Dama (seated), and his student
The name Dharma-Zen comes from Bodhidharma (Dharma, Dama) and Zen (Japanese name), or Chan (Chinese name), Buddhism. Bodhidharma was a famous Indian Buddhist monk of the 6th century A.D. He taught Zen (Chan) Buddhism in China and is credited for having brought Zen to China.
Bodhidharma was the 28th Patriarch (Zen Master) in India. When he went to China, he became the first Chinese Patriarch. He aimed at simplification of Doctrine and placed no reliance on Scriptures, but rather on the awakening of the Buddha-Nature within by direct perception. It is believed that he taught chi kung and martial arts to the monks of the Shaolin Temple. So, in calling his studio the Dharma-Zen Tai Chi Studio, Danny’s hoping that through Tai Chi and chi kung training, his students can become healthier, calmer and more peaceful.
Bodhidharma, woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, 1887.