韋公曰。和尚所說可不是達摩大師宗旨乎。師曰是。公曰。弟子聞。達摩初化梁武帝。帝問云。朕一生造寺度僧。布施設齋。有何功德。達摩言。實無功德。弟子未達 此理。願和尚為說。師曰。實無功德。勿疑先聖之言。武帝心 邪不知正法。造寺度僧布施設齋。名為求福。不可將福便為功德。功德在法身中。不在修福。

Wei says, “Monk’s words the objective of Bodhidharma?”  Guru says, “Yes.”  Wei says, “I heard when Bodhidharma first tried to illuminate Emperor Liang, the king asked, ‘Through my life, I built temples, fostered the ordainment of monks,…

六祖說：「一日韋刺吏。為師設大會齋。齋訖刺史請師陞座。同官僚士庶肅容再拜問曰。弟子聞和尚說法實不可思議。今有少疑。願大慈悲特為解說。師曰。有疑即問。吾當為說。」

One day, Governor Wei holds a grand vegetarian banquet in honor of the Guru. After the banquet, the Governor implores the Guru to ascend the throne. The Governor, along with the dignitaries and commoners, all respectfully bow down and…

師復曰：『今於大梵寺說此頓教，普願法界眾生，言下見性成佛』。時韋使君與官僚道俗，聞師所說，無不省悟。一時作禮，皆嘆善哉！何期嶺南有佛出世。

Guru then said, “Today in the Great Brahma Temple I speak the sudden teaching. I hope all beings in the dharma realm, upon hearing the words, enlighten and achieve buddhahood.” Governor Wei, other officials, and ordained and at-home practitioners,…