ACHARYA RAGHU, FOUNDER of Sailum Martial Arts Academy of India, Bengaluru, went on a 4,000km journey in China in 2017, retracing the footsteps of Bodhidharma. Later he wrote the book Bodhidharma Retold: A journey from Sailum to Shaolin.
Edited excerpts from an interview:
Why do you say that Shaolin kung fu originated from hatha yoga?
I believe Shaolin kung fu and its principal text of Yijin Jing originated from early Vajrayana, Guhyasamaja Tantra and Buddhist hatha yoga tradition.
We have essentials that are common to the two traditions—right from the pantheon of Vairocana, Vajrapani, Kinnara, Yaksha, Skanda and Narayana, to the primary objective of achieving spiritual Bodhicitta, and the secondary psychic objective of Vajrakaya.
What drove you to research on Bodhidharma?
This story is from the January 17, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the January 17, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
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