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 1.5

1.5

One day, the Fifth Patriarch suddenly summoned all his disciples to assemble. When the disciples had gathered, the Fifth Patriarch said: "I tell you, for the people of this world the matter of saṃsāra is of great importance. You disciples make offerings all day long, seeking only fields of merit, not seeking to escape the painful sea of saṃsāra. When your own-natures are deluded, how can merit save you? Go back to your rooms and look for yourselves; those who have wisdom should spontaneously apprehend the prajñā of their original nature and each compose a verse to present to me. I will inspect your verses: if anyone has awakened to the great meaning, I will transmit to him the robe and Dharma and install him as the sixth generation. Do it with the utmost urgency!"