六祖大師法寶壇經 1.31

1.31

"The next day, the Patriarch came secretly to the pestle shed. Seeing Huineng pounding rice with a stone tied to his waist, he said: 'Should not a seeker of the Dao, forgetting his body for the Dharma, be just like this!' He then asked: 'Is the rice ready?' Huineng said: 'The rice has long been ready; it only lacks sifting.' The Patriarch struck the pestle three times with his staff and left. Huineng immediately understood the Patriarch's meaning. At the third drum he entered the chamber; the Patriarch shielded him with his kaṣāya so that no one could see, and expounded the Diamond Sūtra for him. When it came to 'One should produce a mind without abiding anywhere,' Huineng experienced great awakening upon the words, [realizing that] all the myriad dharmas do not depart from svabhāva. He then addressed the Patriarch: 'Who would have thought that svabhāva is originally pure in itself! Who would have thought that svabhāva is originally unarisen and unceasing! Who would have thought that svabhāva is originally complete in itself! Who would have thought that svabhāva is originally without motion! Who would have thought that svabhāva can produce the myriad dharmas!' Knowing he had awakened to the original nature, the Patriarch said to Huineng: 'If one does not recognize one's original mind, studying the Dharma is of no benefit. If one recognizes one's original mind and sees one's original nature, one is called a Great Man, Teacher of Gods and Humans, a Buddha.' He received the Dharma at the third watch without anyone knowing, and [the Patriarch] then transmitted the sudden teaching and the robe and bowl, saying: 'You are the Sixth Patriarch. Guard and maintain it well, broadly deliver sentient beings, and spread it into the future so that it is never cut off. Listen to my verse: