The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra六祖大師法寶壇經......
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛
行由第一
CHAPTER ONE Where It All Began
復兩日,Two days later,有一童子於碓坊過,a young acolyte passed bythe threshing room唱誦其偈;while chanting Shenxiu's verse.惠能一聞,Hearing it for the first time,便知此偈未見本性,I knew that the author had notyet seen his original nature.雖未蒙教授,Although I had not yet receivedany formal teaching in the Dharma,早識大意。I already understood itsprofound meaning.遂問童子曰:I asked the boy,誦者何偈?"What is that verse you're reciting?"童子曰:爾這獦獠不知,"Barbarian, you know nothing!"snapped the boy. "Don't you know大師言,that the Great Master has said世人生死事大, that birth and death are the mosturgent concern of all people?欲得傳付衣法,He wants to pass onthe robe and Dharma,令門人作偈來看。so he told his disciples to write versesand bring them to him for review.若悟大意,If anyone shows he has awakenedto the profound meaning,即付衣法為第六祖。he will inherit the robe and Dharmaand become the Sixth Patriarch.神秀上座,Our senior, Shenxiu,於南廊壁上,書無相偈,wrote this unconditioned verseon the wall of the south corridor.大師令人皆誦,The Great Master orderedeveryone to recite it,依此偈修,免墮惡道;依此偈修,有大利益。because whoever cultivatesin accord with this versecan avoid falling intothe evil destinies andgain immense benefit."惠能曰:I said,(一本有我亦要誦此,結來生緣)(one text adds" I too would liketo recite it to create conditionsfor a favorable rebirth.")上人!" Venerable One,我此踏碓,I have been pounding rice here八箇餘月,for over eight months未曾行到堂前。and have yet to visit the front hall.望上人引至偈前禮拜。Would you please lead me to the verseso I can pay homage to it?"童子引至偈前禮拜,The boy then led meto the verse to bow.惠能曰:惠能不識字,I said, "Huineng cannot read.請上人為讀。Please, Venerable One, read it to me."時,有江州別駕,姓張名日用,An administrator of Jiang Province,a man called Zhang Riyong,happened to be thereat the same time,便高聲讀。and he read the verse aloud.惠能聞已,遂言:After hearing it, I said,亦有一偈,"I, too, have a verse.望別駕為書。Will the official pleasewrite it down for me?"別駕言:The administrator replied,汝亦作偈?"You, too, can compose verses?其事希有。How unusual!"