No. 1222-A刻修禪要訣序
Preface to the Essential Secrets of Cultivating Chan
昔者世高法護譯出禪經。僧光曇猷等並依教修心。後什公入關。僧叡請出禪法要以來。往往有其人矣。達磨西來。僧稠東起以後。斯風大振。至唐中葉。金智無畏等三藏傳祕密禪。別為流派。今斯所傳。義兼顯密。法辨華梵。實為要訣。先得數本校以藏篋。朱盈居士有信之人也。謀余刻以弘通。余曰。彌天有謂曰。禪思守玄。鍊微入寂。在取何道。猶𮗎于掌。墮癈斯要而希見證。不亦難乎。然則入佛道要門。盖莫過焉。今子舉之。誰不隨喜乎。於是乎序。
In times past, the Masters Shigao and Dharmarakṣa translated meditation sutras. Monks like Sengguang and Tan you followed these teachings to cultivate their minds. Later, when Master Kumārajīva arrived at the Pass, Sengrui requested an essential guide to meditation practice, and from then on, such people appeared frequently. After Bodhidharma came from the West and Sengchou arose in the East, this tradition flourished greatly. By the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the three masters Vajrabodhi, Śubhakarasiṃha, and Amoghavajra transmitted the esoteric meditation teachings, which then became a separate lineage.
The teaching transmitted here merges both exoteric and esoteric principles, and distinguishes between the dharma of China and India. It is truly an essential guide. Having previously obtained several editions, I have compared them against the canon.
Layman Zhu Ying is a person of faith. He asked me to publish this book for widespread circulation. I said: There is a saying from Master Daoan of Mount Mi: "Focusing the mind on meditation, refining subtle awareness into stillness—it is as clear as seeing clearly into your own palm. To abandon this essential teaching yet hope for direct realization—is that not difficult?" Thus, the essential gateway to the Buddha's path is none other than this. Now that you are promoting it, who will not rejoice with you? Therefore, I write this preface.
天明四年甲辰之冬 播磨沙門 智暉 撰
In the winter of 1784, the year of the Wood Dragon, the monk Zhi Hui of the Harima region compiled this text.