六祖大師法寶壇經 1.41

1.41

"Good friends! What is meant by prajñā? Prajñā, in the language of the Tang, means wisdom. In all places and at all times, being unbefuddled thought after thought, constantly practicing wisdom—this is the practice of prajñā. In one thought of foolishness, prajñā is cut off; in one thought of wisdom, prajñā is born. Worldly people are foolish and deluded, not seeing prajñā; they speak of prajñā with their mouths, but are constantly foolish in their minds. They constantly say of themselves: 'I cultivate prajñā.' Thought after thought they speak of emptiness, yet do not recognize true emptiness. Prajñā has no form or characteristics; the mind of wisdom is itself it. If one understands in this way, it is called prajñā-wisdom. What is meant by pāramitā? This is a Western language; in the language of the Tang it means 'reaching the other shore,' and its interpreted meaning is freedom from arising and ceasing. When attached to sensory realms, arising and ceasing occur, like water having waves; this is named 'this shore.' When free from sensory realms, there is neither arising nor ceasing, like water constantly flowing smoothly; this is named 'the other shore.' Therefore it is called pāramitā. Good friends! Deluded people recite with their mouths; at the very time of reciting, there is falsehood and error. If one practices thought after thought, this is called the true nature. Those who awaken to this dharma possess the prajñā dharma; those who cultivate this practice perform the prajñā practice. Not cultivating it, one is ordinary; cultivating it for a single thought, one's own body is equal to the Buddha. Good friends! Ordinary people are themselves buddhas; kleśas are themselves bodhi. With the prior thought deluded, one is an ordinary person; with the subsequent thought awakened, one is a buddha. With the prior thought attached to sensory realms, it is kleśa; with the subsequent thought detached from sensory realms, it is bodhi."