六祖大師法寶壇經 1.154

1.154

buddha; if the self-nature is false and steep, the buddha is a sentient being. If

your minds are steep and crooked, then the buddha is [hidden] within the sen-

tient being. If a single moment of thought is level and direct, then the sen-

tient being becomes a buddha. One’s own mind possesses the Buddha, and

this own-buddha is the true Buddha. If one is without the buddha-mind one-

self, where could one seek the true Buddha? Your own minds are the Buddha,

do not doubt this! Outside of this there is not a single thing that can be posited!

All of us generate the ten thousand types of dharmas from our fundamental

minds. Therefore, the sutra says ‘When the mind is generated, the various

types of dharmas are generated; when the mind is extinguished, the various

types of dharmas are extinguished.’

“I will now leave a verse for you in parting, called the ‘Verse of the True

Buddha of the Self-nature.’ If people of later times understand the point of

this verse, they will see their own fundamental minds and achieve the enlight-

enment of buddhahood. The verse goes:

The suchlike self-nature is the true Buddha;

False views and the three poisons are King Māra.

During false delusion Māra is in one’s home;

During correct views the Buddha is in one’s hall.

When false views and the three poisons are generated in the nature,

This is for King Māra to come reside in one’s home.

When with correct views one eradicates the three poisonous

[states of] mind,

Māra is transformed into the Buddha, true and not provisional.

The dharmakāya, saṃbhogakāya, and nirmāṇakāya—

The three bodies are fundamentally a single body.

If one can see it oneself within the nature,

This is the cause of bodhi and the achievement of buddhahood.

From the nirmāṇakāya is fundamentally generated the pure nature;

The pure nature is always within the nirmāṇakāya.

The nature makes the nirmāṇakāya practice the correct [eightfold]

path,

And in the future will be perfect and complete, true without limit.

The licentious nature is fundamentally a cause [within] the pure

nature;

To eliminate the licentious [results in] the body of the pure nature.

Within the nature you should all transcend the five desires;

In the instant that you see the nature, they are true.

If you have encountered the sudden teaching in this lifetime,

Become enlightened immediately to the self-nature and see the

World-honored One.

If you cultivate by trying to become a buddha,

You’ll never know where to seek for the true.

If you are able to see the true in your own mind,

Having the true will be the cause of your achieving buddhahood.

If you do not see the self-nature but seek the Buddha externally,

Every activation of your mind will be that of a big fool.

This sudden teaching is being left [for you] now,

But you must cultivate it yourself in order to save others.

I tell you, future students of the Way,

If your view is not like this, [you will come to] great sorrow!

After the master spoke this verse he announced, “You may all stay here, but after my nirvana do not become upset and cry tears like rain. Those who accept condolences from others or wear mourning clothes are not my disciples and are not [following] the correct Dharma. Just recognize your own fundamental minds and see your own fundamental natures, [which are] neither moving nor still, neither generated nor extinguished, neither going nor coming, neither correct nor false, neither abiding nor going.

“I am afraid your minds are deluded and you don’t understand my meaning. I will tell you again, in order to make you see your natures. After my nirvana, practice in accordance with this just as if I were alive. If you go against