Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
This is the Chinese Buddhist Canon known as the Taisho, or more specifically the “Taisho Revised Tripitaka” (Takakusu Junjiro 1988). The collection consists of thousands of scrolls including foundational texts such as Agamas, Mahayana Sutras, Vinaya, Abhidharma, Tantras, Jatakas and Avadanas (former birth stoeries), commentaries, histories, catalog...
Sutta 72: The Woman Who Made a Wish
[full title]: Collection of the Six Perfections, Scroll 6 (nr. 72)
[full title]: Sutra of the Collection of the Six Perfections; 六度集經 [liù dù jí jīng] (liu du ji jing)
[parallels]: Date 251 from Lancaster (2004, 'K 206')
[parallels]: English from Pali: Fausboll, V, and T. W. Rhys Davids. 1880. Buddhist Birth Stories: Or, Jataka Tales. London: Trubner and Co.
[parallels]: English Translations: Shyu, C.M. 2008, A Few Good Women: A Study of the Liu Du Ji Jing (A scripture on the Collection of the Six Perfections) from literary, Artistic, and Gender Perspectives (Doctoral dissertation, Cornell University). Partial (Stories 18, 21, 22, 28, 32, 47, 59, 60, 63, 67, 72, 79, 85, and 90).
[primary source]: Kang Seng Hui, translator, 《六度集經》 'Liu Du Ji Jing,' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 3, No. 152
[colophon]: 六度集經 吳 康僧會譯 共 8 卷 Scripture on the Collection of the Six Perfections (Liu Du Ji Jing), Translated by Kang Seng Hui in the Wu in 8 scrolls
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
女人求願經
nǚ rén qiú yuàn jīng
nu ren qiu yuan jing
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0038a11] "Once, the Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) was a woman (女人 [nu ren]) whose husband was foolish and jealous by nature. Every time he went on a business trip, he entrusted his wife to a solitary mother (獨母 [du mu]) next door. The mother (母 [mu]) observed the Buddha's (佛 [fu]) precepts and was a pious layperson (清信行 [qing xin xing]). At that time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) entered the country (國 [guo]), and the king (王 [wang]) and his ministers and people all received the precepts. The solitary mother (獨母 [du mu]) heard the sutra and returned to tell the woman (婦 [fu]). The woman (婦 [fu]) rejoiced and exclaimed: 'This is indeed the Supreme True Dao (無上正真道 [wu shang zheng zhen dao]), the Perfectly Awakened One (最正覺 [zui zheng jue])!' Hearing of the Buddha (佛 [fu]) from the mother (母 [mu]), she immediately prostrated herself from afar. On a fast day, the mother (母 [mu]) asked: 'Would you like to go and listen to the teachings?' The woman (婦 [fu]) joyfully replied: 'Yes.' As she sought to go outside the city, she suddenly remembered her husband's jealousy, felt crestfallen and displeased, and returned home, despising herself: 'Is my misfortune so heavy?' The mother (母 [mu]) returned and explained to her: 'Gods (天龍鬼神 [tian long gui shen]), emperors, ministers, and common people listen to the sutra. Some attain the four paths of a śramaṇa (沙門四道 [sha men si dao]), or receive the Bodhisattva's (菩薩 [pu sa]) predictions. It is difficult to meet a Buddha (佛 [fu]), and difficult to hear the Dharma (經法 [jing fa]). Will you return?' The woman (婦 [fu]) heard of the Buddha's (佛 [fu]) virtues, shed tears, and fully explained her husband's jealousy. The mother (母 [mu]) said: 'You can try to go once.' The woman (婦 [fu]) replied: 'I respectfully obey.' The next day, she followed her mother (母 [mu]) to see the Buddha (佛 [fu]). She prostrated herself with all five limbs, then stood aside with a calm mind, gazing at the Buddha's (佛 [fu]) excellent characteristics and contemplating the Buddha's (佛 [fu]) purity, truly the Heavenly Honored One (天尊 [tian zun]). The Buddha (佛 [fu]) asked the woman (女 [nu]): 'What is your wish in coming?' She immediately prostrated herself and replied: 'I have heard that the Buddha (佛 [fu]) is the Supreme True Dao (無上正真道 [wu shang zheng zhen dao]), the Perfectly Awakened One (最正覺 [zui zheng jue]), the Charioteer of the Dharma (道法御 [dao fa yu]), the Teacher of Gods and Humans (天人師 [tian ren shi]). His virtues are like the sands of the Ganges (恒沙 [heng sha]), his wisdom like empty space (虛空 [xu kong]). He has attained the six supernatural powers (六通四達 [liu tong si da]) and all-knowing wisdom (一切智 [yi qie zhi]). I have come to invite the Venerable One (尊 [zun]), wishing that the Buddha (佛 [fu]) would have compassion on me.' The World-Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) said: 'The Buddha (佛 [fu]) protects all beings; grant your wish as you please.' The woman (女人 [nu ren]) prostrated herself and said: 'For women living in the world who have not yet attained original non-existence, it is all because of desire that they live as partners. May I, lifetime after lifetime, live with a virtuous partner, sharing the same aspiration without jealousy. Second, may my bodily, verbal, and mental actions be upright and unsurpassed in the world. Third, may I, lifetime after lifetime, diligently serve the Three Jewels (三尊 [san zun]), may my mental defilements diminish daily, may I advance in the Dao (道 [dao]) without weariness, may all Buddhas (諸佛 [zhu fu]) assist me, and may all evils not hinder me, so that I may surely attain all-knowing wisdom (一切智 [yi qie zhi]) and save sentient beings (眾生 [zhong sheng]) from difficulties.' The World-Protector (眾祐 [zhong you]) exclaimed: 'Excellent, excellent! May you attain it.' The woman (婦 [fu]) was greatly rejoiced, prostrated herself, and returned to her dwelling. Her husband returned from his business trip, traveling by boat. He was supposed to arrive on that day. The God Śakra (天帝 [tian di]) saw the woman's (婦 [fu]) noble conduct and peerless vow, rejoiced, and praised her goodness. He caused wind and rain, stopping his boat, and he arrived only the next day.
[0038a11] “昔者菩薩,身為女人,厥婿稟氣兇愚妬忌,每出商行,以妻囑隣獨母,母奉佛戒為清信行.時佛入國,王逮臣民靡不受戒,獨母聞經,還為婦說之.婦喜歎曰: ‘斯即無上正真道,, 最正覺者也.’ 從母聞佛,即遙稽首.齋日母曰: ‘可往聽化乎?’ 婦喜曰: ‘可.’ 尋之城外,忽存婿妬,悵然不悅,旋居自鄙: ‘吾殃重乎?’ 母還為陳: ‘天龍鬼神,, 帝王臣民聽經,或得沙門四道者,或受菩薩決者.佛時難值,經法難聞,爾還為乎?’ 婦聞佛德,流淚具陳婿妬之意.母曰: ‘可試一行.’ 婦曰: ‘敬諾.’ 明日即隨母行覩佛,五體投地却立靜心,視佛相好念佛清淨真是天尊.佛問女: ‘爾來何願?’ 即稽首而對: ‘我聞佛為無上正真道,, 最正覺,, 道法御,, 天人師,德如恒沙,智若虛空,六通四達得一切智,勢來請尊,願佛哀我.’ 世尊告曰: ‘佛為一切護,恣汝所願.’ 女人稽首曰: ‘夫人處世未獲本無者,皆以欲故為匹偶居,令我世世與至德偶居,同志無嫉妬行.二曰,身口意行端正絕世.三曰,世世虔奉三尊,心垢日消,進道無倦,諸佛祐助,眾邪不能遏,必獲一切智,濟眾生難.’ 眾祐歎曰: ‘善哉,善哉! 令汝得之.’ 婦大歡喜稽首,退歸本居.厥婿賈還,乘舟水行,當以斯日至.天帝覩婦高行,發願無雙,助喜歎善,為興風雨,住其舟行明日乃臻.
[0038a11] “xī zhě pú sà, shēn wèi nǚ rén, jué xù bǐng qì xiōng yú dù jì, měi chū shāng xíng, yǐ qī zhǔ lín dú mǔ, mǔ fèng fú jiè wèi qīng xìn xíng. shí fú rù guó, wáng dǎi chén mín mí bù shòu jiè, dú mǔ wén jīng, hái wèi fù shuō zhī. fù xǐ tàn yuē: ‘sī jí wú shàng zhèng zhēn dào,, zuì zhèng jué zhě yě.’ cóng mǔ wén fú, jí yáo jī shǒu. zhāi rì mǔ yuē: ‘kě wǎng tīng huà hū?’ fù xǐ yuē: ‘kě.’ xún zhī chéng wài, hū cún xù dù, chàng rán bù yuè, xuán jū zì bǐ: ‘wú yāng zhòng hū?’ mǔ hái wèi chén: ‘tiān lóng guǐ shén,, dì wáng chén mín tīng jīng, huò dé shā mén sì dào zhě, huò shòu pú sà jué zhě. fú shí nán zhí, jīng fǎ nán wén, ěr hái wèi hū?’ fù wén fú dé, liú lèi jù chén xù dù zhī yì. mǔ yuē: ‘kě shì yī xíng.’ fù yuē: ‘jìng nuò.’ míng rì jí suí mǔ xíng dǔ fú, wǔ tǐ tóu de què lì jìng xīn, shì fú xiāng hǎo niàn fú qīng jìng zhēn shì tiān zūn. fú wèn nǚ: ‘ěr lái hé yuàn?’ jí jī shǒu ér duì: ‘wǒ wén fú wèi wú shàng zhèng zhēn dào,, zuì zhèng jué,, dào fǎ yù,, tiān rén shī, dé rú héng shā, zhì ruò xū kōng, liù tōng sì dá dé yī qiè zhì, shì lái qǐng zūn, yuàn fú āi wǒ.’ shì zūn gào yuē: ‘fú wèi yī qiè hù, zì rǔ suǒ yuàn.’ nǚ rén jī shǒu yuē: ‘fū rén chù shì wèi huò běn wú zhě, jiē yǐ yù gù wèi pǐ ǒu jū, lìng wǒ shì shì yǔ zhì dé ǒu jū, tóng zhì wú jí dù xíng. èr yuē, shēn kǒu yì xíng duān zhèng jué shì. sān yuē, shì shì qián fèng sān zūn, xīn gòu rì xiāo, jìn dào wú juàn, zhū fú yòu zhù, zhòng xié bù néng è, bì huò yī qiè zhì, jì zhòng shēng nán.’ zhòng yòu tàn yuē: ‘shàn zāi, shàn zāi! lìng rǔ dé zhī.’ fù dà huān xǐ jī shǒu, tuì guī běn jū. jué xù jiǎ hái, chéng zhōu shuǐ xíng, dāng yǐ sī rì zhì. tiān dì dǔ fù gāo xíng, fā yuàn wú shuāng, zhù xǐ tàn shàn, wèi xìng fēng yǔ, zhù qí zhōu xíng míng rì nǎi zhēn.
[0038a11] "xi zhe pu sa, shen wei nu ren, jue xu bing qi xiong yu du ji, mei chu shang xing, yi qi zhu lin du mu, mu feng fu jie wei qing xin xing. shi fu ru guo, wang dai chen min mi bu shou jie, du mu wen jing, hai wei fu shuo zhi. fu xi tan yue: 'si ji wu shang zheng zhen dao,, zui zheng jue zhe ye.' cong mu wen fu, ji yao ji shou. zhai ri mu yue: 'ke wang ting hua hu?' fu xi yue: 'ke.' xun zhi cheng wai, hu cun xu du, chang ran bu yue, xuan ju zi bi: 'wu yang zhong hu?' mu hai wei chen: 'tian long gui shen,, di wang chen min ting jing, huo de sha men si dao zhe, huo shou pu sa jue zhe. fu shi nan zhi, jing fa nan wen, er hai wei hu?' fu wen fu de, liu lei ju chen xu du zhi yi. mu yue: 'ke shi yi xing.' fu yue: 'jing nuo.' ming ri ji sui mu xing du fu, wu ti tou de que li jing xin, shi fu xiang hao nian fu qing jing zhen shi tian zun. fu wen nu: 'er lai he yuan?' ji ji shou er dui: 'wo wen fu wei wu shang zheng zhen dao,, zui zheng jue,, dao fa yu,, tian ren shi, de ru heng sha, zhi ruo xu kong, liu tong si da de yi qie zhi, shi lai qing zun, yuan fu ai wo.' shi zun gao yue: 'fu wei yi qie hu, zi ru suo yuan.' nu ren ji shou yue: 'fu ren chu shi wei huo ben wu zhe, jie yi yu gu wei pi ou ju, ling wo shi shi yu zhi de ou ju, tong zhi wu ji du xing. er yue, shen kou yi xing duan zheng jue shi. san yue, shi shi qian feng san zun, xin gou ri xiao, jin dao wu juan, zhu fu you zhu, zhong xie bu neng e, bi huo yi qie zhi, ji zhong sheng nan.' zhong you tan yue: 'shan zai, shan zai! ling ru de zhi.' fu da huan xi ji shou, tui gui ben ju. jue xu jia hai, cheng zhou shui xing, dang yi si ri zhi. tian di du fu gao xing, fa yuan wu shuang, zhu xi tan shan, wei xing feng yu, zhu qi zhou xing ming ri nai zhen.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0038b08] "After the woman (婦 [fu]) died, her spirit was reborn into a virtuous family, with a radiant appearance. When she grew up, she became the wife of a scholar (儒士 [ru shi]) in the country (國 [guo]), and the country (國 [guo]) praised her for her high virtue. At that time, her husband went to sea to collect treasures to help the poor. The woman (婦 [fu]) stayed at home and protected herself with propriety, like a city guarding against invaders. The king's (國王 [guo wang]) queens (后妃 [hou fei]) and wives of ministers all looked up to her as a model, gathering at her gate to learn her virtuous conduct. One night, the woman (婦 [fu]) woke up and remembered the impermanence of the world: 'Glory and wealth are like illusions; who can last forever? My body is a decaying boat that carries my spirit. It is like seeing the moon's reflection and hoping for a celestial jewel. What benefit is there in toiling and suffering the body? Dreams and illusions are all empty. The glory of Heaven (天神 [tian shen]) and the world will return to this. Tomorrow morning, I must seek the Supreme True One (無上正真 [wu shang zheng zhen]), the Heaven of Heavens (天中之天 [tian zhong zhi tian]), to be my teacher.' Early in the morning, she saw a stone stupa (石塔 [shi ta]) in the courtyard, a golden radiant Buddha image (佛像 [fu xiang]), and sutras carved on the wall, praising the Buddha (佛 [fu]) as the teacher of all sages (眾聖之師 [zhong sheng zhi shi]), unique in the three realms (三界 [san jie]). The woman (婦 [fu]) rejoiced and exclaimed: 'Is this the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]), the Arhat (應儀 [ying yi]), the True Dao (正真道 [zheng zhen dao]), the Perfectly Awakened One (最正覺 [zui zheng jue])?' She immediately prostrated herself with all five limbs, circled the temple three times, scattered flowers, burned incense, lit lamps, and hung banners, reverently and diligently morning and night, prostrating herself with respect. The queen (王后 [wang hou]) and the women of the country (國婦 [guo fu]) asked to follow her pure custom, abandoning evil and honoring the true. Nearby, a wicked man (兇夫 [xiong fu]) who was a merchant met the woman's (婦 [fu]) husband and said: 'Your wife is performing sorcery, erecting a false demon temple (鬼廟 [gui miao]), burning incense morning and evening, cursing and enchanting with demonic spells (妖蠱 [yao gu]), wishing for your death, which is most inauspicious.' When the husband returned, the woman (婦 [fu]) told him: 'Last night, I realized the impermanence of the world. In the morning, I saw the supreme and wonderful image of the True Spirit (宗靈 [zong ling]) appear in our courtyard. I am now serving it, burning incense, lighting lamps, hanging banners, and offering flowers, worshipping morning and evening, and prostrating myself in refuge. You should also serve it; you will surely attain the sacred principle (聖則 [sheng ze]).' The husband was greatly rejoiced and wholeheartedly reverent. The people of the country (國 [guo]), great and small, all followed this custom for eighty-four thousand years."
[0038b08] “婦後壽終,神生有道之家,容華光世,年長出嫡為國儒士之妻,國稱高賢.時,婿入海採寶欲濟窮民,婦居家以禮自衛,猶城衛寇,國王后妃大臣妻妾靡不仰則,詣門雲集稟婦德儀.婦夜寐覺,憶世無常: ‘榮富猶幻孰獲長存,躬為坏舟我神載之,猶獲月影望天寶者也.勞心苦身何益於己?夢幻皆空,天神世榮其歸若茲矣.明晨當索無上正真,, 天中之天為吾師焉.’ 晨興即覩石塔在庭,佛像金耀,琢壁書經,歎佛為眾聖之師三界獨步.婦喜歎曰: ‘是則如來,, 應儀,, 正真道,, 最正覺者乎! ’ 即五體投地遶廟三匝,散華燒香,然燈懸繒,晨夜肅虔,稽首恭禮.王后國婦請承清風退邪崇真.隣有兇夫賈逢婦婿,曰: ‘子妻造妖,虛立鬼廟,朝暮香熏呪咀妖蠱,願令爾喪,不祥之甚.’ 婿歸,婦啟曰: ‘妾前一夜覺世無常,晨覩宗靈,無上正真絕妙之像來在中庭,妾今供事,燒香然燈,懸繒奉華,朝夕禮拜,稽首自歸,子當事之,必合聖則.’ 婿大歡喜,一心肅虔,國人巨細僉然承風,如是八萬四千餘歲.”
[0038b08] “fù hòu shòu zhōng, shén shēng yǒu dào zhī jiā, róng huá guāng shì, nián zhǎng chū dí wèi guó rú shì zhī qī, guó chēng gāo xián. shí, xù rù hǎi cǎi bǎo yù jì qióng mín, fù jū jiā yǐ lǐ zì wèi, yóu chéng wèi kòu, guó wáng hòu fēi dà chén qī qiè mí bù yǎng zé, yì mén yún jí bǐng fù dé yí. fù yè mèi jué, yì shì wú cháng: ‘róng fù yóu huàn shú huò zhǎng cún, gōng wèi huài zhōu wǒ shén zài zhī, yóu huò yuè yǐng wàng tiān bǎo zhě yě. láo xīn kǔ shēn hé yì yú jǐ? mèng huàn jiē kōng, tiān shén shì róng qí guī ruò zī yǐ. míng chén dāng suǒ wú shàng zhèng zhēn,, tiān zhōng zhī tiān wèi wú shī yān.’ chén xìng jí dǔ shí tǎ zài tíng, fú xiàng jīn yào, zuó bì shū jīng, tàn fú wèi zhòng shèng zhī shī sān jiè dú bù. fù xǐ tàn yuē: ‘shì zé rú lái,, yīng yí,, zhèng zhēn dào,, zuì zhèng jué zhě hū! ’ jí wǔ tǐ tóu de rào miào sān zā, sàn huá shāo xiāng, rán dēng xuán zēng, chén yè sù qián, jī shǒu gōng lǐ. wáng hòu guó fù qǐng chéng qīng fēng tuì xié chóng zhēn. lín yǒu xiōng fū jiǎ féng fù xù, yuē: ‘zi qī zào yāo, xū lì guǐ miào, cháo mù xiāng xūn zhòu jǔ yāo gǔ, yuàn lìng ěr sàng, bù xiáng zhī shén.’ xù guī, fù qǐ yuē: ‘qiè qián yī yè jué shì wú cháng, chén dǔ zōng líng, wú shàng zhèng zhēn jué miào zhī xiàng lái zài zhōng tíng, qiè jīn gōng shì, shāo xiāng rán dēng, xuán zēng fèng huá, cháo xī lǐ bài, jī shǒu zì guī, zi dāng shì zhī, bì hé shèng zé.’ xù dà huān xǐ, yī xīn sù qián, guó rén jù xì qiān rán chéng fēng, rú shì bā wàn sì qiān yú suì.”
[0038b08] "fu hou shou zhong, shen sheng you dao zhi jia, rong hua guang shi, nian zhang chu di wei guo ru shi zhi qi, guo cheng gao xian. shi, xu ru hai cai bao yu ji qiong min, fu ju jia yi li zi wei, you cheng wei kou, guo wang hou fei da chen qi qie mi bu yang ze, yi men yun ji bing fu de yi. fu ye mei jue, yi shi wu chang: 'rong fu you huan shu huo zhang cun, gong wei huai zhou wo shen zai zhi, you huo yue ying wang tian bao zhe ye. lao xin ku shen he yi yu ji? meng huan jie kong, tian shen shi rong qi gui ruo zi yi. ming chen dang suo wu shang zheng zhen,, tian zhong zhi tian wei wu shi yan.' chen xing ji du shi ta zai ting, fu xiang jin yao, zuo bi shu jing, tan fu wei zhong sheng zhi shi san jie du bu. fu xi tan yue: 'shi ze ru lai,, ying yi,, zheng zhen dao,, zui zheng jue zhe hu! ' ji wu ti tou de rao miao san za, san hua shao xiang, ran deng xuan zeng, chen ye su qian, ji shou gong li. wang hou guo fu qing cheng qing feng tui xie chong zhen. lin you xiong fu jia feng fu xu, yue: 'zi qi zao yao, xu li gui miao, chao mu xiang xun zhou ju yao gu, yuan ling er sang, bu xiang zhi shen.' xu gui, fu qi yue: 'qie qian yi ye jue shi wu chang, chen du zong ling, wu shang zheng zhen jue miao zhi xiang lai zai zhong ting, qie jin gong shi, shao xiang ran deng, xuan zeng feng hua, chao xi li bai, ji shou zi gui, zi dang shi zhi, bi he sheng ze.' xu da huan xi, yi xin su qian, guo ren ju xi qian ran cheng feng, ru shi ba wan si qian yu sui."
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0038b29] The Buddha (佛 [fu]) told Śāriputra (鶖鷺子 [qiu lu zi]): "The woman (婦人 [fu ren]) at that time was I myself. The husband (婿 [xu]) was Maitreya (彌勒 [mi lei]). The solitary mother (獨母 [du mu]) was Śāriputra (鶖鷺子 [qiu lu zi]). The wicked man (兇夫 [xiong fu]) next door was Devadatta (調達 [diao da]). The Bodhisattva's (菩薩 [pu sa]) sharp resolve in the perfection of diligence is like this."
[0038b29] 佛告鶖鷺子: “爾時婦人者,吾身是也.時婿者,彌勒是也,獨母者,鶖鷺子是也.隣兇夫者,調達是也.菩薩銳志度無極精進如是.”
[0038b29] fú gào qiū lù zi: “ěr shí fù rén zhě, wú shēn shì yě. shí xù zhě, mí lēi shì yě, dú mǔ zhě, qiū lù zi shì yě. lín xiōng fū zhě, diào dá shì yě. pú sà ruì zhì dù wú jí jīng jìn rú shì.”
[0038b29] fu gao qiu lu zi: "er shi fu ren zhe, wu shen shi ye. shi xu zhe, mi lei shi ye, du mu zhe, qiu lu zi shi ye. lin xiong fu zhe, diao da shi ye. pu sa rui zhi du wu ji jing jin ru shi."