在《四十二章經》上說：供養十方三世諸佛，不如供養一個無心道人。什麼是無心道人？就是在禪堂打禪七的人。他們沒有求名求利的心，他們把財色名食睡地獄五條根，都拔出來，無心無念地在參禪，所以叫無心道人。

"Making offerings to all Buddhas of the ten directions and the three periods of time is not as good as making offerings to a single person of the Way who is without thoughts." What is a "person of the Way who is without thoughts"? This refers to anyone who is taking part in the Chan Session here in the meditation hall. These people have no thoughts of seeking fame and benefit, for they have already eradicated the five roots of the hells: wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. Because they are free of thoughts as they investigate Chan, they are called people of the Way who are without thoughts.

在西方想要真正弘揚佛法，就要修「無心道人」的法門。說這個，並不是希望有人來護法供養無心道人；如果貪圖供養，那就是有心。所以我們在打坐的時候，要老老實實參禪習定，不可以妄想叢生，接二連三，像演電影一般，一幕一幕現在眼前，那就離道有十萬八千里了。你越走離家越遠，成為一個外鄉的遊子，這是多麼可憐啊！

Here in the West, a person who truly wants to propagate the Buddhadharma must cultivate the Dharma-door of a "person of the Way who is without thoughts." In saying this, it's not that we're hoping somebody will come to protect or make offerings to these people of the Way who are without thoughts. If we craved offerings, we would not be free of thoughts. Therefore, as we meditate, we should honestly investigate Chan and cultivate our concentration. We must not let our idle thoughts arise in profusion, one after another, like a movie flashing scene after scene on the screen before our eyes. To do so is to leave the Way a million miles behind. The farther we run, the farther we are from home. We wind up like the prodigal son wandering in a foreign land. How pitiful!

我們修道，要躬行實踐，憑真功夫。不要搞名搞利，不要自我宣傳。要學文殊、普賢、觀世音、地藏王諸大菩薩的精神，護持道場，教化眾生。菩薩認為眾生有成就和自己有成就是一樣的，他們沒有你我的分別，菩薩是見聞隨喜，來讚歎有功德的人。

People who cultivate the Way want to really do the work with effort; actual skill is all that counts. Don't crave fame and profits; don't publicize yourself. Follow the spirit of the Bodhisattvas Manjushri, Samantabhadra (Universal Worthy), Avalokiteshvara (Guanshiyin), and Ksitigarbha (Earth Treasury) as they guard the Way-place and teach and transform living beings. These Bodhisattvas feel that living beings' accomplishments are the same as their own accomplishment. They don't make distinctions between self and others. Bodhisattvas joyfully support the merit and virtue they see and hear others doing.

俗語說：「有麝自然香，何須大風揚？」無心道人修到極點，自然有感應。做佛事就是佛，做菩薩事就是菩薩，做羅漢事就是羅漢，做鬼事就是鬼，這是很自然的現象。修道不可以找捷徑，投機取巧。要腳踏實地，按部就班，認真去修行，才能有所成就。

There's a saying,

When the musk deer arrives,
We will naturally know because of its scent.
There is no need for fanfare.

When people of the Way who are without thoughts cultivate to the ultimate point, they naturally gain a response to their efforts. When one does what Buddhas do, one is a Buddha. When one does what Bodhisattvas do, one is a Bodhisattva. When one does what Arhats do, one is an Arhat. When one does what ghosts do, one is a ghost. These are all natural phenomena. There are no shortcuts in cultivation. You cannot cut corners and hedge bets. Success comes only after one does an honest job, proceeding step-by-step, sincerely and truly cultivating the Way.

一九八○年禪七 十二月開示