Bodhidharma Meditating Facing a Cliff
1204
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1204
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man sits cross-legged on a rocky ledge, eyes half-closed, facing a sheer cliff. His robe is simple, his beard wild. Behind him, a younger man stands with hands folded, watching. This painting shows Bodhidharma, the monk who brought Zen Buddhism to China. The cliff isn’t just scenery—it’s part of the lesson. In Zen, obstacles like rocks or silence aren’t things to fight. They’re the practice itself. If you like this quiet moment, look up *china, song dynasty (960-1279)* for more paintings from this time.
