Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Altar Sutra

Chapter 25
This article narrates that Master Huineng, the sixth patriarch, explained the "Great Nirvana Sutra" after hearing the Bhikkhuni's endless collection, and proposed that "the wonderful principles of all Buddhas are not related to words", which shows the thought of "no words" in Southern Zen. .Then it describes the reasons why scholars from all walks of life came to ask for benefits after Huineng obtained the Dharma. A series of chance dialogues and lectures by Zen Master Jue, Zen Master Zhihuang, and Seng Fangbian, etc., expounded many ideological purports of Southern Zen: such as "to achieve all appearances is the mind, to be apart from all appearances is to be the Buddha", "in the appearance Divide form, separate from emptiness in emptiness", "If you say it looks like a thing, you will not be in the middle" and so on.

Original
The teacher learned the law from Huangmei and returned to Caohou Village, Shaozhou. People are ignorant.There is Liu Zhilue, a Confucian scholar, who received very generous courtesy.Zhilue Yougu is a nun named Wuwu Zang, who often recites the Great Nirvana Sutra.The teacher listened for a while, and immediately knew the wonderful meaning, so he explained it.Ninai held the questionnaire and asked questions.

The master said: I don't know the characters, I just ask about the meaning.

Ni said: "If you don't know the characters, how can you understand the meaning?"

The teacher said: The wonderful principles of the Buddhas are not about words.

Ni was surprised.Qi De said in the report ①: This is a man of Taoism, and it is advisable to ask for offerings.

Cao Shuliang, the great-great-grandson of Marquis Wu of Wei, and the residents came to see the ceremony.At that time, the ancient Baolin Temple had been abandoned since the end of the Sui Dynasty.Then the Buddhist temple was rebuilt on the old foundation, and the teacher was extended to live there, and Russia became a treasure square.

The master lived for more than nine months, and was chased by the evil party. The master fled to the front mountain, and was set on fire by him. The master escaped by hiding in the stone.The stone now has the marks on the knees of the master sitting on it, and the pattern of the cloth, so it is called the refuge stone.The teacher recalled that the fifth patriarch, Huaihui, ordered him to stop hiding, so he went to hide in Eryiyan.

注释
①Jide: A person with high moral character.

② Fanyu: another name for Buddhist temple, that is, Buddhist temple.

③ Baofang: The good name of the temple.

Translation
Master Huineng came to Caohou Village in Shaozhou after receiving the clothes from Master Hongren, the Fifth Patriarch of Huangmei. No one knew about him.At that time, there was a Confucian scholar named Liu Zhilue, who treated Master Huineng with respect and hospitality.Liu Zhilue had an aunt who became a nun and became a nun. Her Dharma name was endless Tibetan, and she often recited the Great Nirvana Sutra.Master Huineng knew the mysterious meaning of the scriptures after listening for a while, so he explained the meaning of the scriptures to Wu Wu Zang.Wu WuZang took the scriptures in his hand and asked for the words in the Huineng Sutra.

Huineng said: "When it comes to characters, I don't know them. If you have any questions about righteousness, feel free to ask."

The nun Wu Wu Zang said: "If you don't know the characters, how can you understand the essence of the scriptures?"

Master Huineng said: "All the trivial words and great meanings of Buddhism have nothing to do with words."

The nun was very surprised after hearing this.He told all the senior and virtuous elders in the village, saying: "This is a man of virtue, he should be invited to make offerings to him."

Cao Shuliang, the great-great-grandson of Marquis Wu of Wei, and nearby residents rushed to pay homage to Master Huineng.At that time, there was an ancient Baolin Temple, which had been destroyed for a long time since it encountered wars and wars at the end of the Sui Dynasty.So the temple was rebuilt on the old site, and Master Huineng was invited to live in the abbot of the temple. In an instant, it became a holy place of Buddhism.

Master Huineng lived for more than nine months, and was hunted down by the evil party. Master Huineng then hid in the front mountain, and was attacked by the evil party who set fire to the mountain. The master hid his body among the stones and survived.Today, there are prints of Master Huineng's knees and cloth patterns on his clothes when he sat in lotus position on the stone, so the stone is named "Stone of Refuge".Recalling the exhortation of the Fifth Patriarch to "stop when you are pregnant, and hide when you meet", the master went to hide in the two counties of Huaiji and Sihui.

Original
Seng Fahai was born in Qujiang, Shaozhou.The first time I participated in the ancestors.Asked: The heart is the Buddha, I wish to point out.The teacher said: If the former thought does not arise, it is the mind①; if the later thought does not die out, it is the Buddha;If I have a saying, there will be endless kalpas.Listen to my verse:
That is mind name wisdom, that is Buddha is concentration;
Dinghui waits and holds, the mind is pure.

To understand this Dharma door, it depends on your habits ④;

Use the essence without birth, and double cultivation is righteousness.

Fa Hai said that he had great enlightenment, and praised him in verse:

That is to say, the heart is the Buddha, and if you don't realize it, you will subdue yourself;
I know the cause of concentration and wisdom, and the double cultivation is free from all things.

Seng Fada, a native of Hongzhou, became a monk at the age of seven and often recited the Lotus Sutra.When you come to salute the patriarch, your head does not reach the ground.

Shi He said, "How can you be disrespectful if you don't respect the ground?"There must be something in your heart, what is the habit?
Said: Recitation of the Lotus Sutra has reached three thousand volumes⑤.

The teacher said: If you recite to ten thousand divisions and get the meaning of the scriptures, but do not think that you are superior, then walk with me.You don't even know that you are responsible for this career.Listen to my verse:
The book of rites breaks the slow building ⑥, and the head does not reach the ground;

If you are guilty of me, you will live, and you will die with incomparable merit and blessing.

The master said again: What is your name?
Said: Fada.

The master said: Your name is Fada, when did you ever attain Dharma?Repeat the verse:
You are now named Fada, and you recite diligently without resting;
Empty recitation but follow the sound, Mingxin Bodhisattva.

You have a reason now, and I will explain it to you now;
But believing in the Buddha is speechless, and the lotus flower speaks from the mouth.

Dawen verse, regretted and said: From now on, you should be humble to everything.When disciples recited the Lotus Sutra, they did not understand the meaning of the scriptures, and they often had doubts in their hearts.The monk has great wisdom, and I would like to briefly explain the principles in the scriptures.

The master said: Fada!The Dharma is very attainable, but your heart is not attainable.There is no doubt about the scriptures, and you doubt yourself.When you recite this scripture, what is your sect?

Da said: "Students are dull in nature. They have always recited according to the text, but they don't know the interest of the sect!"

注释
①Previous thoughts do not arise: Nian refers to ideas, and also refers to the moment of time.The past is called the former thought, and the continuation is called the later thought.Forethought and backthought refer to the instantaneous change of the mind.The previous thought does not arise, which means that the previous thought has passed away, so don't miss its rebirth, and don't be attached to your own thinking activities.The following "sequent thoughts are not extinguished" means that the thoughts that will appear are allowed to appear, and there is no need to deliberately restrict and suppress one's cognitive activities.

②Because everything is the heart: that is to say, all external things and phenomena are derivatives of the heart.Phase, the meaning of shape or state; as opposed to nature, ontology, etc., it refers to the image state of all dharmas.

③Buddha from all appearances: Enlightenment is achieved when the mind is not disturbed by all external things and phenomena.

④ Habits: Also known as the nature of learning, that is, the nature cultivated in previous studies.

⑤ Lotus Sutra: The abbreviation of "Miaofa Lotus Sutra". "Jingzhongfa Master Class" said: "This is the collection of the Lotus Sutra, which is deep and remote, and no one can reach it." Among all the scriptures, it is the highest."

⑥ Li Ben folds slow building (chuáng): Refers to etiquette to get rid of arrogance.Zhuang, also known as Baozhu, Tianzhu, and Fazhu, is a kind of banner, which is used to adorn Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and Taoist places.It is said that the barrel-shaped ones are called buildings, and the long sheet-shaped ones are called banners.The slow building is a metaphor for pride and arrogance. The heart is like a towering building when preaching.

Translation
The monk Fahai is a native of Qujiang, Shaozhou.At the beginning, he paid homage to Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch.

Question: "What does it mean that the heart is the Buddha? I hope you can give me instructions."

Master Huineng said: "It is the mind not to miss the thoughts of the past, and it is the Buddha to allow the thoughts of the future to appear. It is the heart that can form all dharmas and all appearances, and it is the Buddha to be able to leave all dharmas. If I give If you talk about it in detail, it may take countless kalpas to talk about it, so please listen to my gatha." The gatha said:
That is mind name wisdom, that is Buddha is concentration;
Dinghui waits and holds, the mind is pure.

To understand this Dharma door, it is up to you to get used to it;
Use the essence without birth, and double cultivation is righteousness.

Fahai was completely enlightened immediately, and expressed his admiration with a verse:
That is to say, the heart is the Buddha, and if you don't realize it, you will subdue yourself;
I know the cause of concentration and wisdom, and the double cultivation is free from all things.

Fada, a monk, was born in Hongzhou.When he was seven years old, he became a monk and often recited the Lotus Sutra.When he came to pay homage to Master Huineng, the sixth patriarch, he did not touch the ground with his head.

Master Huineng reprimanded him and said, "It's better not to salute without touching your head to the ground. You must be attached to something in your heart. What do you usually practice?"

Fada said: "I have recited three thousand volumes of the Lotus Sutra!"

Master Huineng, the sixth patriarch, said: "If you read tens of thousands of volumes and realize the great meaning of the scriptures, but you still don't think it's great, then you can practice with me. You are proud of this career now, and you don't even know yourself. sins. Listen to my gatha." The gatha said:
The book of etiquette breaks the slow building, and the head can't reach the ground;
If you are guilty of me, you will live, and you will die with incomparable merit and blessing.

Master Huineng said again, "What's your name?"

Fada replied, "My name is Fada."

Master Huineng said, "Your name is Fada. Where have you mastered the Dharma?" Then he said another verse:
You are now named Fada, and you recite diligently without resting;
Empty recitation but follow the sound, Mingxin Bodhisattva.

You have a reason now, and I will explain it to you now;
But believing in the Buddha is speechless, and the lotus flower speaks from the mouth.

After hearing the gatha, Fada felt very regretful, and apologized to Master Huineng, saying: "From now on, I should maintain a humble attitude towards everything. My disciples recited the "Lotus Sutra", but they did not understand the great meaning of the Buddhist scriptures. Doubts. The master has boundless and vast wisdom, and I hope to explain the meaning of the scriptures to me in general."

Master Huineng said: "Fada! The Dharma is very accessible, and your original mind and confusion will not be able to reach it. There are no doubts in the Buddhist scriptures, but doubts arise in your own mind. When you read this Buddhist scriptures, what do you think is in it? Purpose?"

Fada said: "My nature is dark and dull, and I only know how to recite the scriptures according to the words. How can I know the purpose and purpose of the scriptures!"

Original
The teacher said: I don't know how to write, so try to recite the scriptures once, and I will explain them to you.Fada means chanting the scriptures aloud, to the parable ①.The master said: stop!This scripture is based on the origin of karma.Even if there are many metaphors, there is no more than this.What is the cause?The scriptures say: All the Buddhas, World Honored Ones, appear in the world only because of a great event.The big thing is the knowledge and vision of the Buddha.

People in the world are obsessed with appearance on the outside, and emptiness on the inside.If you can separate form from form, separate from emptiness from emptiness, you will not be deluded inside and outside.If you realize this method, open your mind with one thought, it is to open the Buddha's knowledge and view.

Buddha, I still feel it.It is divided into four gates: opening awareness and knowledge, showing awareness and seeing, realizing awareness and seeing, and entering awareness and seeing.If you hear the teaching, you will be able to realize it, that is, to perceive and see, and the original true nature will appear.

Be careful not to misinterpret the meaning of the scriptures: Seeing the enlightenment of other ways, enlightenment, self-knowledge of the Buddha, and no distinction in my generation.If you make this interpretation, you are slandering the scriptures and destroying the Buddha.Since he is a Buddha, he already has knowledge and vision, so what's the use of opening it up?Now you should believe in the Buddha, know and see, only your own mind, and there is no other Buddha.For the sake of all sentient beings, blinding oneself to the light, loving the dusty world ④, being disturbed by external factors and internally, willing to be driven away, and then laboring to other world-honored ones, starting from samadhi, giving all kinds of bitter words ⑤, persuading people to sleep, not seeking outside, no different from the Buddha , Therefore, the cloud opens the Buddha's knowledge.I also advise all people to always open up the Buddha's knowledge and view in their hearts.People in the world have evil minds, be foolish and commit crimes, speak kindly and have evil intentions, be greedy, angry and jealous, flatter and flatter others with arrogance[-], intrude on others and harm things, and self-discover the knowledge and views of all living beings[-].If you can straighten your mind, you will always have wisdom, observe your own mind, stop evil and do good, this is the knowledge and view of the Buddha.

You must read and recite to open up the Buddha's knowledge and view, not to open up the sentient beings' knowledge and view. To open up the Buddha's knowledge and view is to be born out of the world.To open up the knowledge and views of all living beings is the world.If you are obsessed with hard work and think of homework, how is it different from Niu Aiwei?
注释
① Metaphor: the name of the sutra, the third of the 28 chapters of the "Lotus Sutra", from the second volume of the sutra.

②Beyond the World: An abbreviation for “Beyond the World”, which means transcending the world and leaving the world. It refers to the appearance of Buddhas in the world to become Buddhas to teach and transform all living beings; it also refers to jumping out of the world and no longer accepting life and death.

③Buddha's knowledge and view: "Lotus Sutra · Convenience Products" says: "Open the Buddha's knowledge and view." It refers to the wisdom of the Buddha.Knowing and seeing refers to opinions that are established according to one's own thinking.Different from wisdom, wisdom is Prajna's indiscriminate wisdom, which is the mind that separates from thinking and thinking.

④ Dust state: Refers to the object of the mind, which is the object of the mind of the six dusts, that is, the six states of form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharma.

⑤ All kinds of bitter taste: according to different situations, use different methods to educate.

⑥ Self-arrogance: regard "I" as the center of one's self, and form arrogance from the "I" held on to.

⑦The knowledge and views of all living beings: Refers to the views that will cause troubles for ordinary people.

⑧Yak (lí) Niu Aiwei: From "Lotus Sutra · Convenience Products".People are reluctant to give up their desires, just like yaks love their tails.

Translation
Master Huineng said: "I don't know how to read, so first read the Buddhist scriptures and I will explain them to you." Fada immediately recited the scriptures aloud. "Stop, this sutra was originally based on the reason why the Tathagata appeared in the world. Even though there are many metaphors, it does not go beyond this purpose. What is cause and condition? The Buddhist scriptures say: 'All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are for one The cause and condition of a major event appeared in the world." This major event is the true knowledge and correct view of the Buddha.

"People in the world are obsessed with the appearance of the external environment outside, and they are attached to emptiness and emptiness when they are inside. If they can transcend all appearances in all appearances and all emptiness in all air, then they are not attached to the inside and the outside. If you realize this method, you will suddenly become enlightened in a single thought, this is the knowledge and view of the enlightened Buddha.

"Buddha is enlightenment. It is divided into four gates: opening the view of awareness, showing the view of awareness, realizing the view of awareness, and entering into the view of awareness. If you hear the teaching, you will be able to enter into enlightenment. This is awareness. See, the original Buddha-like nature can be manifested.

"You must be careful not to misunderstand the great meaning of the Buddhist scriptures: listen to him talk about enlightenment, enlightenment, enlightenment, and entry into the four doors of awareness, thinking that this is the Buddha's knowledge and view, and has nothing to do with people like us. If you do this Understand, that is to slander the scriptures and defame the Buddha. Since the Buddha is already a Buddha, he already has enough consciousness and right views, so why do you need to be enlightened again? You should believe in the so-called Buddha’s knowledge and views today, which are only in your own heart, and there are no other Buddhas. .Because all sentient beings, self-concealed wisdom and light, greedy love and hate the mundane world, external factors permeated, internal delusion disturbed, so they are willing to drive and gallop for all dusty troubles, and even more trouble my Buddha, World Honored One, starting from meditation, earnestly, I advise all living beings to stop their minds and stop their thoughts, and not to seek falsehoods outside their minds, so that they will be no different from the Buddha, so it is said to be enlightened to the Buddha's knowledge. I also advise everyone to always enlighten to the Buddha's knowledge in their own hearts. See. People in the world are prone to evil thoughts, ignorance and obsession, and commit crimes. They say good things with their mouths, but do evil things in their hearts. Greed, anger, jealousy, flattery, falsehood, selfishness, arrogance, and harm to others and things are all self-inflicted. To understand the worldly knowledge and views of all beings. If you can correct your original mind, often generate wisdom, observe and examine your original mind, stop evil thoughts, and practice kindness, you will be enlightened to the Buddha's knowledge and views.

"You must be mindful, and enlighten the Buddha's knowledge at all times. Don't open up the worldly knowledge of sentient beings. To enlighten the Buddha's knowledge is to transcend the world. To open the sentient beings' knowledge is to fall into the world. If you just How is it different from a yak caring for its long tail and obsessing over its long tail?"

Original
Da said: If so, but you can explain the meaning without reciting the scriptures?
The teacher said: What is wrong with the scriptures, how can it hinder your recitation!It's only for others to realize the confusion, and the profit and loss are up to you.Oral recitation of the mind is the scripture turning①; oral recitation of the heart is not enough, that is, being turned by the scriptures.Listen to my verse:
Lost in the mind, the Dharma flower turns ②, and the mind realizes the Dharma flower.

I don't understand the scriptures for a long time, and I am an enemy of righteousness.

Without thoughts, thoughts are righteous, and thoughts become evil.

Regardless of whether there is or is not, the long imperial white ox cart ③.

When Da heard the verse, he didn't feel weeping, and he said that he was greatly enlightened, and he told the teacher: "Fada has come from the past, and he has never turned the Dharma flower, but was turned by the Dharma flower."Re-enlightenment said: The scriptures say: All great hearers and even bodhisattvas think and measure together, and cannot measure the wisdom of the Buddha.Today, if ordinary people only realize their own minds, it is called the knowledge and vision of Buddhas. Since they are not the highest roots, it is doubtful and slandering.It is also said that there are three carts ④, how to distinguish the carts of sheep, deer and oxen from the carts of white oxen?May the monk hang down again.

The master said: The meaning of the scriptures is clear, but you are confused.People of the Three Vehicles ⑤ cannot measure the wisdom of the Buddha, the trouble lies in the measurement.Rao Yi tried his best to push forward, and turned to hang far.The Buddha was originally taught for ordinary people, not for the Buddha.If you do not believe in this principle, you will withdraw from his seat.As everyone knows, he sat in a white ox cart, and looked for three carts outside the door.Kuang Jingwen said to you: There is only one Buddha vehicle, there is no other vehicle, two or three, even countless conveniences, all kinds of causes, conditions, metaphors and words, all of them are one Buddha vehicle.Why don't you think about it!The three chariots are false, because of the past; the first chariot is real, because of the present.I only teach you to get rid of the fake and return to the real. After returning to the real, the real is also nameless.You should know that all the treasures belong to you, and you can use them; let alone thinking about being a father⑥, not thinking about being a son⑦, and thinking about being useless⑧, this is called holding the Lotus Sutra.From kalpa to kalpa, I don't let go of the scroll, from day to night, I always read the time.

Damon was inspired and rejoiced enthusiastically.Praise in verse:
Three thousand scriptures were recited, and one sentence of Caoxi died.

Unknown purpose of birth, Ning Xie is tired and mad?
Sheep, deer and cattle rights are established, and after junior high school, they are good at ⑨.

Unexpectedly, in Huo Zhai ⑩, Yuan is the King of Fazhong B11.

The master said: From now on, you will be called a sutra-chanting monk.

From then on, Da received the mysterious decree and continued to chant scriptures.

(End of this chapter)