SUTRA SPOKEN BY THE SIXTH PATRIARCH
ON THE HIGH SEAT OF "THE TREASURE OF THE LAW"
Translated by A.F.Price and Wong
Mou-Lam
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Chapter V
Dhyana
The Patriarch (one day) preached to the assembly as follows:
In our system of meditation, we neither dwell upon the mind (in
contradistinction to the Essence of Mind) nor upon purity. Nor do we approve of
non-activity. As to dwelling upon the mind, the mind is primarily delusive; and when we
realize that it is only a phantasm there is no need to dwell on it. As to dwelling upon
purity, our nature is intrinsically pure; and so far as we get rid of all delusive 'idea'
there will be nothing but purity in our nature, for it is the delusive idea that obscures
Tathata (Suchness). If wedirect our mind to dwell upon purity we are only creating another
delusion, the delusion of purity. Since delusion has no abiding place, it is delusive to
dwell upon it. Purity has neither shape nor form; but some people go so far as to invent
the 'Form of Purity',and treat it as a problem for solution. Holding such an opinion,
these people are purity-ridden, and their Essence of Mind is thereby obscured.
Learned Audience, those who train themselves for 'imperturbability'
should, in their contact with all types of men, ignore the faults of others. They should
be indifferent to others' merit or demerit, good or evil, for such an attitude accords
with the 'imperturbability of the Essence of Mind'. Learned Audience, a man unenlightened
may be unperturbed physically, but as soon as he opens his mouth he criticizes others and
talks about their merits or demerits, ability or weakness, good or evil; thus he deviates
from the right course.
On the other hand, to dwell upon our own mind or upon purity is also a
stumbling-block in the Path.
The Patriarch on another occasion preached to the assembly as follows:
Learned Audience, what is sitting for meditation? In our School, to sit
means to gain absolute freedom and to be mentally unperturbed in all outward
circumstances, be they good or otherwise. To meditate means to realize inwardly the
imperturbability of the Essence of Mind.
Learned Audience, what are Dhyana and Samadhi? Dhyana means to be free
from attachment to all outer objects, and Samadhi means to attain inner peace. If we are
attached to outer objects, our inner mind will be perturbed. When we are free from
attachment to all outer objects, the mind will be in peace. Our Essence of Mind is
intrinsically pure, and the reason why we are perturbed is because we allow ourselves to
be carried away by the circumstances we are in.
He who is able to keep his mind unperturbed, irrespective of
circumstances, has attained Samadhi.
To be free from attachment to all outer objects is Dhyana, and to
attain inner peace is Samadhi. When we are in a position to deal with Dhyana and to keep
our inner mind in Samadhi, then we are said to have attained Dhyana and Samadhi. The
Bodhisattva Sila Sutra says, "Our Essence of Mind is intrinsically pure."
Learned Audience, let us realize this for ourselves at all times. Let us train ourselves,
practice it by ourselves, and attain Buddhahood by our own effort.
[^] Quang Duc Homepage
Fawkner, Melbourne, Australia
Sutra: Treasure of Law Sutra
SUTRA SPOKEN BY THE SIXTH PATRIARCH ON THE HIGH SEAT OF "THE
TREASURE OF THE LAW"
Chapter V. Dhyana
Translated by A.F.Price and Wong Mou-Lam
The Patriarch (one day) preached to the assembly as follows:
In our system of meditation, we neither dwell upon the mind (in
contradistinction to the Essence of Mind) nor upon purity. Nor do we approve of
non-activity. As to dwelling upon the mind, the mind is primarily delusive; and when we
realize that it is only a phantasm there is no need to dwell on it. As to dwelling upon
purity, our nature is intrinsically pure; and so far as we get rid of all delusive 'idea'
there will be nothing but purity in our nature, for it is the delusive idea that obscures
Tathata (Suchness). If wedirect our mind to dwell upon purity we are only creating another
delusion, the delusion of purity. Since delusion has no abiding place, it is delusive to
dwell upon it. Purity has neither shape nor form; but some people go so far as to invent
the 'Form of Purity',and treat it as a problem for solution. Holding such an opinion,
these people are purity-ridden, and their Essence of Mind is thereby obscured.
Learned Audience, those who train themselves for 'imperturbability'
should, in their contact with all types of men, ignore the faults of others. They should
be indifferent to others' merit or demerit, good or evil, for such an attitude accords
with the 'imperturbability of the Essence of Mind'. Learned Audience, a man unenlightened
may be unperturbed physically, but as soon as he opens his mouth he criticizes others and
talks about their merits or demerits, ability or weakness, good or evil; thus he deviates
from the right course.
On the other hand, to dwell upon our own mind or upon purity is also a
stumbling-block in the Path.
The Patriarch on another occasion preached to the assembly as follows:
Learned Audience, what is sitting for meditation? In our School, to sit
means to gain absolute freedom and to be mentally unperturbed in all outward
circumstances, be they good or otherwise. To meditate means to realize inwardly the
imperturbability of the Essence of Mind.
Learned Audience, what are Dhyana and Samadhi? Dhyana means to be free
from attachment to all outer objects, and Samadhi means to attain inner peace. If we are
attached to outer objects, our inner mind will be perturbed. When we are free from
attachment to all outer objects, the mind will be in peace. Our Essence of Mind is
intrinsically pure, and the reason why we are perturbed is because we allow ourselves to
be carried away by the circumstances we are in.
He who is able to keep his mind unperturbed, irrespective of
circumstances, has attained Samadhi.
To be free from attachment to all outer objects is Dhyana, and to
attain inner peace is Samadhi. When we are in a position to deal with Dhyana and to keep
our inner mind in Samadhi, then we are said to have attained Dhyana and Samadhi. The
Bodhisattva Sila Sutra says, "Our Essence of Mind is intrinsically pure."
Learned Audience, let us realize this for ourselves at all times. Let us train ourselves,
practice it by ourselves, and attain Buddhahood by our own effort.
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Update: 01-12-2001
