是夜三更,That night, in the third watch(around midnight),不使人知,so that no one would know,自執燈,holding a candle書偈於南廊壁間,he wrote his verse on the wallof the south corridor呈心所見。that would reveal his insight. 偈曰:The verse read:身是菩提樹,The body is a bodhi tree,心如明鏡臺,the mind a mirror-stand bright.時時勤拂拭,Time and again, brush it clean,勿使惹塵埃。and let no dust alight. 秀書偈了,便却歸房,After writing this verse,Shenxiu returned to his room人總不知。without anyone knowingwhat he had done.秀復思惟:Then he thought,五祖明日見偈歡喜,"If the Fifth Patriarchsees my verse tomorrowand is pleased,即我與法有緣。it will mean that I havean affinity with the Dharma.若言不堪,If he finds it unworthy,自是我迷,it will mean I am deluded,宿業障重,that karmic obstaclespiled up from the past不合得法。make me unfitto attain the Dharma.聖意難測。It is difficult to fathoma sage's intentions."房中思想,He remained in his room,thinking it over,坐臥不安,but could not sit or sleep peacefully直至五更。the rest of the night,right through to dawn(the fifth watch). 祖己知神秀入門末得,Now, the Patriarch knewthat Shenxiu had not yetentered the gate,不見自性。and seen his own essential nature.天明,祖喚盧供奉來,At daybreak,the Patriarch summonedthe Court Artist, Lu Zhen,向南廊壁間,繪畫圖相。to fresco the wallof the south corridor.忽見其偈,報言:Suddenly seeing the verse,he said to the artist,供奉却不用畫,"There is no need to paint anything;勞爾遠來。I am sorry we troubledyou to come so far,經云,凡所有相,皆是虚妄。but as The Diamond Sutra says,'All forms are false and illusory!'但留此偈,Instead, leave this verse與人誦持。for people to recall and uphold.依此偈修,免墮惡道。Whoever cultivates in accordwith this verse will notfall into the evil destinies,依此偈修,有大利益。and will obtain great benefit." 令門人炷香禮敬,He then instructed his disciplesto light incense andbow before the verse,盡誦此偈,即得見性。and to recite it so they mightsee their essential nature. 門人誦偈,The disciples all recited it皆歎善哉。and exclaimed, "Excellent!"