懺悔第六
Chapter 6: Repentance
時，大師見廣韶洎四方士庶，駢集山中聽法，於是陞座，告眾曰：「來，諸善知識！此事須從自事中起，於一切時，念念自淨其心。自修自行，見自己法身，見自心佛，自度自戒，始得不假到此。既從遠來，一會于此，皆共有緣。今可各各胡跪，先為傳自性五分法身香，次授無相懺悔。」眾胡跪。師曰：「一、戒香。即自心中無非無惡、無嫉妬、無貪瞋、無劫害，名戒香。二、定香。即覩諸善惡境相，自心不亂，名定香。三、慧香。自心無礙，常以智慧觀照自性，不造諸惡；雖修眾善，心不執著，敬上念下，矜恤孤貧，名慧香。四、解脫香。即自心無所攀緣，不思善、不思惡，自在無礙，名解脫香。五、解脫知見香。自心既無所攀緣善惡，不可沈空守寂，即須廣學多聞，識自本心，達諸佛理，和光接物，無我無人，直至菩提，真性不易，名解脫知見香。善知識！此香各自內熏，莫向外覓。
Once, the Great Master observed that people from Guangzhou, Shaozhou, and beyond had gathered in great numbers to hear the Dharma. So he took his seat and addressed the assembly:
“Come, all you good and wise friends! This matter must begin from within your own mind. In every moment, thought after thought, purify your own heart. Cultivate and practice on your own. See your own Dharma body. See the Buddha in your own mind. Save yourself and observe your own precepts. Only then can it truly be said that you haven’t come here for nothing.
Since you’ve traveled from afar to gather here, share in this one meeting, we are all connected by deep causes and conditions. Now, each kneel on the ground. First, I will transmit the fivefold fragrance of the self-nature—the Dharma body. Then, I will teach you the formless repentance.”
Everyone knelt. The Master said:
“**1. The Precept Fragrance** — In your own mind, there is no wrong, no evil, no jealousy, no greed, no anger, no harming others. This is called the Precept Fragrance.
**2. The Concentration Fragrance** — Seeing all kinds of good and evil situations, your mind remains undisturbed. This is called the Concentration Fragrance.
**3. The Wisdom Fragrance** — Your mind is without obstacles. Constantly use wisdom to illuminate your own nature. Do not create evil acts. Though you practice many good deeds, your mind does not cling. Respect those above, care for those below, be compassionate to the orphaned and the poor. This is called the Wisdom Fragrance.
**4. The Liberation Fragrance** — Your mind latches onto nothing. Do not dwell on good or evil. Be free and without hindrance. This is called the Liberation Fragrance.
**5. The Liberation of Knowledge and Insight Fragrance** — Since your mind clings neither to good nor evil, you must not sink into emptiness or stagnate in stillness. Instead, you should learn broadly and listen deeply. Recognize your own original mind. Understand all the Buddha’s teachings. Harmonize with the world, yet skillfully engage. Have no sense of self or other. Press onward straight to supreme enlightenment, where your true nature never changes. This is called the Liberation of Knowledge and Insight Fragrance.
Good and wise friends! This fragrance is something you should kindle from within yourselves, not seek outside.
「今與汝等授無相懺悔，滅三世罪，令得三業清淨。善知識！各隨我語，一時道：『弟子等，從前念今念及後念，念念不被愚迷染。從前所有惡業愚迷等罪，悉皆懺悔，願一時銷滅，永不復起。弟子等，從前念今念及後念，念念不被憍誑染。從前所有惡業憍誑等罪，悉皆懺悔，願一時銷滅，永不復起。弟子等，從前念今念及後念，念念不被嫉妬染。從前所有惡業嫉妬等罪，悉皆懺悔，願一時銷滅，永不復起。』善知識！已上是為無相懺悔。云何名懺？云何名悔？懺者，懺其前愆，從前所有惡業，愚迷憍誑嫉妬等罪，悉皆盡懺，永不復起，是名為懺。悔者，悔其後過，從今以後，所有惡業，愚迷憍誑嫉妬等罪，今已覺悟，悉皆永斷，更不復作，是名為悔。故稱懺悔。凡夫愚迷，只知懺其前愆，不知悔其後過。以不悔故，前愆不滅，後過又生。前愆既不滅，後過復又生，何名懺悔？
Now I will teach you the repentance of no-form, which extinguishes the misdeeds of three lifetimes and purifies your three actions (body, speech, and mind). Good friends, repeat after me, all at once:
"We disciples, from past thoughts, present thoughts, and future thoughts, let none of our thoughts be tainted by ignorance and delusion. All evil deeds, ignorance, and delusion from the past we confess and repent, wishing them to dissolve instantly, never to arise again. We disciples, from past thoughts, present thoughts, and future thoughts, let none of our thoughts be tainted by pride and deceit. All evil deeds, pride, and deceit from the past we confess and repent, wishing them to dissolve instantly, never to arise again. We disciples, from past thoughts, present thoughts, and future thoughts, let none of our thoughts be tainted by jealousy and envy. All evil deeds, jealousy, and envy from the past we confess and repent, wishing them to dissolve instantly, never to arise again."
Good friends, this is the repentance of no-form. What is meant by "confess"? What is meant by "repent"? "Confess" means to confess the faults of the past—all evil deeds, ignorance, delusion, pride, deceit, jealousy, and envy from before are fully confessed, never to arise again. This is called confessing. "Repent" means to regret future faults—from now on, all evil deeds, ignorance, delusion, pride, deceit, jealousy, and envy, now that we have awakened, are completely cut off, never to be done again. This is called repenting. Therefore, it is called confession and repentance.
Ordinary, deluded people only know how to confess past faults but do not know how to repent and prevent future mistakes. Because they do not repent, past faults are not extinguished, and new faults continue to arise. If past faults are not extinguished and new faults keep arising, how can this be called true confession and repentance?
「善知識！既懺悔已，與善知識發四弘誓願，各須用心正聽。自心眾生無邊誓願度，自心煩惱無邊誓願斷，自性法門無盡誓願學，自性無上佛道誓願成。善知識！大家豈不道，眾生無邊誓願度。恁麼道，且不是惠能度。善知識！心中眾生，所謂邪迷心、誑妄心、不善心、嫉妬心、惡毒心，如是等心，盡是眾生。各須自性自度，是名真度。何名自性自度？即自心中邪見煩惱愚癡眾生，將正見度。既有正見，使般若智打破愚癡迷妄眾生，各各自度。邪來正度，迷來悟度，愚來智度，惡來善度；如是度者，名為真度。又煩惱無邊誓願斷，將自性般若智，除却虛妄思想心是也。又法門無盡誓願學，須自見性，常行正法，是名真學。又無上佛道誓願成，既常能下心，行於真正，離迷離覺，常生般若。除真除妄，即見佛性，即言下佛道成。常念修行，是願力法。
Good friends, now that you have repented, I ask you to join me in making the Four Great Vows. Please listen carefully with your heart:
1. I vow to deliver the countless beings in my own mind. 2. I vow to cut off the endless afflictions in my own mind. 3. I vow to learn the countless Dharma gates of my own nature. 4. I vow to attain the unsurpassed Buddha Way of my own nature.
Good friends, you may say, "I vow to deliver countless beings," but you must understand—it is not Hui-neng who delivers them.
The beings in your own mind are the deluded mind, the deceitful mind, the unwholesome mind, the jealous mind, and the malicious mind. All such minds are beings. Each of you must save yourself through your own true nature—this is true deliverance.
What does it mean to save yourself through your own true nature? It means that within your mind, beings of wrong views, afflictions, and ignorance can be delivered by right views. With right views, you use the wisdom of Prajna to break through ignorance, confusion, and delusion, saving each being on its own terms. When delusion comes, save it with awakening; when ignorance comes, save it with wisdom; when evil comes, save it with goodness. This is true deliverance.
Furthermore, "I vow to cut off endless afflictions"—this means using the Prajna wisdom of your own nature to remove false, deluded thoughts.
"I vow to learn countless Dharma gates"—this means you must see your own nature and constantly practice the true Dharma. This is true learning.
"I vow to attain the unsurpassed Buddha Way"—although you constantly humble yourself and practice what is true and right, you must go beyond both delusion and enlightenment, always giving rise to Prajna wisdom. Transcending both truth and falsehood, you will then see your Buddha-nature—and in that very moment, the Buddha Way is accomplished.
Always remember: keep practicing with mindfulness—this is the power of the vow.
「善知識！今發四弘願了，更與善知識授無相三歸依戒。善知識！歸依覺，兩足尊。歸依正，離欲尊。歸依淨，眾中尊。從今日去，稱覺為師，更不歸依邪魔外道，以自性三寶常自證明，勸善知識歸依自性三寶。佛者，覺也。法者，正也。僧者，淨也。自心歸依覺，邪迷不生，少欲知足，能離財色，名兩足尊。自心歸依正，念念無邪見，以無邪見故，即無人我貢高，貪愛執著，名離欲尊。自心歸依淨，一切塵勞愛欲境界，自性皆不染著，名眾中尊。若修此行，是自歸依。凡夫不會，從日至夜受三歸戒。若言歸依佛，佛在何處？若不見佛，憑何所歸，言却成妄。善知識！各自觀察，莫錯用心。經文分明言自歸依佛，不言歸依他佛。自佛不歸，無所依處。今既自悟，各須歸依自心三寶，內調心性，外敬他人，是自歸依也。
Good friends, having now made the Four Great Vows, I will also confer upon you the Three Refuges of the Formless Precepts. Good friends, take refuge in awakening, which is the highest honor. Take refuge in righteousness, which is freedom from desire. Take refuge in purity, which is the most noble among all.
From this day forward, take awakening as your teacher, and do not take refuge in heretical paths or false teachers. Use the Three Jewels inherent in your own nature as your constant guide. I urge you, good friends, to take refuge in the Three Jewels of your own nature.
The Buddha is awakening. The Dharma is righteousness. The Sangha is purity.
When your mind takes refuge in awakening, delusion and wrong views do not arise. You become content with little, knowing when enough is enough, and are able to detach from wealth and sensual desires. This is called the highest honor.
When your mind takes refuge in righteousness, every thought is free from wrong views. Free from wrong views, there is no pride, arrogance, selfishness, greed, or attachment. This is called freedom from desire.
When your mind takes refuge in purity, all defilements, desires, and worldly circumstances cannot stain it. This is called the most noble among all.
If you practice in this way, this is true self-refuge. Ordinary people do not understand this; they merely receive the Triple Refuge by rote from morning to night. If they say they take refuge in the Buddha, where is this Buddha? If they cannot see the Buddha, what exactly are they taking refuge in? Their words become false.
Good friends, each of you examine yourselves carefully. Do not use your mind mistakenly. The scriptures clearly say to take refuge in the Buddha of yourself, not to take refuge in any other Buddha. If you do not take refuge in your own Buddha, there is nowhere to go.
Now that you have realized this yourselves, you must each take refuge in the Three Jewels of your own mind. Harmonize your mind within, respect others without—this is true self-refuge.
「善知識！既歸依自三寶竟，各各志心，吾與說一體三身自性佛，令汝等見三身了然，自悟自性。總隨我道：『於自色身，歸依清淨法身佛。於自色身，歸依圓滿報身佛。於自色身，歸依千百億化身佛。』善知識！色身是舍宅，不可言歸。向者三身佛，在自性中，世人總有；為自心迷，不見內性。外覓三身如來，不見自身中有三身佛。汝等聽說，令汝等於自身中，見自性有三身佛。此三身佛，從自性生，不從外得。何名清淨法身佛？世人性本清淨，萬法從自性生。思量一切惡事，即生惡行；思量一切善事，即生善行。如是諸法在自性中，如天常清，日月常明，為浮雲蓋覆，上明下暗。忽遇風吹雲散，上下俱明，萬象皆現。世人性常浮游，如彼天雲。善知識！智如日，慧如月，智慧常明。於外著境，被妄念浮雲蓋覆自性，不得明朗。若遇善知識，聞真正法，自除迷妄，內外明徹，於自性中萬法皆現。見性之人，亦復如是。此名清淨法身佛。善知識！自心歸依自性，是歸依真佛。自歸依者，除却自性中不善心、嫉妬心、諂曲心、吾我心、誑妄心、輕人心、慢他心、邪見心、貢高心，及一切時中不善之行，常自見己過，不說他人好惡，是自歸依。常須下心，普行恭敬，即是見性通達，更無滯礙，是自歸依。何名圓滿報身？譬如一燈能除千年闇，一智能滅萬年愚。莫思向前，已過不可得；常思於後，念念圓明，自見本性。善惡雖殊，本性無二，無二之性，名為實性。於實性中，不染善惡，此名圓滿報身佛。自性起一念惡，滅萬劫善因；自性起一念善，得恒沙惡盡。直至無上菩提，念念自見，不失本念，名為報身。何名千百億化身？若不思萬法，性本如空，一念思量，名為變化。思量惡事，化為地獄；思量善事，化為天堂。毒害化為龍蛇，慈悲化為菩薩，智慧化為上界，愚癡化為下方。自性變化甚多，迷人不能省覺，念念起惡，常行惡道。迴一念善，智慧即生，此名自性化身佛。善知識！法身本具，念念自性自見，即是報身佛。從報身思量，即是化身佛。自悟自修自性功德，是真歸依。皮肉是色身，色身是舍宅，不言歸依也。但悟自性三身，即識自性佛。吾有一無相頌，若能誦持，言下令汝積劫迷罪一時銷滅。頌曰：
「迷人修福不修道，只言修福便是道，
布施供養福無邊，心中三惡元來造。
擬將修福欲滅罪，後世得福罪還在，
但向心中除罪緣，名自性中真懺悔。
忽悟大乘真懺悔，除邪行正即無罪，
學道常於自性觀，即與諸佛同一類。
吾祖惟傳此頓法，普願見性同一體，
若欲當來覓法身，離諸法相心中洗。
努力自見莫悠悠，後念忽絕一世休，
若悟大乘得見性，虔恭合掌至心求。」
"Deluded people cultivate merit but not the path, Saying 'Just cultivating merit is the path.' Giving and offerings bring boundless merit, Yet the three poisons in the mind remain for them to create.
They try to use merit to extinguish their wrongs, In future lives they'll gain blessings, but the wrongs will still be there. Just remove the causes of wrong from your mind— That is true repentance in your own nature.
Suddenly realizing the Great Vehicle's true repentance, Reject what's wrong, practice what's right—then you are without fault. Those who study the Path constantly contemplate their own nature, They are of the same kind as all the Buddhas.
Our patriarchs only transmitted this sudden teaching, Wishing all to see their nature and become one with it. If you wish to find the Dharma-body in the future, Separate from all phenomena and wash your mind.
Strive to see your own nature—don't be negligent! When your final thought suddenly ceases, this life is over. If you awaken to the Great Vehicle and see your nature, With heartfelt sincerity and folded hands, seek with all your might."
師言：「善知識！總須誦取，依此修行，言下見性。雖去吾千里，如常在吾邊。於此言下不悟，即對面千里，何勤遠來。珍重！好去。」
The Master said, "Good friends, all of you should recite and uphold this teaching. Practice according to it, and you'll see your true nature in the very moment of hearing it. Even if you're a thousand miles away from me, it will be as if you're always by my side. If you're listening to these words yet still not awakened, then even face to face, we'd be a thousand miles apart. So why bother traveling so far? Treasure this teaching well. Go forth with care."
一眾聞法，靡不開悟，歡喜奉行。
Everyone who heard the Dharma was enlightened, rejoiced, and put it into practice.