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 1.42

1.42

The Prefect bowed and said: "The Upādhyāya's preaching of the Dharma is truly inconceivable. This disciple still has a small doubt and wishes to ask the Upādhyāya about it. I hope the Upādhyāya will, out of great kindness and great compassion, explain it for this disciple." The Master said: "If you have a doubt, ask immediately; why hesitate to ask repeatedly?" The Prefect asked: "Could the Dharma [you teach] be the essential tenet of Patriarch Bodhidharma, the first master from the Western Land?" The Master said: "It is!" The Prefect asked: "This disciple has heard it said that Master Bodhidharma converted Emperor Wu of Liang. The Emperor asked Bodhidharma: 'Throughout my life, have I attained merit and virtue by building temples, giving, and making offerings?' Bodhidharma answered: 'None whatsoever.' Emperor Wu was disappointed and thereupon expelled Bodhidharma from his realm. I do not understand these words; I ask the Upādhyāya to explain." The Sixth Patriarch said: "Truly there was no merit and virtue; Prefect, do not doubt Master Bodhidharma's words. Emperor Wu was attached to a wrong way and did not recognize the right Dharma." The Prefect asked: "Why was there no merit and virtue?" The Upādhyāya said: "Building temples, giving, and making offerings are merely cultivating merit. One must not mistake merit for merit and virtue. Merit and virtue reside in the dharmakāya, not in fields of merit. One's own Dharma-nature possesses merit and virtue; being straightforward is the buddhadhātu. If outwardly one practices respect, yet disparages all people and does not cut off the ego, one is personally devoid of merit and virtue. If the own-nature is devoid of merit and virtue, the dharmakāya is devoid of merit and virtue. If thought after thought one practices an impartial and straightforward mind, virtue will not be slight. If one always practices reverence, personally cultivating the body is 'merit', and personally cultivating the mind is 'virtue'. Merit and virtue are created from one's own mind; merit is distinct from merit and virtue. Emperor Wu did not recognize the right principle; it was not that the Patriarch had any fault."