傳法正宗記 6.24

6.24

慧能居士既受法與其衣鉢。作禮問曰。法則聞命。衣鉢復傳授乎。尊者曰。昔達磨以來自異域。雖傳法於二祖。恐世未信其所師承。故以衣鉢為驗。今我宗天下聞之。莫不信者。則此衣鉢可止於汝。然正法自汝益廣。若必傳其衣。恐起諍端。故曰。受衣之人命若懸絲。汝即行矣。汝宜且隱晦。時而後化。慧能復問曰。今某當往何所。尊者曰。逢懷即止。遇會且藏。慧能稟教即夕去之。此後尊者三日不復說法。其眾皆疑。因共請之。尊者曰。吾法已南行矣。斯復何言。眾復曰。何人得之。答曰。能者得之。眾乃悟盧居士傳其法也追之。而慧能已亡。此後四載尊者一日忽謂眾曰。吾事已畢。可以行矣。即入室宴坐而滅。實上元二年乙亥歲也。其世壽七十有四。四眾建浮圖於黃梅之東山。代宗諡。號曰大滿禪師。塔曰法雨。

Having received the Dharma and the robe and bowl, Layman Huineng bowed and asked: “I have received your instruction concerning the Dharma; will the robe and bowl also be transmitted in the future?” The Venerable One said: “Formerly, Bodhidharma came from a foreign land, and though he transmitted the Dharma to the Second Patriarch, he feared the world would not believe his lineage; therefore he used the robe and bowl as proof. Now, throughout the realm, my lineage is known, and none disbelieve. Thus, this robe and bowl may cease with you. However, the true Dharma will become ever wider through you. If you insist on transmitting the robe, I fear it will give rise to dispute. Therefore it is said: ‘The life of the one who receives the robe hangs by a thread.’ You should depart at once. You ought to conceal yourself for a time, and only later transform [others].” Huineng asked again: “Where should I go now?” The Venerable One said: “Stop when you meet Huai; conceal yourself when you encounter Hui.” Huineng received the instruction and departed that very night. Thereafter, the Venerable One did not teach the Dharma for three days. The assembly was bewildered and collectively questioned him. The Venerable One said: “My Dharma has already gone south. What more is there to say?” The assembly asked again: “Who has obtained it?” He replied: “The capable one (Neng) has obtained it.” The assembly then realized that Layman Lu had received his Dharma, and pursued him, but Huineng was already gone. Four years later, the Venerable One suddenly said to the assembly one day: “My work is done; I may go now.” He then entered his room, sat in meditation, and passed away. This was in the yihai year, the second year of the Shangyuan era [675 CE]. His worldly age was seventy-four. The fourfold assembly erected a stūpa at the East Mountain of Huangmei. Emperor Daizong conferred the posthumous title Chan Master Daman, and the stūpa was named Fayu.