佛說賢首經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Magadha, upon the pure Dharma seat. The great assembly included many Bodhisattvas, such as: the Bodhisattva Maitreya… together with bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, upāsakas, upāsikās, devas, nāgas, ghosts and spirits, and asuras, all fully present in the assembly.

At that time, the Buddha addressed Śāriputra:

—Today, the Buddhas of the ten directions also hold a great assembly, expounding the sūtra for the sake of the Bodhisattvas.

Within the pure Dharma seat there was an upāsikā, the consort of King Bimbisāra, named Bhadraśrī. She joined her palms and said to the Buddha:

Reverently, World-Honored One! I wish to hear the names of the Buddhas of the ten directions, the names of the Bodhisattvas, and those buddha-lands.

The Buddha said:

Excellent! Excellent! I shall, for the consort's sake, speak of these things.

In the eastern direction there is a Buddha whose title is Entered-Diligence; that land is called Upholding-Grass-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Reverent-Hand. In the southern direction there is a Buddha whose title is Unforsaking-Joyful-Diligence; that land is called Mindful-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Awakened-Hand. In the western direction there is a Buddha whose title is Ever-Growing-Diligence; that land is called Lotus-Flower-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Jewel-Hand.

In the northern direction there is a Buddha whose title is Diligence; that land is called Newly-Already-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Giving-Hand. In the northeast there is a Buddha whose title is Compassionate-Diligence; that land is called Blue-Lotus-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Merit-Hand. In the southeast there is one whose title is Hundredfold-Indigo-Diligence; that land is called Fragrance-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Numinous-Hand.

In the southwest there is a Buddha whose title is Supreme-Diligence; that land is called Jewel-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Diligence-Hand. In the northwest there is a Buddha whose title is One-Crossing-Diligence; that land is called Contemplation-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Wholesome-Hand. In the nadir there is a Buddha whose title is Brahma-Diligence; that land is called Crystal-Trees; the Bodhisattva is named Wisdom-Hand.

When the consort Bhadraśrī heard the names of the Buddhas of the ten directions, the names of the Bodhisattvas, and the various buddha-lands, her joy was beyond measure. Before the Buddha she bowed her head and face to the ground in homage, and said to the Buddha:

Reverently, World-Honored One! Although I have now given rise to the aspiration for Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, by what method must I employ in order to depart from the female body?

The Buddha said:

It is very good, consort, very skillful of you, to question the Buddha thus! Bhadraśrī, you should reverently practice ten matters, and then you can depart from the female body. There is one matter by which one swiftly attains the male body and oneself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi.

That matter is this: although one gives rise to the aspiration for omniscience and performs countless meritorious deeds, yet one does not seek after reward—this is the one matter. Again, there are two matters by which one swiftly relinquishes the female body and attains the male body, and oneself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. To act in accord with one's words, not venerating the devas but taking refuge solely in the Buddhas. 2.

To perform deeds of right faith. These are the two matters. Again, there are three matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1.

To constantly guard the three karmas of the body so that they are pure; 2. To guard the four karmas of speech so that they are pure; 3. To guard the three karmas of mind so that they are pure.

These are the three matters. Again, there are four matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. To give alms without self-conceit; 2.

To uphold the precepts without boasting; 3. To keep oneself pure; 4. To have faith upon hearing the six dharmas (the recollection of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Saṅgha, giving, the precepts, and the heavens).

These are the four matters. Again, there are five matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. To know how to use the Dharma; 2.

To act in accord with the Dharma; 3. To hear the Dharma with right mindfulness; 4. To take no delight in the female body; 5.

To wish to become a male body. These are the five matters. Again, there are six matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1.

To be without indolence, completing one's tasks; 2. To make one's mind gentle; 3. To be honest and straightforward; 4.

To be free of flattery; 5. To be free of reproach and reviling; 6. To act with utmost sincerity.

These are the six matters. Again, there are seven matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. To constantly be mindful of the Dharma that is the mind of the Buddha; 2.

To constantly be mindful of the Dharma in order to attain the wisdom of the Buddha; 3. To constantly be mindful of the Saṅgha out of a wish for kinship; 4. To constantly be mindful of the precepts in seeking purity; 5.

To constantly give alms in order to forsake the mind of stinginess and miserliness; 6. To constantly be mindful of the heavens in order to attain the mind of a Bodhisattva; 7. To constantly be mindful of beings, wishing to deliver them all.

These are the seven matters. Again, there are eight matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. Not to regard food and clothing as joy; 2.

Not to be extravagant; 3. Not to anoint oneself with fragrance; 4. Likewise not to use the various other perfumes; 5.

Not to amuse oneself by roaming among mountains and waters; 6. Not to play stringed instruments and music; 7. Likewise not to sing and dance; 8.

Within a single month to observe the six fast days. These are the eight matters. Again, there are nine matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1.

To grasp at no annihilation; 2. To grasp at nothing; 3. To be without self; 4.

Not to think there is a person; 5. Not to think there is a receiver; 6. Not to think there is a life-span; 7.

Not to think there is a place of birth; 8. Not to think there is a place of non-birth; 9. To depart far from the twelve links of dependent origination.

These are the nine matters. Again, there are ten matters by which a woman swiftly attains the male body and herself realizes Samyak-saṃbodhi: 1. To have loving-kindness toward all; 2.

Not to covet any of the possessions of others; 3. Not to think of other men; 4. Not to speak with a double tongue; 5.

Not to speak harsh words; 6. Not to speak false words; 7. Not to speak ornate, frivolous speech; 8.

Not to be infatuated with the sound of fine stringed music; 9. Not to give rise to unwholesome intentions, nor to become angry, but to abide solely in right mindfulness; 10. Not to engage in improper deeds together with others.

These are the ten matters.

When the Buddha had finished expounding the sūtra, Bhadraśrī and the sixty thousand upāsikās in the country of Magadha, having heard the practice of the Dharma, all gave rise to the aspiration for Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi. The Bodhisattvas, such as the Bodhisattva Maitreya… the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, upāsakas, upāsikās, devas, ghosts and spirits, and asuras… stood before the Buddha, bowed their heads to the ground in homage, and joyfully withdrew.