Originally a simple unassuming monk with no temple cult and a wandering existence, Bodhidharma has since found himself a focus of legend and his good name hijacked to enhance other people's reputation.
由於菩提達摩原是個素樸、單純的修行人，而且沒有道場，隨緣居留，因此在他的後代弟子為其「光大門戶」後，除了佛教界為他增加了一些情節，很多人也來借用這位祖師的名聲，壯自己的聲勢。