Patriarch's Teachings: Direct Interpretation

Chapter Three: The Dharma Transmission Verses of the Six Patriarchs in the Eastern Land

The First Patriarch was Bodhidharma. His Dharma transmission verse was explained in the previous chapter and will not be repeated here.

I. The Dharma Transmission Verse of the Second Patriarch, Chan Master Huike

Original Text: Originally, it is because of the ground (mind-ground) that [existence] arises; Because of the ground, flowers (karmic fruition) are born from the seeds planted.

　　　Originally, there is no seed; Therefore, flowers have never been born.

Explanation: All dharmas originally arise solely because of the truly existent mind-ground. It is because of the self-natured mind-ground that karmic seeds can transform into karmic fruition (flowers). However, within the self-natured mind-ground, there are originally no karmic seeds; it is the empty, self-natured pure mind. Therefore, all karmic fruition has never actually been born.

II. The Dharma Transmission Verse of the Third Patriarch, Chan Master Sengcan

Original Text: Although the flower seeds exist because of the ground, Flowers are born from the seeds within the ground;

　　　If no one sows the seeds, Throughout the entire ground, no flowers will grow.

Explanation: Although the seeds of flowers exist because of the mind-ground, it is from the seeds within the mind-ground that karmic fruition (flowers) are born. However, if no sentient being creates karma to sow the seeds, not a single flower will grow throughout the entire ground. Without karma, there are no seeds; without seeds, there are no flowers.

III. The Dharma Transmission Verse of the Fourth Patriarch, Chan Master Daoxin

Original Text: The flower seeds possess the nature to generate; Because of the ground, flowers are born ceaselessly.

　　　When the great causes and conditions unite with the nature, That which seems born is actually unborn.

Explanation: The seeds of flowers possess the nature to generate, but they must rely on the self-natured mind-ground to be born ceaselessly. When the causes and conditions of the seven great elements unite with the self-nature, they can give rise to all dharmas. Although all dharmas appear to be born, in essence, they are unborn – born yet unborn.

IV. The Dharma Transmission Verse of the Fifth Patriarch, Chan Master Hongren

Original Text: Sentient beings come to sow the seeds; Because of the ground, the fruit is born.

　　　The non-sentient have no seeds; Having no self-nature, they are also unborn.

Explanation: Sentient beings with minds create karmic actions and thus sow seeds. These seeds are planted in the mind-ground, and in the future, because of the mind-ground and relying on the mind-ground, they produce fruit. Non-sentient things without minds do not create seeds. Non-sentient things lack a self-nature; therefore, they are also unborn.

Sentient beings refer to living beings. Sentient beings possess the eighth consciousness (Alaya-vijnana), have five aggregates (skandhas) or four aggregates, have activities of the discerning mind, have lifespan, and are living entities. Non-sentient beings lack the eighth consciousness, lack the seven consciousnesses, lack the five aggregates, have no discerning mental activity, and are not living beings. "Because of the ground" (Yin Di) means it is because of the eighth consciousness, this mind-ground, that one can reap the fruit. When Dharma seeds are sown in sentient beings, these seeds are stored by the eighth consciousness. When conditions ripen in the future, the eighth consciousness outputs the seeds, and the karmic fruition is formed. Sowing seeds in non-sentient things is useless because non-sentient things lack a discerning mind to receive and accept them, and lack an eighth consciousness to store the Dharma seeds; thus, they can never blossom and bear fruit. All dharmas, whether sentient or non-sentient, because they inherently lack self-nature, cannot give birth to themselves. They all rely on the eighth consciousness, depending on various causes and conditions, to be born and manifest.

V. The Dharma Transmission Verse of the Sixth Patriarch, Chan Master Huineng

Original Text: The mind-ground contains all seeds; When the universal rain falls, all sprout forth.

　　　Upon suddenly awakening to the nature of the flowers (sentient existence), The fruit of Bodhi naturally ripens. 

Explanation: The mind-ground of sentient beings contains the seeds of all dharmas; these seeds give rise to all dharmas only when encountering the right conditions. Practitioners of Buddhism need only suddenly awaken to how the karmic fruition (flowers) of the Five Aggregates world of sentient beings is born, and the fruit of Bodhi will naturally be accomplished.