[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [六祖大師法寶壇經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008) › 1.175 # 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.175 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.175 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.175](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.175) 達摩乾乾，傳佛語心，六承其授，大鑒是臨。勞勤專默，終挹于深，抱其信器，行海之陰。其道爰施，在溪之曹，厖合猥附，不夷其高。傳告咸陳，惟道之褒，生而性善，在物而具。荒流奔軼，乃萬其趣，匪思愈亂，匪覺滋誤。由師內鑒，咸獲于素，不植乎根，不耘乎苗。中一外融，有粹孔昭，在帝中宗，聘言于朝。陰翊王度，俾人逍遙，越百有六祀，號諡不紀。由扶風公，告今天子，尚書既復大行，乃誄光于南土。其法再起，厥徒萬億，同悼齊喜。惟師化所被洎，扶風公所履，咸戴天子。天子休命，嘉公德美，溢于海夷，浮圖是視。師以仁傳，公以仁理，謁辭圖堅，永胤不已。 > merit.\] Master \[Bodhi\]dharma scolded him, and the technique of emptiness became increasingly apparent. The sixfold transmission arrived at Great Mirror (i.e., Huineng). Initially, Great Mirror labored hard at his task \[of hulling rice\], but when he once heard the words \[of Shenxiu’s verse\], his \[own\] words were rare and trenchant. Master \[Hongren’s enlightened\] functioning responded, and at last \[Huineng\] received the implements of authentication. He hid himself in Nanhai, and no one heard of him. Then, after sixteen years, \[the time was right for him to\] undertake the salvation \[of sentient beings\], so he took up residence in Caoqi and became the teacher of humans. Those who assembled to study under him numbered a thousand. > > \[Huineng’s\] Way took the unconditioned as being, the empty void as the real, and the vast and unbounded as the refuge. He taught people first with essentialistic goodness, ultimately \[to point out that\] essentialistic goodness did not depend on weeding and hoeing. Fundamentally, it is serene. > > \[Emperor\] Zhongzong heard of his fame and dispatched an emissary who invited him twice \[to court\], but he was unable to go. \[The emperor\] took his words as the technique of the mind. His teaching is extant in its entirety and is now disseminated \[everywhere\] under heaven. All that which is called “Chan” has its origins at Caoqi. > > \[Great Master\] Great Mirror departed the world one hundred and six years ago, having extensively instilled \[his teaching\] in an extensive following. His well-known \[successors\] number a few over ten, but I cannot list their names here. Now, for the first time, the emperor has been informed \[of his achievements\] and he has attained a “great” posthumous title. Bounteously has he aided our Way—could he not but receive such an accolade? > > When Lord \[Ma Zong of Fufeng\] first stood before the court, he was strong in Confucian learning. He has been Governor of Qianzhou (Gong Xian, Jiangxi) and Protector of Annan, and the great Man and Yi, barbarians from India in the West, have come over the ocean on their ships to hear his commands. They all accept the public virtue, receiving banners \[of enfeoffment\], and regulating their halberds. After \[Ma Zong of Fufeng\] arrived to overlook the southern oceans, those who have joined our country > > are \[as numerous as the trees of\] a forest. They do not murder, nor are they angry; the people are filled with awe and do not speak bluntly. In truth, well does the refulgence \[of his administrative success illuminate\] the virtuous \[Ma Zong of Fufeng\]. > > The brilliant procession for Great Mirror was not like that for a lord, but it is fitting that he be the elder of the people, and it is simple to \[make him\] a rock beneath the foundation \[of the national welfare\].164 > > Your emissary proceeded there to pay respect with this accolade, which reads: > > Bodhidharma, advancing ceaselessly, transmitted the mind of the > > Buddha’s sayings, and > > The sixfold succession was bestowed on Great Mirror for oversight. > > Laboring diligently in singleminded silence, he ultimately grasped > > the profound, and > > Wrapped himself in the implements of authentication (i.e., the robe > > and bowl),165 going to his southward haven. > > His Way, at Caoqi here bequeathed, > > Whether combined with great or humble, its stature is not razed. > > The transmission, recounted in its entirety, is for the Way but praise. > > Born with essentialistic goodness, in beings innate; > > Crazily rushing, racing in the extreme, a myriad modes of existence; > > Not thinking and increasingly chaotic, not realizing and increasingly > > mistaken— > > Through the master’s internal mirroring, all is attained in the > > fundamental. > > If one does not plant roots, one will not cultivate seedlings; > > If the one within is melded without, one will possess pure brilliance > > in the extreme. > > Emperor Zhongzong enjoined that word be sent to the court, > > In the shadows assisting the salvation of kings, the humble person > > free and easy. > > One hundred and six years have passed with title unrecorded, > > But through Lord Fufeng the Son of Heaven was now informed. > > From the Secretariat was returned the practice of the “great” \[title\], > > which eulogized > > His brilliance across the southern lands, rejuvenating his Dharma. > > His followers were ten thousand, a hundred million, despondent > > together, elated together. > > One thinks the extent of the master’s teaching derives from Lord > > Fufeng, > > Who has offered all of his experience to the Son of Heaven. > > The Son of Heaven, in repose, has ordered, > > And the excellent lord has virtue beauteous. > > Overflowing the oceans are the barbarians, overlooked by the Buddha. > > The master \[Huineng\] has transmitted \[his teaching\] with benevolence, > > And with benevolence has Lord \[Fufeng\] administered. > — John R. McRae 2000, The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch - [Previous: 1.174](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.174) - [Next: 1.176](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.176) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1) ## Translations (2) - [The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008~en-bdk.1.175) — John R. McRae 2000, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008~en-mt.1.175) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.175](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.175) · Pramāṇa