The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (Chinese: 六祖壇經, fully 南宗頓教最上大乘摩訶般若波羅蜜經六祖惠能大師於韶州大梵寺施法壇經), is a Buddhist scripture that was composed in China. It is one of the seminal texts in the Chan/Zen schools. It is centered on discourses given at Shao Zhou temple attributed to the sixth Chan patriarch, Huineng. The key topics of the discourse are sudden enlightenment, the direct perception of one's true nature, and the unity in essence of śīla, dhy...
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The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (Chinese: 六祖壇經, fully 南宗頓教最上大乘摩訶般若波羅蜜經六祖惠能大師於韶州大梵寺施法壇經), is a Buddhist scripture that was composed in China. It is one of the seminal texts in the Chan/Zen schools. It is centered on discourses given at Shao Zhou temple attributed to the sixth Chan patriarch, Huineng. The key topics of the discourse are sudden enlightenment, the direct perception of one's true nature, and the unity in essence of śīla, dhyāna and prajñā. The Southern Chan or "Sudden Enlightenment" school of Chan Buddhism based its doctrine on this extremely influential scripture.
Chapter One presents autobiographical material, telling the story of how Huineng became enlightened, became a Patriarch, fled to the South, and eventually assumed his public role.
Chapter Two is a lecture on prajna, given after a recitation of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. "When our mind works freely without any hindrance, and is at liberty to 'come' or to 'go', we attain Samadhi of Prajna, or...
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