Prajnatara
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Prajnatara was the twenty-seventh patriarch of Indian Buddhism, according to the Chinese Chan lineage. He traveled around India preaching the Buddha's teachings before travelling to China to teach. He was the guru, or teacher, of Bodhidharma.
The Denkoroku: Record of the Transmission of Light by Keizan Jokin Zenji relates the following exchange between Prajnatara and Bodhidharma. Prajnatara: "What is it that is formless amongst things?" Bodhidharma: "Formlessness is unborn." Prajnatara: "What is the highest amongst things?" Bodhidharma: "The Actual Nature is the highest." [1]
Preceded by Punyamitra |
Buddhist Patriarch | Succeeded by Bodhidharma |