The Relationship Between the Sixth Patriarch's Sudden Enlightenment and Shenxiu's Gradual Cultivation

The Southern Chan sect of the Tang Dynasty, led by the Sixth Patriarch, advocated sudden enlightenment. The Sixth Patriarch's famous verse states: "Bodhi is originally no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is not a single thing—where could dust alight?" Conversely, the Northern Chan sect, led by Shenxiu, advocated gradual cultivation. Shenxiu's verse states: "The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror stand. At all times diligently wipe it clean, do not let it gather dust." The Sixth Patriarch's verse indicates he was still only at the stage of Hinayana emptiness and had not yet realized the Mahayana path. Shenxiu's verse shows he was still in the stage of cultivating body and mind. Contemporaries and later generations often praised the Sixth Patriarch while disparaging Shenxiu, without realizing that each had their own rationale. Their spiritual capacities differed, their karmic conditions differed, and thus the Dharma they cultivated should not have been the same. The two represent the relationship between sudden enlightenment and gradual cultivation; they cannot be forcibly made identical.

Regarding the relationship between gradual cultivation and sudden enlightenment, I once used an example: it is like sawing down a large tree. The moment the tree falls symbolizes sudden enlightenment, while the work before the tree falls symbolizes gradual cultivation. Only after gradual cultivation can sudden enlightenment occur, and after sudden enlightenment, gradual cultivation is still necessary. The Dharma cultivated before and after enlightenment is different; cultivation after enlightenment and cultivation before enlightenment are certainly not the same. The gradual cultivation Shenxiu spoke of was the gradual cultivation before sudden enlightenment, the foundational stage. Without this gradual cultivation, the subsequent sudden enlightenment cannot occur. As for the Sixth Patriarch's "originally there is not a single thing," although it was not yet the sudden enlightenment of Mahayana, because his preliminary cultivation had been completed in previous lifetimes—indeed, over countless lifetimes and kalpas—his mind in this lifetime was already empty. He no longer needed to cultivate body and mind or "diligently wipe it clean at all times."

Standing from the Sixth Patriarch's position, with his spiritual capacity, he could directly enter emptiness. Although he had not yet attained the emptiness of Mahayana, nor did it belong to the sudden enlightenment of Chan, the Sixth Patriarch nevertheless had the capability for emptiness. This state was indeed far superior to Shenxiu's; he had already passed through the stage of gradual cultivation. When the karmic conditions ripened, he could enter the state of sudden enlightenment at any moment. Shenxiu, however, was still far from sudden enlightenment. He had to cultivate gradually; he had to "diligently wipe it clean at all times," cleansing the defilements from his mind. Otherwise, he could not attain sudden enlightenment; even the emptiness of Hinayana would be impossible.

One should speak according to one's situation; one should cultivate the Dharma appropriate to one's stage. Since individuals are at different levels, the Dharma they cultivate cannot be the same. Primary school students have the Dharma for primary school students to cultivate; university students have the Dharma for university students to cultivate. One cannot demand that everyone study university-level courses. Nearly everyone must pass through the preceding stages of primary and secondary school. The path must be walked step by step; the intermediate stages cannot be skipped. The length of time varies from person to person, but this process must occur, even if only for an instant. Only after completing all these processes can one finally reach the state of sudden enlightenment. This is the dialectical relationship between the Sixth Patriarch's sudden enlightenment and Shenxiu's gradual cultivation.