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 1.10

1.10

A young boy, passing by the pestle shed, was chanting this verse. As soon as Huineng heard it, he knew that [its author] had not seen the nature, but [the author] recognized the great meaning. Neng asked the boy: "What verse was that which you were chanting just now?" The boy answered Neng: "Do you not know that the Master said the matter of saṃsāra is great? Wishing to transmit the robe and Dharma, he ordered the disciples each to compose a verse to present for inspection: whoever awakens to the great meaning will be granted the robe and Dharma and succeed as the sixth-generation patriarch. A senior monk named Shenxiu suddenly wrote a formless verse beneath the south corridor. The Fifth Patriarch ordered all disciples to recite it; whoever awakens to this verse will see their own-nature, and practicing in accord with it, one will achieve liberation." Huineng replied: "I have been treading the pestle here for more than eight months and have not yet gone before the hall. I hope you, virtuous one, will lead Huineng to the south corridor so I may see this verse and pay homage to it. I also wish to recite it, to form a connection for future lives and vow to be born in a buddha-land." The boy led Neng to the south corridor, and Neng immediately paid homage to the verse. Because he was illiterate, he asked someone to read it. Having heard it, Huineng immediately understood the great meaning. Huineng also composed a verse and asked a person who could write to record it on the west wall, presenting his own original mind. If one does not know the original mind, studying the Dharma is of no benefit; if one knows the mind and sees the nature, one directly awakens to the great meaning. Huineng's verse read: