On the High Seat of "The Treasure of the Law" The Sutra of
the 6 th Patriarch, Hui Neng
(Translated by A.F.Price and Wong Mou-Lam)
Chapter V. Dhyana
The Patriarch (one day) preached to the assembly as follows:
In our system of meditation, we neither dwell upon the mind (in
contradistinction to the Essence of Mind) nor upon purity. Nor do we
approve of non-activity. As to dwelling upon the mind, the mind is
primarily delusive; and when we realize that it is only a phantasm
there is no need
to dwell on it. As to dwelling upon purity, our nature is intrinsically
pure; and so far as we get rid of all delusive 'idea' there will be
nothing but purity in our nature, for it is the delusive idea that
obscures Tathata (Suchness). If we direct our mind to dwell upon purity
we are only creating another delusion, the delusion of purity. Since
delusion has no abiding place, it is delusive to dwell upon it. Purity
has neither shape nor form; but some people go so far as to invent the
'Form of Purity', and treat it as a problem for solution. Holding such
an opinion, these people are purity-ridden, and their Essence of Mind
is thereby obscured.
Learned Audience, those who train themselves for 'imperturbability'
should, in their contact with all types of men, ignore the faults of
others. They should be indifferent to others' merit or demerit, good or
evil, for such an attitude accords with the 'imperturbability of the
Essence
of Mind'. Learned Audience, a man unenlightened may be unperturbed
physically, but as soon as he opens his mouth he criticizes others and
talks about
their merits or demerits, ability or weakness, good or evil; thus he
deviates from the right course.
On the other hand, to dwell upon our own mind or upon purity is also a
stumbling-block in the Path.
The Patriarch on another occasion preached to the assembly as follows:
Learned Audience, what is sitting for meditation? In our School, to sit
means to gain absolute freedom and to be mentally unperturbed in
all outward circumstances, be they good or otherwise. To meditate means
to realize inwardly the imperturbability of the Essence of Mind.
Learned Audience, what are Dhyana and Samadhi? Dhyana means to
be free from attachment to all outer objects, and Samadhi means to
attain inner peace. If we are attached to outer objects, our inner mind
will be perturbed.
When we are free from attachment to all outer objects, the mind will be
in peace. Our Essence of Mind is intrinsically pure, and the reason why
we are perturbed is because we allow ourselves to be carried away by
the circumstances we are in.
He who is able to keep his mind unperturbed, irrespective of
circumstances, has attained Samadhi.
To be free from attachment to all outer objects is Dhyana, and
to attain inner peace is Samadhi. When we are in a position to deal
with Dhyana and to keep our inner mind in Samadhi, then we are said to
have attained Dhyana and Samadhi. The Bodhisattva Sila Sutra says, "Our
Essence of Mind is intrinsically pure." Learned Audience, let us
realize
this for ourselves at all times. Let us train ourselves, practice it by
ourselves, and attain Buddhahood by our own effort.
Chapter 3. Questions and Answers
Chapter 7. Temperament and Circumstances
