南宗頓教最上大乘摩訶般若波羅蜜經六祖惠能大師於韶州大梵寺施法壇經 1.78

1.78

法海又白：「大師今去，留付何法，令後代人如何見佛？」六祖言：「汝聽！後代迷人，但識眾生，即能見佛；若不識眾生，覓佛萬劫不可得見也。吾今教汝識眾生見佛，更留〈見真佛解脫頌〉，迷即不見佛，悟者即見。」法海願聞，代代流傳，世世不絕。六祖言：「汝聽！吾與汝說。後代世人，若欲覓佛，但識眾生，即能識佛，即緣佛心有眾生，離眾生無佛心。

Fahai also said: "Now that the Master is departing, what Dharma do you leave and entrust, and how should people of later generations see the Buddha?" The Sixth Patriarch said: "Listen! If deluded people of later generations merely recognize sentient beings, they will be able to see the Buddha; if they do not recognize sentient beings, seeking the Buddha for myriad kalpas, they cannot see him. I now teach you to recognize sentient beings and see the Buddha, and further leave the 'Verse on Seeing the True Buddha and Attaining Liberation'. If deluded, one does not see the Buddha; those who are awakened will see him." Fahai wished to hear it, so that it might be transmitted generation after generation, unending through all ages. The Sixth Patriarch said: "Listen! I will explain it to you. If people of later generations wish to seek the Buddha, they need only recognize sentient beings, and they will be able to recognize the Buddha. It is precisely through the Buddha-mind that there are sentient beings; apart from sentient beings, there is no Buddha-mind.