Continued above:
Ever since Shenxiu said that day that he would let his disciples go to Cao Xi to listen to the teachings of Buddhism, this thought has often lingered in his heart, and he can't drive it away, and he can't shake it off.
Shenxiu called the smart and capable disciple Zhicheng and said to him: "You are smart and wise, and you have a good memory, you can go on a long trip for me, okay?" ”
"Master's order, how can it not be done?"
Shenxiu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Since you have agreed, let's go to Caoxi." ”
"Cao Xi?"
"Yes, Caoxi, Shaozhou, Lingnan, you go there, worship Huineng as a teacher, don't say that I asked you to go, and don't mention that you are from Yuquan Temple. You listen to Hui Neng's lecture on the Dharma, if you can hear something, try to remember it in your head, come back and tell me, don't let me down. ”
After Zhicheng was ordered, he traveled south day and night, and after more than half a month, he arrived at Caoxi and followed the monks to pay homage to Huineng. Zhicheng kept in mind Master's words and did not reveal his identity and mission.
When Hui Neng saw Zhicheng, he felt that this young monk was very smart, and he felt that he had a teacher from Zhicheng's words, but Zhicheng didn't say it, and Hui Neng didn't ask.
Huineng spoke to Zhicheng as he did to others, and unreservedly told him about the Buddha's teachings.
After Zhicheng listened to Huineng's speech, he immediately became enlightened, he felt that what Huineng said was completely in line with his own heart, so Zhicheng got up from his seat, saluted Huineng, and said:
"Master, the disciple is from Dangyang Yuquan Temple, in Shenxiu Zen Master, the disciple's mind has not been able to be enlightened, today I listened to the master talk about the Dharma, I feel that it is completely in line with my own heart. The master is merciful, and the disciple is willing to be instructed. ”
When the monks heard that Zhicheng was Shenxiu's disciple, they let out a boo. Huineng raised his right hand, signaled everyone to be quiet, and then said to Zhicheng: "If you come from Yuquan Temple, you should be counted as a person who steals the law." ”
"It doesn't count."
"Why can't it be counted?"
"When the disciple does not explain it to the master, the disciple is a thief of the Dharma; The disciple took the initiative to explain that he was not a person who stole the law. Zhicheng said heartily.
Huineng nodded yes and said, "Trouble is Bodhi." ”
Zhicheng understands at the moment.
Afflictions and bodhi are two sides of the same coin, and the difference lies between one thought. One thought of goodness, troubles become Bodhi; As soon as the thought of evil is evil, Bodhi becomes a trouble. The difference between a spy and a non-spy is also being explained and unexplained.
"How did Master Shenxiu teach you?" Huineng changed the subject.
Zhicheng replied: "Master Shenxiu often said that you should live in a pure mind and sit for a long time. ”
"Staying in the heart and contemplating purity" means to keep one's own heart and pay attention to keeping one's nature pure; And "sitting for a long time" means sitting meditation for a long time, not lying down.
Huineng took over the topic of Zhicheng and said to the monks: "Staying in the heart and contemplating purity, this is a disease, not Zen; Doesn't sitting and lying down for a long time restrain your body? What are the benefits of mastering the teachings of Buddhism? ”
When the monks heard this, they nodded yes.
Huineng said to Zhicheng again: "Master Shenxiu taught you to 'stay in the heart and contemplate purity, sit for a long time without lying down', I also have something to teach you, you have to remember." ”
After Huineng finished speaking, he recited a poem:
Born to sit and not to sit, to die to lie and not to sit;
A stinky bone, what is a homework.
Zhicheng worshiped Huineng, and he said, "The disciple has been learning the Tao from Master Shenxiu for nine years, but he can't comprehend it; Listening to the master's words today, I benefited a lot. In any case, the disciple is still a layman who cares about life and death, and hopes that the master will be merciful and then give teachings. ”
Hui Neng then asked: "I heard that your Shenxiu tutor taught the monks and only taught the three learnings of precepts and wisdom, I don't know what the content of the three learnings he said, can you tell us about it?" ”
Zhicheng thought for a while and said, "All evils should not be called precepts, all good deeds should be called wisdom, and self-purification of their intentions should be fixed." That's what Master Shenxiu said, I don't know what Buddhism Master used to teach us? ”
Huineng said: "This kind of doctrine is incredible, I don't see it that way. ”
"Master, what do you think of Jiedinghui?" The disciples asked one after another.
It turned out that they listened to Shenxiu's teachings and didn't think there was anything wrong with them, but when the master said that the doctrine was "incredible", they were all very surprised.
Huineng continued: "I also said three sentences: the heart is nothing but self-discipline, the heart is free from chaos and self-determination, and the heart is free from ignorance and self-wisdom. ”
The monks recited it again, and Zhicheng suddenly said: "Yes, yes, there is no fault in the heart is the precept of its own Buddha nature, no confusion in the heart is the concentration of its own Buddha nature, and no foolishness in the heart is the wisdom of its own Buddha nature." However, Master Shenxiu's precepts are also good? ”
"Yes," Huineng knew that this was a common doubt in everyone's hearts, so he explained: "However, the three learnings of the precepts and wisdom of Mentor Shenxiu persuade people with small roots and small wisdom; My precepts and wisdom are three learnings, and what I persuade is the superior root apparatus and the superior wise people. Further, if you realize your original Buddha nature, then you don't need to prescribe the three learnings of wisdom. ”
Zhicheng asked puzzledly: "If we don't set up precepts and set wisdom, then what should we do?" ”
Huineng replied, "There is no fault, no confusion, no stupidity in the Buddha nature, and it enables every mind to be contemplated with the wisdom of Prajna, so that it will be free from attachment and non-attachment to everything. ”
"One's own Buddha-nature is known by the method of enlightenment, and the three precepts of wisdom need to be gradually improved, in order, and are the method of gradual cultivation. If your mind is in harmony with your own heart, then you don't need to set up any more precepts and learn wisdom. ”
Zhicheng listened to it, and admired Huineng so much.
He knelt down in the face of Huineng, and begged Huineng to accept him as a disciple.
Update tomorrow.