sufficiently refined, when wise attention has been painstakingly applied to the body-mind-being complex.
As a healing principle, there is no higher. Surrendering to the ultimate principle brings it into practice through the body. This is a glimpse of union. Where else can union take place if not through and with the body?
And here is where the form and no form can be experienced as one. During the course of the training there will be some emphasis on the opening of the meridians as a conduit for chi and also on the heart centre as a conduit for directly perceiving the teachings on emptiness.
For the Scholar Warriors
The Marrow Washing Classic is a practical application of the Heart Sutra and the longer Diamond Sutra. For those familiar with the Heart and Diamond Sutras, here is a rare opportunity to make the practical application of those teachings.
Find out more about the next Marrow Washing Classic workshop
For bookings and pricing information please go to Workshop Dates & Bookings
