Betray Quote by Bodhidharma
“All Buddhas preach emptiness. Why? Because they wish to crush the concrete ideas of the students. If a student even clings to an idea of emptiness, he betrays all Buddhas.”
About This Quote
Source Teaching: Zen Buddhist discourse, 7th century, attributed to Bodhidharma
He teaches emptiness to dismantle rigid concepts, warning that clinging to emptiness is betrayal.
In simple terms: Empty concepts are taught to break fixed ideas; clinging to emptiness is a mistake.
Stay open, avoid fixing any concept as ultimate.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- meditation retreats
- philosophical debate
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance openness with conviction?
- What fixed ideas hinder your growth?
Emptiness can be misunderstood as nihilism.