在《四十二章经》上说：供养十方三世诸佛，不如供养一个无心道人。什么是无心道人？就是在禅堂打禅七的人。他们没有求名求利的心，他们把财色名食睡地狱五条根，都拔出来，无心无念地在参禅，所以叫无心道人。

"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.

在西方想要真正弘扬佛法，就要修“无心道人”的法门。说这个，并不是希望有人来护法供养无心道人；如果贪图供养，那就是有心。所以我们在打坐的时候，要老老实实参禅习定，不可以妄想丛生，接二连三，像演电影一般，一幕一幕现在眼前，那就离道有十万八千里了。你越走离家越远，成为一个外乡的游子，这是多么可怜啊！

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!

我们修道，要躬行实践，凭真功夫。不要搞名搞利，不要自我宣传。要学文殊、普贤、观世音、地藏王诸大菩萨的精神，护持道场，教化众生。菩萨认为众生有成就和自己有成就是一样的，他们没有你我的分别，菩萨是见闻随喜，来赞叹有功德的人。

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.

俗语说：“有麝自然香，何须大风扬？”无心道人修到极点，自然有感应。做佛事就是佛，做菩萨事就是菩萨，做罗汉事就是罗汉，做鬼事就是鬼，这是很自然的现象。修道不可以找快捷方式，投机取巧。要脚踏实地，按部就班，认真去修行，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○年禅七 十二月开示