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 wedirect 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
torealize 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 BodhisattvaSila 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