六 祖 大 師 法 寶 壇 經
The Sixth Patriarch's DharmaJewel Platform Sutra
決疑品第三
師又曰：
The Master continued:
見性是功，
Seeing one's essential nature is merit;
平等是德。
equanimity is virtue.
念念無滯，
To be flexible and unimpeded in thought after thought,
常見本性，真實妙用，
always cognizant of the true and wondrous workings of one's original nature—
名為功德。
this is called "merit and virtue."
內心謙下是功，
Inwardly, your mind humble, is merit;
外行於禮是德。
outwardly, your behavior respectful, this is virtue.
自性建立萬法是功，
Establishing the myriad dharmas from your own self-nature is merit,
心體離念是德。
yet keeping your essential mind free from [wrong] thought is virtue.
不離自性是功，
Not departing from one's essential nature is merit;
應用無染是德。
actively responding without being affected is virtue.
若覓功德法身，
If you would seek the merit and virtue of the Dharma body,
但依此作，
just live by these principles,
是真功德。
for this is genuine merit and virtue.
若修功德之人，
People who cultivate merit and virtue
心即不輕，
harbor no thoughts of belittling others;
常行普敬。
instead they show respect to all.
心常輕人，
If you are always slighting others in your heart,
吾我不斷，
and are constantly self-centered,
即自無功。
then you have no merit.
自性虛妄不實，
If your own nature is vain and false,
即自無德。
you lack any virtue.
為吾我自大，
It is only because they consider themselves to be great
常輕一切故。
that they always belittle others.
善知識，
Good and Wise Friends,
念念無間是功，
[cultivating] continuously in thought after thought is merit;
心行平直是德。
an unbiased, sincere, straightforward mind is virtue.
自修性是功，
Self-cultivation of one's own nature is merit;
自修身是德。
cultivation of one's own person is virtue.
善知識，
Good and Wise Friends,
功德須自性內見，
merit and virtue must manifest from within your own nature;
不是佈施供養之所求也。
do not seek for them by making donations and offerings.
是以福德與功德別。
That is the difference between blessings, and merit and virtue.
武帝不識真理，
Emperor Wu did not understand this principle.
非我祖師有過。
Our Patriarch was not in error.
朗诵：合门
校对：日清
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