[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) › 1.64 # 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.64 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.64 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.64) 師復曰：「善知識！總須依偈修行，見取自性，直成佛道。時不相待，眾人且散，吾歸曹溪。眾若有疑，却來相問。」 > Righteousness is to have sympathy for those above and below. > > Self-subordination is to honor the lowly and the familiar. > > Forbearance is not to approve of the various evils. > > If one is able to rub sticks to create a fire, > > The red lotus blossom will certainly grow from the mud. > > That which causes the mouth suffering is good medicine. > > That which offends the ears is loyal speech. > > By reforming transgressions one will necessarily generate wisdom. > > To defend shortcomings within one’s mind is not wise. > > In one’s daily actions one must always practice the dissemination > > of benefit \[for others\]. > > Accomplishing enlightenment does not depend on donating money. > > Bodhi should only be sought for in the mind. > > Why belabor seeking for the mysterious externally? > > If you hear this explanation and practice accordingly, > > The Western \[Paradise\] is right in front of you. > > The master said further, “Good friends, you should all practice according to this verse. See your own natures and directly accomplish the enlightenment of buddhahood! > > “I cannot wait any longer, and you should all disperse \[now\]. I am returning to Caoqi. If anyone here has doubts, then come and ask me about them.” At that time the prefect and government staff, as well as all the good men and faithful women in the assembly, all attained enlightenment and accepted and respectfully practiced \[Huineng’s teaching\] with conviction. > > Number Four: Meditation and Wisdom The master addressed the assembly, “Good friends, our teaching takes meditation and wisdom as its fundamental. Everyone, do not say in your delusion that meditation and wisdom are different. > > Meditation and wisdom are of one essence, not different. Meditation is > > the essence of wisdom, and wisdom is the function of meditation. At times > > of wisdom, meditation exists in that wisdom; at times of meditation, wis- > > dom exists in that meditation. If you understand this doctrine, this is the > > equivalent study of meditation and wisdom. All you who study the Way, do > > not say that they are different, with meditation prior to and generating wis- > > dom or with wisdom prior to and generating meditation. If your view of them > > is like this, then the Dharma would have two characteristics. This would be > > to say something good with your mouth but to have that which is not good > > in your minds. It is to make meditation and wisdom falsely existent to con- > > sider them as not equivalent. > > “If there is good in both mouth and mind and if internal and external are > > identical, then meditation and wisdom will be equivalent. One should under- > > stand oneself that spiritual cultivation does not exist in argumentation. If you > > argue about which is prior and which secondary, then you are just like \[all > > the other\] deluded people. Not to desist from competition is to increase the > > illusion of selfhood. One will not transcend the four characteristics \[this way\]! > > “Good friends, how is it that meditation and wisdom are equivalent? It > > is like the light of a lamp. When the lamp exists, there is light; when there > > is no lamp, there is darkness. The lamp is the essence of the light, and the > > light is the function of the lamp. Although the names are different, in essence > > they are fundamentally identical. The Dharma of meditation and wisdom is > > just like this.” > > The master addressed the assembly, “Good friends, the samādhi of the > > single practice is to always practice the single direct mind in all one’s > > actions, whether walking, standing still, sitting, or lying down. The Vimalakīrti > > \[Sutra\] says, ‘The straightforward mind is the place of enlightenment, the > > straightforward mind is the Pure Land.’ Don’t allow your mental practices > > to become twisted while merely speaking of straightforwardness with your > > mouth! If you speak of the samādhi of the single practice with your mouth, > > you will not practice the straightforward mind. Just practice the straightfor- > > ward mind, and be without attachment within all the dharmas. > > “The deluded person is attached to the characteristics of dharmas and > > grasps onto the samādhi of the single practice, merely saying that he always > — John R. McRae 2000, The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch - [Previous: 1.63](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.63) - [Next: 1.65](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.65) - [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.1.64) — John R. McRae 2000, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008~en-mt.1.64) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.64) · Pramāṇa