3月22日

無相頌
唐 惠能 ( 638~713 )

心平何勞持戒？行直何用修禪
恩則孝養父母，義則上下相憐
讓則尊卑和睦，忍則眾惡無諠
若能鑽木出火，淤泥定生紅蓮
苦口的是良藥，逆耳必是忠言
改過必生智慧，護短心內非賢
日用常行饒益，成道非由施錢
菩提只向心覓，何勞向外求玄
聽說依此修行，天堂只在目前

──選自《六祖壇經》

March 22th

Formless Gatha
Huineng (638 - 713, Tang Dynasty)
English translation: Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center

With an even mind,
      why bother upholding precepts?
With an upright practice,
      why meditate?
To have gratitude, be filial towards your parents.
To be just, have sympathy for others,
      whether high or low.
To yield to others, whether you are honorable
      or lowly, live in harmony.
To be tolerant, do not speak of the wrongdoing
      of others.

If fire can be produced by drilling wood,
Certainly the red lotus will emerge from the mud.
What tastes bitter is an effective cure.
What is grating to the ear is honest advice.

Mend your errors and give rise to wisdom,
Defend your shortcomings and you lack
      a sage’s mind.
Daily, constantly practicing to benefit others,
Attaining Buddhahood does not come
      from giving money.

Bodhi is found within the mind.
Why bother looking for the extraordinary outside?
Listen to what I have just said and apply it.
The West is before your eyes.

── from Liuzu Tanjing(Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch)