The USA Buddhist Zen and Pure Land Association

Zen Sutras

Lòng bình đẳng, đó là giữ giới
 

Làm việc ngay, đó chính tu thiền
 

Ân song thân, hiếu dưỡng cần chuyên
 

Nghĩa huynh đệ dưới trên tương ái
 

Nhượng, hòa mục, tôn ti đối đải
 

Nhẫn muôn điều ác hại chớ gây
 

Nếu bền tu, như lấy lửa cọ cây
 

Nơi bùn lấm nở đầy sen đỏ

Đắng miệng ấy thuốc trừ bịnh khổ
 

Nghịch tai là lời độ chánh trung
 

Sửa lổi lầm, trí huệ phát xung
 

Binh tội quấy, tâm tùng đọa ác
 

Năng làm phước giúp người lợi lạc
 

Đạo nào do thí bạc mà thành
 

Vốn Bồ Đề cầu ở tâm thanh
 

Ngoài mộng ảo, muội manh nhọc kiếm
 

Nghe nói pháp lòng vâng tu niệm
 

Cõi thiên đường mầu nhiệm thấy liền.
 

Respect everyone; treat them like you would treat yourself

That’s the ultimate method of keeping your precepts

Do the right things, think the right thoughts

That’s also the ultimate goal in cultivating yourself and practicing Zen.

Love your parents, look after and care for them

Love your siblings, help them when they’re in need

Yield to your neighbor, promote peace, and respect their customs

Be patient, don’t do any mean or wicked deed to anyone

or to revenge, or to payback for bad things that they did (to you)

If you practice this method anywhere, anytime

The effect is like rubbing two dried sticks together

(The fire will surely come)

Like lotuses come out from the filthy mud

(So does your Buddha essence blooming out from your deluded mind)

Bitter pills cure one’s illness

So does the honest suggestions even though they're very hard to listen to.

Cultivating your mind and get rid of your faults

Then your Dharma mind will come out

But if you try to cover your sins and justify them by your false reasoning

You are condemning yourself and your later forms to the miserable realms

Don’t  cultivating merits by just doing good deeds and give away wealth.

Because no one ever reaches The Way by giving out materials

Bodhi can only be found in your mind essence

So it’s futile trying to look for that from the outside of the Mind

Now you have heard the true Dharma Way

Practice them earnestly

You shall find the heavenly Pure Land within yourselves.