DANPI HO-ON (断臂法恩)

Commemoration ceremony of the Second Patriarch’s cutting off his forearm

On December 9th to 10th, Danpi Ho-on Sesshin and intensive zazen takes place.

Danpi means to cut off one’s hand, an episode illustrating the devotion of the Second Patriarch Eka (Huike). On the night of December 9th in 520 CE, the Second Patriarch Eka visited the First Patriarch Bodhidharma and stood outside in a snowstorm without sleeping. Noticing him, Bodhidharma asked, “Why are you standing outside in the snow? What do you seek?” Eka implored him in tears, “Please teach me the truth of the Buddha’s Dharma and save me.” Bodhidharma turned him down with the words “The true teaching cannot be gained half-heartedly, but only with suffering.” Hearing these words, Eka secretly took out a sword and cut off his left forearm to show his determination. Because of this, he was admitted and spent six years in hard training.…