The Life and Trials of Bodhidharma - The Shaolin Chronicles Book 4

The Life and Trials of Bodhidharma - The Shaolin Chronicles Book 4 serves as a prequel and a sequel to the four book series, "The Shaolin Chronicles." This final installment serves as a prequel in that we learn about the life and trials of Jayavarman, called Jaya by his teacher, Prajnatara (Keyura), and who will eventually be known as Bodhidharma (Tamo) - the 28th Patriarch and Dharma Heir in line from the Buddha and the 1st Chan Patriarch in China, who is credited for initiating martial arts and chi kung at the Shaolin Monastery in China.

From learning ayurvedic medicine through his several year-long plus journeys into the forest, and finally to a cave atop the highest mountain, young Jaya learns and grows in the way of Dharma. He eventually becomes a Dharma Heir to Prajnatara and is sent, by his teacher, to China where he eventually makes his way into the Shaolin Monastery, through his eventual Dharma Heir, Hui-k'o (Te).

This book also serves as as a sequel, in that we follow the story of the "five Shaolin masters" Jen Li, Lu, Fung Dou, Pei Mei, and Miu Hin (Papa Dragon) to a point at which their pursuits and wonderings are resolved.

While this book, along with this series, is fictitious - these books incorporate as much information as we currently have about the life and teachings of Bodhidharma (Tamo), as well as the "five Shaolin masters".