Suzuki, quoting from the Pieh Chi:
“The master [Bodhidharma] first stayed in the Shorinji monastery for nine years, and when he taught the second patriarch, it was only in the following way: ‘Externally keep yourself away from all relationships, and, internally, have no hankerings in your heart; when your mind is like unto a straight standing wall you may enter into the Path."
Hui-k’e tried variously to explain the reason of mind, but failed to realize the truth itself. The master simply said, ‘No! No!’ and never proposed to explain to his disciple what was the mind-essence in its thought-less state.
[Later] said Hui-k’e, ‘I know now how to keep myself away from all relationships.’ ‘You make it a total annihilation, do you not?’ queried the master. ‘No master,’ replied Hui-k’e, ‘I do not make it a total annihilation.’ ‘How do you testify to your statement?’ ‘For I know it always in a most intelligible manner, but to express it in words- that is impossible.” ‘That is the mind-essence itself transmitted by all the Buddhas. Harbor no doubts about it.'"
Discussion:
Suzuki argues that "Wall Gazer" comes from this teaching "mind like a straight standing wall". He argues that this passage explains both the nickname, and the reason that Buddhists of the time considered Bodhidharma so revolutionary (not in the good way).
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