The Buddha was an exceptionally cultivated person, very refined, full of grace. Bodhidharma is just the opposite in his expression. He is not a man; he is a lion. He does not speak; he roars. He does not possess the grace that Gautama Buddha had. He is raw, wild, unrefined. He is not polished like a diamond. He has just emerged from the mine, utterly wild, unrefined, with no polish at all. This is his beauty.

The Buddha has his own beauty, very feminine, very polished, very fragile. Bodhidharma has his own beauty, which is like the beauty of a rock - strong, masculine, imperishable, with great power. The Buddha also radiates strength, but his strength is very silent, like a whisper, like a cool breeze. Bodhidharma is a storm that flashes and thunders.

The Buddha comes to your door without making any noise. He will not even knock on your door. You will not hear his footsteps at all. However, when Bodhidharma comes to you, he will shake the whole house to its foundations. The Buddha will not nudge you if you are sleeping. And Bodhidharma? He will wake you up and lift you from your grave! He knocks loudly; he is a hammer.