六祖大師法寶壇經 1.27

1.27

"At the third watch, the Patriarch called Xiu into the hall and asked: 'Was this verse written by you?' Xiu said: 'Indeed it was written by Xiu. I dare not vainly seek the patriarchate; I only hope the Upādhyāya will be compassionate and see whether this disciple has a little wisdom or not.' The Patriarch said: 'In composing this verse you have not seen your original nature; you have only reached the outside of the gate and have not entered inside. With such an understanding, seeking unexcelled bodhi is utterly impossible. For unexcelled bodhi, one must, upon the word, recognize one's original mind and see one's original nature, unarisen and unceasing. At all times, from thought-moment to thought-moment, one spontaneously sees that the myriad dharmas are without obstruction: when the one is real, all are real; the myriad objects are of themselves such-as-they-are. The mind that is such-as-it-is is reality itself. If one sees thus, this is the svabhāva of unexcelled bodhi. Go for now, reflect for a day or two, compose another verse, and bring it to me to see. If your verse enters the gate, I will transmit the robe and the Dharma to you.' Shenxiu bowed and withdrew. After several more days, he could not compose a verse; his mind was distraught, his thoughts uneasy, as if in a dream, unhappy whether walking or sitting.