聽吾偈曰:I have a verse for you:有情來下種,Out of caring,I am planting this seed;因地果還生,Because of the ground,the fruits will ripen again.無情既無種,Without this feeling,there'd be no seed planted;無性亦無生。Without the nature,there'd be no new life to thrive. 祖復曰:The Patriarch further said,昔達磨大師,初來此土,"Long ago, when the Great MasterBodhidharma came to this land,人未之信,people did not believe in him.故傳此衣,以為信體,As a symbol of his sincerity,he bequeathed this robe to be passed代代相承。along from generation to generation.法則以心傳心,The Dharma is handed down mind to mind皆令自悟自解。leading all to their own awakeningand their own liberation.自古,From ancient times,佛佛惟傳本體,all Buddhas only transmitthe fundamental truth;師師密付本心。the true intention is passed alongmore privately from master to master.衣為爭端,The robe, however,has become a source of contention;止汝勿傳。let it stop with youand not be passed on.若傳此衣,For if you pass it on,命如懸絲。your life will behanging by a thread.汝須速去,恐人害汝。Quickly go now, for I fearothers might harm you!" 惠能啟曰:向甚處去?I asked, "Where should I go?" 祖云:The Patriarch replied,逢懷則止,遇會則藏。"Stop at Huai, and hide at Hui." 惠能三更領得衣鉢,In the third watch,I received the robe and bowl,云:能本是南中人,and asked, "I am a Southerner素不知此山路,and do not knowthese mountain roads.如何出得江口?How do I get to the mouthof the river [Yangtze]?" 五祖言:The Fifth Patriarch said,汝不須憂,"Don't worry.吾自送汝。I will see you off myself." 祖相送,直至九江驛。The Fifth Patriarch escorted meas far as the Jiujiang courier station,祖令上船,where he had us get on a boat.五祖把艣自搖。The Patriarch took up the oarsand began to row. 惠能言:請和尚坐。I said, "Please, Master, sit down.弟子合搖艣。Your disciple should row." 祖云:合是吾渡汝。The Patriarch replied,"It is appropriatethat I take you across." 惠能云:迷時師度,I said, "When someone is confused,his master takes him across.悟了自度。But when one has awakened,he takes himself across.度名雖一,Both are called 'crossing over',用處不同。but they are used differently.惠能生在邊方,I was born in a border region,語音不正,so my speech has an accent,蒙師傳法,yet I have been entrustedwith the Dharma.今已得悟,And now that I have awakened只合自性自度。it is only right that I'take across' my own essential nature."