[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) › 1.80 # 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.80 六祖大師法寶壇經 1.80 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.80](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.80) 師言：「善知識！總須誦取，依此修行，言下見性。雖去吾千里，如常在吾邊。於此言下不悟，即對面千里，何勤遠來。珍重！好去。」 > Suddenly enlightened to the true transgression of the Mahayana, > > Eradicating the false and practicing the correct, they are without > > transgression. > > Studying the Way is to always contemplate the self-nature: > > This is to be identical with all the buddhas. > > Our patriarchs have transmitted only this sudden teaching, > > And you should all vow to see the nature and be identical to them. > > If you wish to see the dharmakāya in the future, > > Transcend the characteristics of the dharmas and wash them out of > > your minds. > > Make an effort to see for yourself, don’t be despondent! > > Later, in a single moment, you will suddenly cut off \[your thoughts, > > thus\] ending them forever. > > If you would be enlightened to the Mahayana and see the nature, > > Reverentially hold your palms together \[in the anjalimudrā\] and > > seek it in utter sincerity. > > The master said, “Good friends, you should all recite this. If you practice according to it, you will see the nature through hearing these words. Although you may be a thousand li away from me, it will be as if you are constantly by my side. If you do not become enlightened through these words, then why have you gone to the trouble of coming a thousand li to see me? Take care in your going.” > > Of the entire assembly who heard this teaching, not one did not achieve enlightenment and joyfully undertake this practice. > > After attaining the Dharma in Huangmei, the master \[Huineng\] returned to Caohou village in Shaozhou, where no one knew him. > > (Another text says, “When the master left he went to Caohou village, where he stayed more than nine months. The master then said to himself, ‘In > > less than thirty or so days I will go to Huangmei. This would be the utmost > > in seeking the Way; how could I hesitate?’ The time of his going \[as given > > in this other text\] is incorrect.”) > > There was a Confucian scholar \[named\] Liu Zhilue, whose ritual pro- > > priety was profound. Zhilue had an aunt who was a nun, named Wujin Zang > > (“Inexhaustible Treasury”), who constantly recited the Great Nirvana Sutra. > > When the master heard it for a bit, he understood its wondrous meaning and > > explained it for her. The nun, who was holding the text, asked about a word, > > and the master said, “I cannot read the words, but you can ask me about the > > meaning.” The nun said, “If you do not read the words, how can you under- > > stand the meaning?” The master said, “The wondrous principle of the buddhas > > has nothing to do with words.” The nun was amazed and informed the vil- > > lage elders, “This is a man in possession of the Way. You would do well to > > ask to make offerings to him.” > > There was a great–great-grandson of the Wei \[dynasty\], Martial Lord \[Cao > > Cao\], named Cao Shuliang, who, along with the local residents, strove to > > come do obeisance \[to the master\]. At that time the old Baolin Monastery > > was in ruins, having been burned by soldiers at the end of the Sui \[dynasty\]. > > A new monastery was built once again on the old foundation. The master > > was invited to reside there, and he suddenly turned it into an abode of the > > treasure \[of the teaching\]. The master stayed there for more than nine months, > > when he was once again pursued by an evil mob. The master escaped to the > > mountain in front \[of the monastery, and the mob\] set fire to the forest \[to > > force him out\]. The master escaped by hiding in the rocks, and the rocks now > > show the marks of his knees and the design of his robe where he sat in the > > lotus position. Because of this, \[the spot\] is called Escape Rock. The mas- > > ter remembered the Fifth Patriarch’s prediction that he should stop and hide > > \[upon encountering\] sympathy and a group, and hid in two hamlets. > > The monk Fahai was from Qujiang in Shaozhou.When he first went to study > > under the patriarch he asked, “The mind is buddha. Please favor me with > > your instructions.” The master said, “For the preceding thought not to be > > generated is mind, and for the succeeding thought not to be extinguished is > > buddha. That which creates all the characteristics is mind, and that which > — John R. McRae 2000, The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch - [Previous: 1.79](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.79) - [Next: 1.81](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.81) - [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.1.80) — John R. McRae 2000, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008~en-mt.1.80) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.80](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2008.1.80) · Pramāṇa