《六祖坛经》不但成为我们出家人的指南，

还对千千万万普罗大众生活、工作、

为人处世起着莫大的作用，

这是历史传承到现在，

都没有过时。

禅法产生于印度，之后由达摩祖师传到中国。禅刚到中国，民众开始很难接受，六代祖师不断发扬传承，而集大成，推动发展应该首属六祖慧能大师。六祖慧能大师不仅继承释迦佛的心法，还将它体制化、规范化、统一化，创立了具体的理论体系，更重要的是它能够走进人间，落实社会，培养了四十三位高素质的人才。所以，我们知道，要推动一个事业的发展，从禅里得到的智慧是，要有机制体制，要有理论体系，关键是要有人才，这就是禅。

Chan Buddhism originated in India and made its journey to China, thanks to Master Bodhidharma. When it was first introduced to China, it was met with skepticism. It would have faded away from the country but for the persistent efforts of the six patriarchs, especially Master Huineng. Master Huineng not only inherited the essence of the teachings of the Buddha but also systematized them into a unified theory. More importantly, he made Chan Buddhism more accessible to people. His another contribution was nurturing 43 extraordinary disciples, who also played an important role in the course of Chan’s development. It can well be said that the success of Chan Buddhism underscores the importance of a sound theoretical framework and the presence of talented individuals, which are also the key to propelling a cause.

近代著名的文学思想家钱穆先生这样评价：中国的文学思想史，有两大伟人，一为唐代禅宗的始祖慧能大师，一为南宋著名的理学大家朱熹，一佛一儒，使中国的文学思想绵延不断。也就是说，所有唐代以后的中国文学思想家都受这两位导师的启发。朱熹，是一代儒家，学富五车。六祖慧能大师目不识丁，为什么能成为思想家，因为六祖有智慧的五车，六祖慧能大师修行的语言可汇集记载成一本中国人能说出来的《六祖坛经》。在佛教里，一般佛教的弟子说出来的，只能是佛教的论点，不能称作经典。经典只能是释迦佛说的话，所有中国人推崇的六祖的话，叫作《坛经》，成为经典，说明六祖大师的位置和释迦牟尼的位置是等同的，也说明六祖是我们东方的释迦佛，所以他成为世界的十大思想家之一。《六祖坛经》不但成为我们出家人的指南，还对千千万万普罗大众生活、工作、为人处世起着莫大的作用，这是历史传承到现在，都没有过时。

According to the esteemed philosopher Qian Mu, China’s history of philosophy is marked by two extraordinary figures: Master Huineng, the founder of the Southern Chan School in the Tang dynasty, and Zhu Xi, the influential Neo-Confucian scholar in the Southern Song dynasty. These two individuals, respectively representing Buddhism and Confucianism, inspired generations of Chinese philosophers since the Tang dynasty and contributed to the continuous development of Chinese philosophical thought. But how come the illiterate Master Huineng received equal praise with such a knowledgeable Confucian scholar as Zhu Xi? The answer lies in his profound wisdom. His wise words and teachings were collectively recorded in the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, the only Chinese scripture that is honored as a “sutra”. In the Buddhist tradition, utterances from ordinary Buddhist disciples are classified as “instruction”; only the discourses of Shakyamuni Buddha are elevated to the status of “sutras.” The veneration for the Sixth Patriarch’s words as a sutra by the Chinese people underscores the equal statures of Master Huineng and Shakyamuni Buddha.Consequently, the Sixth Patriarch is also perceived as the Eastern counterpart of Shakyamuni Buddha, often hailed in high regard as one of the world’s ten most influential thinkers. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarchnot only serves as a guide for monastics, but also plays a significant role in the lives, work, and interpersonal relationships of countless ordinary people. Its resonance remains undiminished, standing the test of time.

禅的根本目的