六祖大師法寶壇經 1.13

1.13

How magnificent is the production of the Platform Sūtra! Its basis is correct and its traces effective; its cause is true and its fruit unfailing. The former sages and the latter sages have thus initiated it, thus revealed it, thus restored it—vast and surging like the outpouring of a great river, like the unobstructed reach of empty space, like the brightness of the sun and moon, like the unimpeded match of form and shadow, like the orderly flight of wild geese. Attaining it subtly is called the basis; applying it broadly is called the traces. Beginning from that which has no beginning is called the cause; consummating that which has no consummation is called the fruit. When the fruit does not differ from the cause, it is called the correct fruit; when the cause does not differ from the fruit, it is called the correct cause. Traces necessarily reflecting the basis is called the great function; the basis necessarily reflecting the traces is called the Great Vehicle. The vehicle is the sage's metaphor for the Way. The function is the sage's establishment of the teachings. For among the ways of the sage, none is more consummate than the mind; among the teachings of the sage, none is more consummate than cultivation. In harmonizing the spirit and entering the Way, nothing is more consummate than the cessation and contemplation of the single mark; in standardizing goodness and completing virtue, nothing is more consummate than the ekavyūha-samādhi. In aiding all precepts, nothing is more consummate than animitta; in rectifying all samādhis, nothing is more consummate than thoughtlessness; in penetrating all wisdom, nothing is more consummate than non-abiding. In generating good and extinguishing evil, nothing is more consummate than the formless precepts; in deepening the Way and extending virtue, nothing is more consummate than the four great vows. In excelling at contemplating faults, nothing is more consummate than the formless repentance; in rectifying that toward which one tends, nothing is more consummate than the threefold refuge precepts. In rectifying the great substance and determining the great function, nothing is more consummate than mahāprajñā; in arousing great faith and striving for the great Way, nothing is more consummate than great resolve. For penetrating the principles and exhausting the natures under heaven, nothing is more consummate than the silent transmission; for wanting the mind to be without fault, nothing is better than refraining from slander. Samādhi and prajñā are the foundation for beginning the Way; ekavyūha-samādhi is the inception of virtue; the principle of thoughtlessness is called liberation; the root of non-abiding is called prajñā; the substance of animitta is called the dharmakāya. The formless precepts are the utmost among precepts; the four great vows are the ultimate of vows; the formless repentance is the culmination of repentance. The threefold refuge precepts are the true refuge. Mahā-wisdom is the great exemplar for sages and commoners alike. Explaining it for those of the highest faculties is direct exposition. The silent transmission is the culmination of transmission. Guarding against slander is the proper precaution.