"Once you see your nature, sex is basically immaterial"

Bodhidharma, a famous Buddhist monk typically credited with bringing Zen Buddhism to China, typically revealed extensive insights into the nature of self and knowledge. The quote "As soon as you see your nature, sex is basically immaterial" serves as a succinct distillation of some of his mentors.

At its core, this statement attends to the basic Zen principle of seeing one's real nature, which is frequently related with accomplishing enlightenment. In Zen Buddhism, realizing one's true nature involves transcending the ego, desires, and illusions that cloud our understanding of the self. It is an awakening to the basic truth that underlies all phenomena-- a state of pure awareness that is free from the dualities and distinctions that generally bind us.

The expression "sex is generally immaterial" recommends that when this state of awareness is reached, traditional differences such as gender end up being irrelevant. In many spiritual traditions, especially in Buddhism, knowledge is about moving beyond the transient and illusory aspects of the self. Gender, being a social and biological construct, is connected to the physical and ego-driven aspects of identity. To concentrate on such momentary and shallow distinctions is to miss out on the higher truth of one's everlasting nature.

Bodhidharma may argue that accessory to gender identity, or any other kind of identity, can be an obstacle on the path to knowledge. The real self, which exists beyond the constraints and definitions enforced by society, is neither male nor female. It is beyond type and exists in a state of non-dual awareness.

Additionally, the quote recommends an egalitarian view, advocating for the dissolution of hierarchical or prejudiced interpretations of gender. In spiritual realization, all beings are equal, and the differences that so frequently divide mankind become useless. For that reason, according to Bodhidharma, acknowledging and abiding in one's true nature permits a person to transcend societal constructs, including that of sex, and to experience the oneness and interconnectedness of all life.