The Venerated Dazu Huike (vegan): Zen Dharma Lineage Protector, Part 2 of 3

Seeing that Shenguang was determined to seek the Truth, Bodhidharma accepted Him as a disciple and changed His name to Huike. Huike studied for six years under Bodhidharma. On the day Bodhidharma prepared to pass on the mantle to His successor, He had His four main disciples report their understandings of the practice. After Dazu Huike answered the Patriarch’s question with silence, Bodhidharma earnestly told Him, “In the past, Shakyamuni Buddha passed down the Supreme Method to Mahākāśyapa. It has then gone through many generations before it was passed down to me. Now, I pass it to you.” Having received the mantle, Dazu Huike became the second Patriarch of Chinese Zen. As per the Venerated Patriarch Bodhidharma’s instructions, Dazu Huike practiced for 40 years in Seclusion before He risked His safety and went out. He first gave discourses at Shaolin Temple. In 582 A.D., Dazu Huike passed down the mantle, robe, bowl, and sutras to Jianzhi Sengcan in Sikong Mountain.