傳法正宗定祖圖 1.69

1.69

The thirty-third patriarch was Huineng. He was a native of Xinxing in Xinzhou, with the family name of Lu. At first he served his mother with utmost filial piety; because his family was poor, he supported her by selling firewood. Hearing a travelling merchant recite a sūtra, he learned that the fifth patriarch, Hongren, was transmitting the Buddha's mind-seal. He thereupon provided funds for his mother, took his leave, and went to Huangmei to seek his Dharma. When he met the fifth patriarch, their minds harmonized; secretly, as a layman, he received the Dharma. Returning south to Guangzhou, he shaved his head at Faxing Monastery. Having received full ordination, he subsequently lived by the Cao Creek in Shaoyang, where the fourfold assembly took immense refuge in him. Only then did he universally transmit his Dharma; the robe and bowl transmitted by the previous patriarch he deposited at the monastery where he resided. Later, he taught a verse to show his disciples and make clear his Dharma. The verse said: