|
卷二傳十一永安寺僧端尼
僧端。廣陵人也。門世奉佛姊妹篤信。誓願出家不當婢採。而姿色之美有聞鄉邑。富室湊之母兄已許。臨迎之三日宵遁佛寺。寺主置於別室給其所須。并請觀世音經二日能誦。雨淚稽顙晝夜不休。
過三日後於禮拜中見佛像。語云。汝婿命盡。汝但精勤勿懷憂念。明日其婿為牛所觸亡也。因得出家堅持禁戒。攝心空閑似不能言。及辯折名實其辭亹亹。誦大涅槃經五日一遍。
元嘉十年南遊上國住永安寺。綱紀眾務均愛等接。大小悅服久而彌敬。年七十餘。元嘉二十五年而卒。弟子普敬普要。皆以苦行顯名。並誦法華經
|
|
2.11 (Tsai no.24) Seng-tuan
The nun Seng-tuan (Propriety of the
Sangha) (ca. 378-448) of Eternal Peace Convent
Seng-tuan was from Kuang-ling [which was on the
north bank of the Yangtze River to the northeast of the capital city of the
Sung dynasty]. For generations her family had worshipped the Buddha, and she
and her sisters were very devout.
Seng-tuan had vowed that she would leave the
household life instead of being married off. Nevertheless, her beauty of face
and figure was well known in the region, and a wealthy family had already
received her mother and elder brother's agreement to a betrothal. Three days
before the marriage ceremony was to take place Seng-tuan fled in the middle of
the night to a Buddhist convent whose abbess hid her in a separate building and
supplied her with everything she needed. Seng-tuan also asked for a copy of the
Bodhisattva Kuan-shihyin Scripture, which she was then
able to chant from memory in only two days.
She rained tears and made prostrations day and night
without ceasing. Three days later, during her worship, she saw an image of the
Buddha, who announced to her, "Your bridegroom's life span is coming to an end.
You need only continue your ardent practice without harboring these sorrowful
thoughts." The next day her bridegroom was gored to death by an ox. Thus was
Seng-tuan able to leave the household life.
[As a nun] she steadfastly observed all the
monastic regulations, and, when she concentrated her mind in the vast realm of
Buddhist meditation, she seemed as though she could form no words at all. When,
however, she explicated the distinctions between the philosophical concepts of
name and reality, she could speak indefatigably. In addition to her other
accomplishments she could also chant the entire Great
Nirvāna Scripture [a total of about three hundred fifty thousand
words]
in only five days.
In the tenth year of the yüan-chia reign period (433), she went south to the
capital and took up residence in Eternal Peace Convent. In managing the affairs
of the community she treated everyone the same with equal affection for all.
Great and humble happily submitted to her authority, and, with the passing of
time, she was even more respected.
In the twenty-fifth year of the yüan-chia reign period (448), when Seng-tuan was more
than seventy years old she died. Her disciples P'u-ching and P'u-yao were also
well known for their practice of austerities and for their chanting of the
Flower of the Law Scripture.
|