Preface:
1. “One should produce that thought which is nowhere supported.”
The Sixth Patriarch, Hui Neng, came from a poor family and had no formal education. However,
upon hearing this phrase, he immediately attained enlightenment.
To have a mind that is free, one must not cling to anything.
Two Verses on Enlightenment:
2. Shen Hsiu’s Verse:
The body is a Bodhi tree,
The mind is like a bright mirror standing,
Time and again brush it clean,
And let no dust alight.
Shen Hsiu’s verse, while insightful, indicated attachment to form. His master recognized that he
had not yet grasped true enlightenment.
3. Hui Neng’s Verse:
Originally, Bodhi has no tree.
The bright mirror has no stand.
Originally, there is not a single thing.
Where can dust alight?
● Bodhi is enlightenment, not a physical object.
● If the mind is truly free, it does not need a place to dwell.
● True nature is empty; attachment arises from illusion.
● If there is nothing, then there is nothing to contaminate.
4. The Unexpected Nature of Self:
“How unexpected!” expresses the sudden realization of truth:
● Originally Pure: True nature is untainted from the start.
● Neither Produced nor Destroyed: Birth and death arise from attachment. Without
attachment, they do not exist.
● Complete in Itself: Nothing can be added or taken away from self-nature.
● Unmoving: Despite external distractions, the true self remains still.
● Capable of Producing All Things: The ten thousand dharmas arise from self-nature.
5. The Seed of Enlightenment:
● Feeling plants the seed: Compassion leads to the transmission of the Buddhadharma.
● The ground supports growth: A seed (Dharma) must be planted in fertile ground
(receptive mind).
● Without feeling, no seed exists: Without guidance, there is no enlightenment.
● Without nature, no birth occurs: Birth and realization depend on inherent nature.
6. The Original Face:
“With no thoughts of good and with no thoughts of evil, at just this moment, what is Superior
One Hui Ming’s original face?”
● “What” here means “who.” Hui Ming was not giving rise to thought, pointing to the
essence of mind beyond dualistic thinking.
7. The Moving Flag:
Two bhikkhus argued over whether the wind or the flag was moving. Hui Neng stated:
● “The wind is not moving, nor is the flag. Your minds, Kind Sirs, are moving.”
● Movement is perceived only because of mental activity. If the mind is still, external
motion ceases to be seen.
This text teaches that true understanding comes from direct realization, not attachment to form
or concepts. Letting go of all clinging leads to freedom.
Chapter 2 (Prajna)
8. Wise vs. Deluded People
A wise person acts on principles, while a deluded person only talks. True cultivation requires
practice, not just words.
9. Paramita: Reaching the Other Shore
Paramita means "arrived at the other shore" and refers to being free from birth and death. This
shore represents afflictions, while the other shore is Nirvana. By letting go of attachments, one
can flow like water without disturbances. Nirvana is a state without production and extinction.
[Link] vs. Bodhi
Common people and Buddhas are the same in nature. Affliction and Bodhi are two sides of the
same hand. Deluded thoughts create afflictions, while wisdom leads to enlightenment. When we
let go of attachments and distinctions, we see the truth.
11. Prajna Wisdom
Prajna wisdom is neither big nor small; it depends on one’s understanding. Confused people
seek Dharma outside themselves, but true wisdom comes from within. Enlightenment arises
when one stops grasping at external things and instead recognizes their own nature.
12. Sudden vs. Gradual Enlightenment
Dharma itself is neither sudden nor gradual; it depends on the person’s level of understanding.
Some grasp it immediately, while others need gradual practice. The truth is always the same,
but people struggle to accept or believe it.
- Sudden Teaching
Sudden teaching means cutting off attachments instantly, especially desires like sexual
craving. If one can do this, they will see their true nature. If not, they remain in delusion.
- Gradual Teaching
Some cannot change instantly and need time to let go of desires. The end goal remains
the same—liberation from attachments.
- Affliction vs. Wisdom
Affliction (烦恼) is darkness, while wisdom (智慧) is sunlight. Deviant thoughts, especially
desires, cause suffering. True wisdom eliminates afflictions and reveals one’s pure
nature.
- Nirvana: Letting Go of True & False
Some think ignoring everything leads to peace, but true Nirvana means completely
letting go of both right and wrong. Bodhi (enlightenment) already exists within us, but
false thoughts block it. When we stop these thoughts, our pure nature appears.
- Purity Exists Even in Impurity
Like water inside ice, purity exists within us despite afflictions. By melting away false
thoughts, we can reveal our true selves.
- Three Obstacles to Purity
1. Karma Obstacle (业障) – Past actions affecting the present.
2. Retribution Obstacle (报障) – Suffering from karma.
3. Affliction Obstacle (烦恼障) – Mental disturbances.
- Removing Obstacles
Following the right Dharma removes these barriers. True practice means looking inward
instead of judging others.
13. The Buddhadharma in the World
“The Buddhadharma is here in the world; Enlightenment is not apart from the world. To search
for Bodhi apart from the world is like looking for a hare with horns.”
Buddhadharma has two parts: Mundane Dharma, which helps improve life, and
Transcendental Dharma, which leads to enlightenment. Some mistakenly believe wisdom is
found outside the world, but true wisdom comes from everyday life. Seeking enlightenment
elsewhere is as futile as looking for a rabbit with horns.
Chapter 3 (Doubts and Questions)
14. Blessings vs. Merit and Virtue
“Merit and virtue should be seen within one’s own nature, not sought through giving and making
offerings.”
● Blessings come from good deeds (donating, helping others).
● Merit and virtue arise from wisdom and self-cultivation.
Emperor Wu built temples and asked Bodhidharma about his merit. Bodhidharma replied,
“None.” The Emperor sought external recognition, but real merit comes from pure wisdom, not
ego. Later, he ignored Bodhidharma’s teachings and died of starvation, showing that blessings
alone do not grant true wisdom.
15. Shravasti & the Land of Ultimate Bliss
Some believe the Land of Ultimate Bliss is far away, but in truth, it is as close as overcoming
bad habits. The Ten Evils (killing, stealing, lying, greed, etc.) and Eight Deviations (wrong
views, actions, speech, etc.) keep one from enlightenment. The Buddha described paradise as
distant for those who need motivation but as near as a purified mind for the wise.
16. Two Types of People, One Dharma
“As the mind is purified, the Buddhaland is purified.”
● Deluded people seek rebirth in the Western Paradise by chanting the Buddha’s name.
● Wise people purify their minds and realize paradise within.
True understanding requires effort. Reading texts without application is like trying to make tea
with cold water—it won’t work. Enlightenment is found within, not by seeking rewards.
17. Straight Mind & True Practice
“The mind is made straight, why toil following rules?”
A truly straight mind naturally follows the right path without struggle. The Three Poisons (greed,
hatred, ignorance) disrupt clarity, but precepts and self-discipline help. Filial piety, respect,
patience, and avoiding gossip cultivate virtue.
“A red-petalled lotus can surely spring from mud.” → Enlightenment is possible anywhere. True
wisdom comes from correcting faults, not just charity. Seeking Bodhi within reveals heaven
before one’s eyes.
Key Takeaways:
● Enlightenment exists within the world, not outside it.
● Merit and virtue come from wisdom, not just good deeds.
● The Western Pure Land is a state of mind, not a distant place.
● True practice means purifying the mind and abandoning harmful habits.
Chapter 4 (Concentration and Wisdom)
18. The Master instructed the assembly: “Good Knowing Advisors, the Single Conduct Samadhi
is the constant practice of maintaining a direct, straightforward mind in all places, whether one is
walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. As the Vimalakirti Sutra says, ‘The straight mind is the
Bodhimandala; the straight mind is the Pure Land.”
Single Conduct Samadhi
● Always keep a straightforward mind in all actions (walking, standing, sitting, lying down).
● Quote: “The straight mind is the Bodhimandala; the straight mind is the Pure Land.”
(Vimalakirti Sutra)
● Speaking of honesty but acting dishonestly leads to hypocrisy.
● Attachment to meditation without understanding can imprison the mind.
- A stupid person gives rise to a dharma-attachment: “The mind that dwells in dharmas is
in self-bondage.” If you get attached to the meditation-dharma and sit without moving,
you tie yourself up and become a prisoner.”
- No-Mark: Be apart from marks while in the midst of them.
- No-Thought: Be without thought while having thoughts.
- No-Dwelling: The natural state of humans.
- Enlightenment is cutting off false thinking and habits, not gradual cultivation.
- Attachment to past, present, and future thoughts binds the mind like waves on water.
19. “Good Knowing Advisors, this Dharma-door of mine, from the past onwards, has been
established from the first with no-thought as its doctrine, no-mark as its substance, and
no-dwelling as its basis. No-mark means to be apart from marks while in the midst of marks.
Nothought means to be without thought while in the midst of thought. No-dwelling is the basic
nature of human beings.”
- No Sudden or Gradual Dharma: True Buddhism is beyond concepts of sudden or
gradual enlightenment.
- Difference in Cultivation: Stupid people cultivate step by step, while enlightened ones
cut off false thinking instantly.
- Attachment to Thoughts: Past, present, and future thoughts are like
waves—continuous and binding.
- True Freedom: Attachment to thoughts or dharmas traps the mind; real liberation comes
from letting go.
Chapter 5 (Chan)
20. “The Master instructed the assembly: “The door of sitting in Ch’an consists fundamentally of
attaching oneself neither to the mind nor to purity; it is not non-movement. One might speak of
becoming attached to the mind, and yet the mind is fundamentally false. You should know that
the mind is like an illusion, and therefore there is nothing to which you can become attached.”
- Chan is not limited to sitting meditation—it can be practiced in all actions (walking,
standing, sitting, lying down).
- Avoid attachment to the mind—clinging creates duality and illusion.
- Avoid attachment to purity—true purity has no form; seeking it leads to delusion.
- True mind is beyond attachment—fixation on mind or purity results in false
perceptions.
21. “If an attachment to purity arises in your mind, a deluded idea of purity will result. What is
delusory does not exist, and the attachment is false. Purity has no form or mark and yet there
are those who set up the mark of purity as an achievement. Those with this view obstruct their
own original nature and become bound by purity.”
- Self-nature is inherently pure, but clinging to purity creates false purity alongside true
purity.
- Purity has no form, but attaching a mark to it leads to delusion.
- Believing attachment to purity is skillful and obstructs true nature.
- True cultivation is about breaking attachments, not reinforcing them.
Chapter 6 (Repentance and Reform)
22. “Common people, stupid and confused, know only how to repent of former errors and do not
know how to reform and refrain from transgressions in the future. Because they do not reform,
their former errors are not wiped away, and they will occur in the future. If former errors are not
wiped away and transgressions are again committed, how can that be called repentance and
reform?”
True Repentance
● Repentance is meaningless without reform—without change, past errors persist.
● Saving beings means transforming afflictions within oneself.
● Good beings in the mind seek Bodhi; bad ones must also be saved.
Self-Nature Taking Itself Across
● Right views and Prajna Wisdom eliminate delusions and afflictions.
● True crossing over:
○ Enlightenment overcomes confusion.
○ Wisdom overcomes delusion.
○ Goodness overcomes evil.
● Transform inner afflictions into Bodhi (awakening).
Blessings vs. True Practice
● Deluded people think blessings equal spiritual practice.
● Giving and offerings bring blessings, but the root of evil is within the mind.
● Blessings do not erase offenses—only eliminating evil thoughts does.
● True repentance and reform:
○ Remove evil conditions from the mind.
○ Look within to truly follow the Way.
23. “What is meant by ‘the self nature taking itself across’? It is to take across by means of right
views the living beings of deviant views, affliction, and delusion within your own mind. Once you
have the right views, use Prajna Wisdom to destroy the living beings of delusion, confusion, and
falsehood. Each one takes itself across. Enlightenment takes confusion across, wisdom takes
delusion across, goodness takes evil across. Such crossing over is a true crossing.”
- Transform bad qualities in your nature so that your good qualities can live in peace.
- Afflictions are ongoing, but they must be "cut off," meaning transformed into wisdom
(Bodhi).
- Afflictions are Bodhi—if you remove them entirely, you would remove wisdom as well,
so transform them instead.
- Use Prajna wisdom to eliminate afflictions and false, ignorant thoughts.
- Recognize your mind and original nature, and always practice the right Dharma.
- True Buddhist practice involves both studying the teachings and applying them in
practice.
24. A confused person will foster blessings, but not cultivate the Way; And say, “To practice for
the blessings is practice of the Way.” While giving and making offerings brings blessings without
limit, It is in the mind that the three evils have their origin. By seeking blessings you may wish to
obliterate offenses; But in the future, though you are blessed, offenses still remain. You ought to
simply strike the evil conditions from your mind; By true repentance and reform within your own
self-nature.
- Deluded people think practicing for blessings is the same as practicing the Way.
- Giving and offerings bring blessings, but the root of the three evils lies in the mind.
- Blessings cannot remove offenses; they remain even after receiving blessings.
- To truly practice, one must rid the mind of evil thoughts and conditions.
- True repentance and reform come from understanding the Great Vehicle and
transforming the mind.
- To study the Way, always look within your self-nature.
