六(liu)祖(zu)惠(hui)能大師(公元638——713年),俗(su)姓盧(lu),唐(tang)新(xin)州(zhou)(今廣(guang)東(dong)新(xin)興縣)人,中(zhong)國禪(chan)宗(zong)杰出大師。24歲聞《金剛經(jing)》開(kai)悟(wu)而辭母(mu)北上(shang)湖北黃梅謁五(wu)祖(zu)弘忍,以一首“菩提本無樹,明(ming)鏡亦非臺。本來無一物,何(he)處(chu)惹塵埃。”法(fa)偈得五(wu)祖(zu)認可,夜授《金剛經(jing)》,密傳禪(chan)宗(zong)衣缽信物,為第(di)六(liu)代(dai)(dai)祖(zu)。惠(hui)能在曹(cao)溪(xi)大倡(chang)頓(dun)悟(wu)法(fa)門,主張不立文字,教(jiao)外別傳,直指人心,見性成佛。他用通俗(su)簡易的(de)(de)修持(chi)方法(fa),取代(dai)(dai)繁瑣的(de)(de)義學,形成了影(ying)響(xiang)久遠的(de)(de)南宗(zong)禪(chan),成為中(zhong)國禪(chan)宗(zong)的(de)(de)主流。六(liu)祖(zu)惠(hui)能的(de)(de)思想,集中(zhong)體現于《六(liu)祖(zu)法(fa)寶壇經(jing)》。
俗家(jia)(jia)姓盧,其父早亡,家(jia)(jia)境貧困,惠能(neng)以(yi)賣柴奉養母親。在賣柴回家(jia)(jia)的(de)路上聽(ting)到(dao)(dao)有人誦念(nian)《金(jin)剛經》而產生學(xue)習佛(fo)法之心(xin)。670年離家(jia)(jia)學(xue)法,672年惠能(neng)到(dao)(dao)黃梅東山寺(si),后(hou)到(dao)(dao)南海(今廣(guang)州)法性(xing)寺(si)(今光孝寺(si)),不(bu)久,惠能(neng)就在法性(xing)寺(si)菩提樹下開演(yan)東山法門。其后(hou)不(bu)久,即移居曹(cao)溪寶林寺(si),韶(shao)州(今廣(guang)東韶(shao)關)刺使韋璩久仰慕惠能(neng)的(de)道風,請(qing)他講法,聽(ting)眾超過千人。所說(shuo)法語,由弟子(zi)法海記錄(lu),整理(li)為《壇經》傳于后(hou)世。唐玄(xuan)宗先天二年(公元713年)惠能(neng)圓寂,終年七十六(liu)歲。
惠能禪(chan)學思想的(de)主要特點是“識心(xin)(xin)見性(xing)”和(he)“頓(dun)悟(wu)成(cheng)佛(fo)”。前者是他的(de)心(xin)(xin)性(xing)本體(ti)論,說明“心(xin)(xin)”、“性(xing)”是眾生成(cheng)佛(fo)的(de)依據:后者是他的(de)宗教(jiao)修行方法論,提出宗教(jiao)修行的(de)原則和(he)方法,
首(shou)先(xian),惠(hui)能(neng)認為(wei),人的“心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)”,“性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”即為(wei)佛(fo)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),因此(ci),“一切眾(zhong)生皆有佛(fo)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”,人人都(dou)可成佛(fo),他說,人的本(ben)(ben)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)是(shi)清(qing)凈(jing)無染的,“人性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)本(ben)(ben)凈(jing)”;“但(dan)能(neng)離相(xiang),性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)體清(qing)凈(jing)”;“自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)常(chang)清(qing)凈(jing)”。他所謂的清(qing)凈(jing),是(shi)指(zhi)那種除去了(le)煩惱,癡迷染污而(er)(er)(er)達至(zhi)的純真、清(qing)潔、寂靜的狀(zhuang)態(tai)。既然惠(hui)能(neng)在(zai)(zai)(zai)心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)論上(shang)(shang)提自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)本(ben)(ben)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)具足(zu),那么,在(zai)(zai)(zai)修(xiu)(xiu)行(xing)方法(fa)論上(shang)(shang)必然是(shi)“自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)悟(wu)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)”、“不假外求”。他說:“善知(zhi)識,見自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)凈(jing),自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)作自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)法(fa)身,自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)行(xing)佛(fo)行(xing),自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)作自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)成佛(fo)道(dao)”;“救世度人須自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)”。要覺悟(wu)解(jie)脫,應依靠自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)己(ji)的力量,在(zai)(zai)(zai)主體自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)身用(yong)功夫,而(er)(er)(er)不能(neng)遺其內而(er)(er)(er)執其外。“自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)地(di)以智慧觀照,內外明澈,識自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)本(ben)(ben)心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin),若識本(ben)(ben)心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin),即是(shi)解(jie)脫”;“聞(wen)其頓教,不假外修(xiu)(xiu),但(dan)于自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)心(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin),令自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)本(ben)(ben)性(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)常(chang)起正見,煩惱塵勞眾(zhong)生,當時盡悟(wu)”。同時,在(zai)(zai)(zai)提倡(chang)“自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)悟(wu)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)”的大前提下,惠(hui)能(neng)還(huan)提出了(le)一些具體的修(xiu)(xiu)行(xing)方法(fa)。
(1)無(wu)念(nian)為宗。他說:“我(wo)此法(fa)門,從上以來,頓漸皆立(li)無(wu)念(nian)為宗,無(wu)相(xiang)為體,無(wu)住為本。”“悟般若三昧,即是(shi)無(wu)念(nian)。何名(ming)無(wu)念(nian)?無(wu)念(nian)者,見一切法(fa),不著一切法(fa);遍一切處,不著一切處。”
(2)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)等學。惠(hui)能反對以前(qian)禪法(fa)中割裂定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)、慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)的(de)(de)(de)做法(fa),主(zhu)張定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)一(yi)致,他(ta)說:“我此法(fa)門,以定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)為(wei)本,第一(yi)勿迷言(yan)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)別。定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)體(ti)一(yi)不二,即定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)是(shi)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)體(ti),即慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)是(shi)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)用。即慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)之(zhi)時(shi)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)在(zai)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui),即定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)之(zhi)時(shi)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)在(zai)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)。”這(zhe)種(zhong)“定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)等”的(de)(de)(de)主(zhu)張,實(shi)際上(shang)是(shi)抬高慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)而貶低舊有意(yi)義上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)禪定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding),提倡(chang)一(yi)種(zhong)活潑的(de)(de)(de)、不拘形式的(de)(de)(de)、自(zi)由自(zi)在(zai)的(de)(de)(de)新(xin)禪法(fa)。
(3)頓悟(wu)(wu)成(cheng)佛(fo)(fo)。惠能(neng)的(de)新禪法(fa)就是(shi)─頓悟(wu)(wu)成(cheng)佛(fo)(fo),就是(shi)“明心見性”。“我于(yu)忍和尚處,一聞言下大悟(wu)(wu),頓見真如本(ben)性”,“故知不悟(wu)(wu),即(ji)(ji)佛(fo)(fo)是(shi)眾生(sheng),一念(nian)若悟(wu)(wu),即(ji)(ji)眾生(sheng)是(shi)佛(fo)(fo)”,“前(qian)念(nian)迷即(ji)(ji)凡,后(hou)念(nian)悟(wu)(wu)即(ji)(ji)佛(fo)(fo)”,強調只要一念(nian)覺悟(wu)(wu),即(ji)(ji)可頓入佛(fo)(fo)地,
總(zong)之,惠能南宗禪(chan)(chan)的顯(xian)著特點就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)禪(chan)(chan)與般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo)的一(yi)體不(bu)二,“識(shi)心見性”就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)體認人和事物本來面(mian)目(mu),而事物的本來面(mian)目(mu),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)實相(xiang)般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo);“頓悟成佛”也還是(shi)(shi)頓現菩提般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo)之智(zhi),在這里,參禪(chan)(chan)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)求(qiu)證般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo)實相(xiang),實相(xiang)般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)禪(chan)(chan)悟,般(ban)(ban)若(ruo)(ruo)(ruo)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)禪(chan)(chan)的糟(zao)髓所在。
1958年8月21日(ri),毛澤東(dong)在中(zhong)共中(zhong)央政(zheng)治局北(bei)戴(dai)河(he)擴(kuo)大會議上講(jiang)話時對與會者介(jie)紹說:唐(tang)朝佛教《六(liu)祖壇經》記載,惠能(neng)和尚,河(he)北(bei)人,不(bu)識字,很有(you)學問,在廣東(dong)傳經,主張一切皆(jie)空(kong)。這是徹底的唯心(xin)論(lun),但他突出了主觀能(neng)動性。
唐憲宗謚號大鑒禪師(shi)。