Chih-ch'eng said, "Concerning morality, meditation, and wisdom, Master Shen-hsiu says not committing evil is morality, doing good is wisdom, and purifying one's thoughts is meditation. This is what he means by 'morality, meditation, and wisdom.' This is his explanation. What is the Master's view?"
Hui-neng replied, "This explanation is wonderful, but my view is different."
Chihch'eng asked, "How is it different?"
Hui-neng replied, "Understanding can be fast or slow."
Chih-ch'eng then asked the Master to explain his view of morality, meditation, and wisdom.
The Master said, "Listen to my explanation, and you'll see how I view them. When the land of your mind is free of error, this is the morality of your own nature. When the land of your mind is free of confusion, this is the meditation of your own nature. When the land of your mind is free of ignorance, this is the wisdom of your own nature."
The Master continued, "The morality, meditation, and wisdom of your master are intended for small-minded people. My morality, meditation, and wisdom are intended for people of bigger minds. Once people realize their own nature, they don't differentiate between morality, meditation, and wisdom."
Chih-ch'eng said, "Can the Master please explain why they aren't differentiated?"
The Master said, "Our nature is free of error, free of confusion, and free of ignorance. Prajna* shines in every thought and is forever free of attributes. What is there to differentiate? Our nature is something we cultivate directly. It doesn't have any intervening stages, so we don't differentiate any."
Chih-ch'eng bowed and did not leave Tsaohsi Mountain. He became a disciple and was never far from the Master's side.
---The Sutra of Hui-neng (The Platform Sutra)---
*Wisdom. Insight into the true nature of reality, primarily impermanence, dissatisfaction, non-self, and emptiness.
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