有一天五祖就問六祖：「米熟也未？」
惠能曰：「米熟久矣。猶欠篩在。」
《六祖壇經》這個地方很重要的。
五祖一見著六祖大師的時候，就認識他是法器、法門的龍象，可是也不動聲色地，就叫他到碓房裡踏這個碓。六祖大師踏碓的時候，他腰上拴一塊石頭幫著他來舂米，因為這個石頭是重的，能幫助他這個力量，所以那塊石頭就叫墜腰石。在那兒舂米舂了八個月，也沒和任何人講過話，也沒有和任何人拉過關係，就是在那兒勤勞工苦作。
有一天五祖就問他：「米熟也未？」惠能曰：「米熟久矣。猶欠篩在。」《六祖壇經》這個地方很重要的。
這就是五祖問六祖說了，說這個米熟了沒熟呢？這個意思就是說你把這個米舂好了沒有啊？舂好這個米沒有啊？這是一個意思。又一個意思，就是說你這個功夫成就了沒有啊？你這個用功有沒有上路啊？頭先我問你們大家，不是說這用功用上路了？這叫米熟了沒有。
為什麼說米呢？這個米是一粒一粒的，圓形的，這也可以說是你自性那個摩尼寶珠。你那個摩尼寶珠成就了沒有啊？也就是你那個心光圓滿了沒有啊？也就是你那個性光圓滿了沒有啊？意思是在這兒。那麼這個語意是自性的性光，自心的心光，自身的身光，性心身這三光圓滿了沒有？
那麼又者這個意思，這個米用水煮成飯，這才叫熟呢，熟了；就是說你修道已經成功了嗎？你在這個地方，連舂米再修禪，你這個禪的功夫怎麼樣了？這裡頭有這麼多的語意，有這麼多的意思。
六祖大師聽過之後，當然是明白五祖的意思了，因為什麼呢？他過來人是明白過來人說的話。
六祖大師說我這個功夫已經成就了，很久很久了！猶欠篩在。這個篩，什麼叫篩呢？你知不知道什麼叫篩？這個篩就是用它來篩那個糠，那米上面的糠就跑了。就是把糞都除去了，這個篩就是除糞的。二十年盡除糞，就是做那個工作；就是把那個見、思惑都沒有了。六祖大師說，他這個功夫成了是成了，但是猶欠篩在，還要除糞呢！這個篩就是除糞，講《法華經》講到，二十年盡在除糞；這就是除糞。你現在懂了嗎？所以經一定要講，若不講，你連這除糞都不會，那真是沒有用了！
這個也就是說除糞，除見思的煩惱。說是雖然知道用功的方法，但是對見思的煩惱，還沒有清除淨盡，這也是「猶欠篩在」。還有，沒有人給證明，雖然自己的功夫用得到登峰造極，爐火純青，到最好這種境地了，可是沒有經過明眼善知識給證明，給印證，這也叫「猶欠篩在」。 |
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One day the Fifth Patriarch asked the Sixth Patriarch, “Is the rice ready?”
Hui Neng replied, “The rice has long been ready. It is now waiting only for the sieve.”
This passage in the Sixth Patriarch’s Sutra is extremely important.
When the Fifth Patriarch met the Sixth Patriarch, he recognized him as a vessel of the Dharma, as someone who would have great achievements in Buddhism. However, he didn’t let his feelings show. Instead, he ordered the Sixth Patriarch to go to the threshing floor and thresh rice. When the Sixth Patriarch threshed rice, he tied a heavy rock around his waist to add weight to his body so that he could pound the rice. During the eight months that he toiled on the threshing floor, he didn’t talk to anyone or seek special favors from people.
One day the Fifth Patriarch asked him, “Is the rice ready?”
Hui Neng replied, “The rice has long been ready. It is now waiting only for the sieve.” This passage in the Sixth Patriarch’s Sutra is extremely important.
The Fifth Patriarch found the Great Master Hui Neng on the threshing floor and asked him, “Is the rice ready?” On one level the question means, “Have you finished threshing the rice?” On another level, the meaning is: “Have your efforts been successful? Are you well on your way in your cultivation?”
Why does the Sutra say, “rice”? Because rice is made up of many round grains, it symbolizes the precious mani jewel of the self-nature. “Is the mani jewel of your nature perfected? Is the light of your mind full? Is the light of your nature full? Is the light of your body full? Have you perfected these three kinds of light yet?"
There’s another meaning. When the raw grain is boiled, it becomes edible. The Patriarch’s question means, “Have you succeeded in your cultivation of the Way? You have been pounding rice and cultivating Dhyana meditation. How is your skill?” There are many levels of meaning here.
The Sixth Patriarch, of course, understood the Fifth Patriarch’s question, for it is said, “One who has gone through understands another who has gone through.”
“The rice has long been ready. My skill was perfected long ago,” the Sixth Patriarch answered. “It is now waiting only for the sieve.” In threshing rice, a sieve is used to sift out the husks. Here, the sieve represents getting rid of the filth. The fourth chapter of the Lotus Sutra tells of the poor son who spent twenty years sweeping away the dung. Although the Sixth Patriarch’s spiritual skill was perfected, it still waited for the sieve; he still had to sweep out the dung! Do you understand now why Sutras must be explained? If they were not explained, you would not even know enough to sweep away the dung, and you would be utterly useless!
“Sweeping away the dung” means getting rid of the afflictions of views and thought. Although the Sixth Patriarch knew the method, his afflictions of views and thought had not yet been completely eliminated. That he was waiting for the sieve can also mean that no one had certified him. Even though, in his intense vigor, he had reached a high peak, and the fire in the censer was pure green, he had not yet been certified by an enlightened good knowing advisor. |
