Virtue Is In The Embodiment Of Qualities: Bodhidharma and Emperor Wu

......Governor Wei said,

...I have heard that when Bodhidharma first tried to teach Emperor Wu of Liang, the emperor asked, "All my life I have been building temples, ordaining monks, giving alms and charitable meals: what virtue have I achieved?" Bodhidharma said, "In reality, no virtue is achieved." I do not understand the principle of this; please explain.

......The Master said,

...There really is no virtue achieved; do not doubt the words of the ancient sage. Emperor Wu's mind was wrong and he did not recognize true teaching. Building temples, ordaining monks, giving alms and charitable meals, is called seeking blessings. Blessings themselves cannot be considered virtue achieved. Virtue is in the embodiment of qualities, not in cultivating blessings.

---The Sutra of Hui-neng (The Platform Sutra)---