uddha. Yet the two branches, while presenting of
necessity a different aspect, form but one whole."

Now that Doctrine of the Heart had always been in existence; it
does not mean that Bodhidharma invented anything. But in a line
of Teachers, each will have its own methods, and, if there is
progress, there will be new and deeper revelations. The Buddha
gave out so much, as the time permitted him; Nagarjuna, founding
the Mahayana, so much further; Bodhidharma, now that with the
move to China a new lease of life had come, gave out, or rather
taught to his disciples, so much more again of the doctrine that
in its fulness is and always has been the doctrine of the Lodge.

Lian Wuti, the emperor at Nanking, had been at the end of the
fifth century a general in the service of the last scion of a
dying dynasty there, and a devout Taoist; in 502 he became the
first of a new dynasty, the Liang; and presently, a devout
Buddhist. Chinese historians love him not; Fenollosa describes
him as too generous-minded and other-worldly for success. Yet he
held the throne for nearly fifty years; a time in which art was
culminating and affairs advancing through splendor and unwisdom
to a downfall. Twice he took the yellow robe and alms-bowl, and
went forth through his domains, emperor still, but mendicant
missionary preaching the Good Law.--The Truth? the Inner
doctrine?--I learn most about this poor Lian Wuti from the record
of an interview held once between him and the 'Blue-eyed Brahmin'
Master of Dzyan. Lian Wuti invited Bodhidharma to court, and
Bodhidharma came. Said the emperor:

--"Since my accession I have been continually building temples,
transcribing books, and admitting new monks to take the vows.
How much merit may I be supposed to have accumulated?"

--"None," said Bodhidharma.

--"And why none?"

--"All this," said the Master, "is but the insignificant effect
of an imperfect cause not complete in itself; it is but the
shadow that follows the substance, and without real existence."

--"Then what," asked Wuti, "is real merit?"

--"It consists in purity and enlightenment, depth and completeness;
in being wrapped in thought while surrounded by vacancy and
stillness. Merit such as this cannot be won by worldly means."

Wuti, I suppose, found this kind of conversation difficult, and
changed the subject,--with an exotericist's question. Said he:

--"Which is the most important of the holy doctrines?"

--"Wher