About 善女人傳

27,803 · about 93 min

The Biographies of Virtuous Women was compiled by the lay Buddhist Peng Jiqing during the Qing Dynasty. Completed in the Qianlong era, this work records the life stories and spiritual practices of over four hundred Buddhist virtuous women from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, highlighting their exemplary devotion to upholding precepts, reciting the Buddha's name, and diligent cultivation. As a comprehensive collection of biographies dedicated to female Buddhist practitioners, it fills a gap in Buddhist historical records and provides valuable historical material for the study of ancient women practitioners. It holds a unique position in Buddhist literature, particularly for its profound influence on the spread of Pure Land faith and the study of women's Buddhist history.

我觀諸世閒常自寂滅相云何幻化中

乃生男女根譬如太虗空捏目出狂華

是華不可取從汝妄想生妄想入輪回

劫劫自纏縛一念忽自覺了妄本無從

虗空亦強名狂華竟何有佛昔呵女人

具足諸妖穢其有染著者患乃甚牢獄

如何世閒人彼彼互貪愛負重沒淤泥

至死不得出又如蟻循環不離一磨地

我今發苦口普勸諸女人了知受生因

貪愛為其本本從貪愛生復從貪愛死

正爾貪愛時念念常滅盡自身且不有

何況他人身從今發大心歸命無上士

常轉大乘經如說勤修行其有過量人

𪹼破無明惑頓入佛知見漸淨諸餘習

更有異方便專念阿彌陀託質妙蓮華

疾得不退轉諸經具開演諸祖共提持

惟彼女中豪獲是清淨果如何大丈夫

甘作行尸肉我今述此傳輾轉廣流通

普勸諸有情永斷輪回本南無佛陀耶

同生極槳國

I observe all worldly realms— Always naturally still and quiet. Why, then, within this illusion, Do male and female forms arise?

It is like empty space itself: Rub your eyes, and flowers appear. Those flowers cannot be grasped— They arise from your deluded mind.

Delusion leads to endless cycles, Life after life, you bind yourself. But in one moment of sudden awakening, You see delusion never came from anywhere.

"Empty space" itself is just a name— What reality do those phantom flowers have? The Buddha once rebuked women, Saying they are full of impurity.

Those who become attached to them Suffer worse than in prison walls. Why then do worldly people Chase after one another with desire,

Carrying heavy burdens, sinking in mud, Unable to escape until death? Like ants that endlessly revolve Around a single grinding stone—

Now I speak these bitter words To advise all women everywhere: Understand the cause of rebirth— Attachment and desire are its root.

Born from craving, You die of craving too. Even in the moment of desiring, Each thought arises and ceases instantly.

Your own body is not truly yours— How much less another's body? From this moment, awaken your great resolve, Take refuge in the Unsurpassed One.

Constantly study the Great Vehicle teachings, And practice diligently as they say. There may be one who surpasses all limits, Shattering the darkness of ignorance,

Suddenly entering the Buddha's vision, Gradually purifying all remaining habits. There is also a special method: Single-minded devotion to Amitabha.

Entrust yourself to the wondrous lotus, Quickly reaching non-retrogression. All scriptures have revealed this, All ancestors have upheld it.

Only the noble among women Attain this pure result. How then can a great man Willingly become mere walking flesh?

Now I compose this account, Passing it on far and wide. I urge all sentient beings: Permanently cut off the root of rebirth!

Namo Buddhaya— May all be reborn in the Land of Bliss.