..續本文上一頁t ten thousand times. When you understand it, you will be following the same Path with me. But now, all that you have accomplished is to make yourself conceited. Moreover, you do not seem to realise that you are in the wrong. Listen to this stanza:

　　p. 278

　　"Since the object of ceremony is to curb arrogance,

　　Why did you fail to offer due respect

　　To take pride in oneself, is a source of sin,

　　But to learn to treat any attainment as ”void,” is to attain incomparable merit."

　　* * *

　　The Patriarch then asked him for his name, and upon being told that his name was Fat-tat (which means "law-understanding"), he remarked, "Your name is Fat-tat, but you have not yet understood the Law." Then the Patriarch intending to conclude the interview, recited the following stanza:

　　"Your name is Fat-tat.

　　Diligently and faithfully you recite the Sutra.

　　Lip-repetition of the text ends with its pronunciation,

　　But he whose mind is enlightened, by grasping its meaning, becomes a Bodhisattva.

　　On account of conditions of affinity which may be traced to our past lives,

　　Let me explain this to you.

　　If you can only understand that Buddha speaks no words,

　　Then the Lotus will blossom from your mouth.

　　(Truth is inscrutable and ineffable; words fail,

　　But the Lotus blossoms and radiates its perfume.)

　　* * *

　　Having heard this stanza, Fat-tat became ashamed and apologised to the Patriarch. He added, "Hereafter I will be humble and polite on all occasions. It is true: I do not quite understand the meaning of the Sutra as

　　p. 279

　　I recite it, so I am often doubtful as to its proper interpretation. From your profound knowledge and high Wisdom, will you kindly give me a short explanation

　　"

　　The Patriarch replied: ”Tat-tat, the Good Law is quite clear; it is your mind that is not clear. The Sutra is free from doubtful passages; it is only your mind that makes them seem doubtful. Do you know the principal object of the Sutra

　　"

　　"How can I know, Sir," replied Fat-tat, "since I am so dull and stupid

　　 All I know is to recite it word by word."

　　The Patriarch then said, "Will you please recite the Sutra

　　 I am unable to read it myself. Then I will explain its meaning to you."

　　Fat-tat recited the Sutra loudly. When he came to the section entitled, "parables," the Patriarch stopped him, saying, "The theme of this Sutra is to set forth the aim and object of a Buddha”s incarnation into this world. Though parables and illustrations are numerous in it, none of them go beyond this pivotal point. Now, what is that aim

　　 and what is that object

　　 The Sutra says, ”It is for a sole object, it is for a sole aim, but truly a lofty object and a lofty aim, that a Buddha appears in this world.” Now that sole object, that sole aim, that is so exalted, is the realisation of Buddha-knowledge.

　　"Common people attach themselves to external objects, thinking them to be real, and within, they fall into the wrong idea that external things come to an end. When they are able to free themselves from attachment to objects when in contact with objects, and to free themselves from the fallacious view that

　　p. 280

　　[paragraph continues] ”Emptiness” means annihilation, then they are free from illusions without and delusions within. He who understands this and whose mind is thus suddenly enlightened, is said to have opened his eyes to the sight of Buddha-Knowledge.

　　"The word, ”Buddha” is equivalent to ”Enlightenment” and is dealt with under four heads:--Opening the eyes for the sight of Enlightenment-knowledge; seeing the sight of Enlightenment-knowledge; understanding Enlightenment-knowledge; becoming firmly established in Enlightenment-knowledge. If we are able, upon being taught, to grasp and thoroughly understand the teaching of Enlightenment-knowledge, then our inherent qualit…

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