True Merit And Emptiness: A Bodhidharma Koan

What is true merit in Zen practice?
In this famous Bodhidharma Koan, Emperor Wu of Liang asks if his temples, sutras, and good deeds bring spiritual reward...and Bodhidharma replies, “No merit at all.”
This dialogue, first in our series, opens the essence of Zen Buddhism, revealing how awakening cannot be gained through effort, but only through emptiness, stillness, and clear insight.
A short Zen meditation and reflection on letting go, insight, and the way beyond striving.