六祖大師法寶壇經 1.56

1.56

師言：「使君善聽，惠能與說。世尊在舍衛城中，說西方引化。經文分明，去此不遠。若論相說，里數有十萬八千，即身中十惡八邪，便是說遠。說遠為其下根，說近為其上智。人有兩種，法無兩般。迷悟有殊，見有遲疾。迷人念佛求生於彼，悟人自淨其心。所以佛言：『隨其心淨即佛土淨。』使君東方人，但心淨即無罪。雖西方人，心不淨亦有愆。東方人造罪，念佛求生西方。西方人造罪，念佛求生何國？凡愚不了自性，不識身中淨土，願東願西。悟人在處一般，所以佛言：『隨所住處恒安樂。』使君心地但無不善，西方去此不遙。若懷不善之心，念佛往生難到。今勸善知識，先除十惡即行十萬，後除八邪乃過八千。念念見性，常行平直，到如彈指，便覩彌陀。使君但行十善，何須更願往生？不斷十惡之心，何佛即來迎請？若悟無生頓法，見西方只在剎那。不悟念佛求生，路遙如何得達。惠能與諸人，移西方於剎那間，目前便見。各願見否？」

The Master said: "Envoy, listen well; Huineng will explain it for you. When the World-Honoured One was in the city of Śrāvastī, he spoke of the Western Direction to guide and transform beings. The scripture is clear: it is not far from here. If spoken of in terms of characteristics, the distance is one hundred and eight thousand leagues, which is the ten evils and eight wrongs within the body; that is why it is said to be far. It is said to be far for those of inferior capacity, and close for those of superior wisdom. People are of two kinds, but the Dharma is not two things. Delusion and awakening differ, and seeing may be slow or swift. Deluded people recite the Buddha's name seeking to be reborn there; awakened people purify their own minds. Therefore the Buddha said: 'In accordance with the purity of one's mind, the Buddha-land is purified.' Envoy, you are an easterner; if only your mind is pure, you are without fault. Even a westerner, if their mind is impure, commits transgressions. When an easterner commits sin, they recite the Buddha's name seeking rebirth in the West. When a westerner commits sin, reciting the Buddha's name, in what land should they seek rebirth? Common and foolish people do not understand their svabhāva and do not recognise the pure land within their bodies, wishing for the East or wishing for the West. For awakened people, every place is the same. Therefore the Buddha said: 'Wherever one abides, there is constant peace and joy.' Envoy, if only the ground of your mind is free of unwholesomeness, the West is not far from here. If you harbor an unwholesome mind, it will be difficult to attain rebirth by reciting the Buddha's name. Now I urge you, good friends, first eliminate the ten evils and you will have traversed the one hundred thousand; next eliminate the eight wrongs and you will have crossed the eight thousand. In thought after thought seeing into one's nature, constantly practicing what is level and straightforward, you will arrive as quickly as a finger-snap, immediately seeing Amitābha. Envoy, if you only practice the ten virtues, what need is there to wish for rebirth? If you do not sever the mind of the ten evils, which Buddha would come to welcome you? If you awaken to the sudden Dharma of non-arising, seeing the West takes only a kṣaṇa. If you do not awaken and recite the Buddha's name seeking rebirth, the road is far—how can you reach it? Huineng can move the West for all of you in a kṣaṇa, so that you see it right before your eyes. Do each of you wish to see it?"