After Sakyamuni, Buddhism began to flourish and expand, and a variety of paths to enlightenment emerged. With multiple forms of devotion being practiced, the identity of the religion became increasingly indistinct. Hence the reversion to first principles initiated by Bodhidharma and Hui Neng. This process, which spread throughout China, emphasized the transcending of worldliness in order to attain holiness, and the overcoming of holiness to restore worldliness.
釋迦摩尼佛證悟後，佛教廣佈，出現許多法門，教下佛學越盛，宗門修行的面目卻越模糊，於是才有了達摩、慧能的回歸，這個回歸超凡入聖，越聖回凡，在中國廣為流傳。