宣公上人講於一九八七年二月七日金山寺 A Lecture by Venerable Master Hua at Gold Mountain Monastery on Feb 7, 1987
文殊菩薩至龍宮演說《妙法蓮華經》，度無數龍眾，獲得解脫。龍王之女，年僅八歲，智慧利根，諸佛所說甚深密藏，悉能受持。深入禪定，了達諸法，於剎那發菩提心，便成正覺。多寶如來之侍者，智積菩薩生疑：「佛在三千大千世界微塵處，無不是捨身處，歷三千大千阿僧衹劫成佛，云何此女能須臾頃成佛？」
When Manjushri Bodhisattva spoke the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra in the Dragon palace, he crossed over and liberated numerous dragons. The daughter of the dragon king, aged eight, was endowed with sharp wisdom. She was able to uphold the profound secret treasury of Dharma spoken by all the Buddhas. Penetrating deeply into the dhyana and comprehending all the dharmas, she immediately brought forth her bodhicitta and attained the proper Awakening. Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva, the attendant of Many Jewels Thus-Come One, gave rise to a doubt that there is not a single place among the minute particles throughout the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds system where the Buddha has not sacrificed his bodies for the sake of Dharma. Only after through passing asamkhyeyas of kalpas of cultivation, as many as minute particles throughout the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds system, can he become a Buddha. Therefore, why can this Dragon Girl so quickly attain Buddhahood in such a short instant?”
言未訖，龍女現身，頂禮佛足，以偈讚佛。舍利弗尊者問龍女曰：「佛三衹修福慧，百劫種相好，三覺圓，萬德備，方證佛果。汝係女身，而有五障，以何因緣，而女身成佛？」龍女獻珠予佛。問：「速否？」答：「速。」龍女忽現男身，即往南方無垢世界成佛。Before Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva’s thought was over, the Dragon Girl appeared, paid reverence at the Buddha’s feet, and praised the Buddha with verses. Venerable Shariputra asked the Dragon Girl, “The Buddha cultivated blessings and wisdom for three asamkhyeyas of kalpas, took hundreds of kalpas to attain the thirty-two hallmarks and eighty fine subtle characteristics, perfected the Three Awakenings and became replete with myriads of virtues, and only then did he attain Buddhahood. You have a female body that has five obstructions; due to what causes and conditions can you attain Buddhahood with a female form?” The Dragon Girl offered up her dragon pearl to the Buddha and asked, “Is this fast?” Sariputra answered, “Yes, it is fast.” The Dragon Girl suddenly manifested a male body, going to and appearing in the Free of Defilement World and becoming a Buddha there.
贊曰：A verse of praise says:
難捨能捨 難行能行
難讓能讓 難成能成
難度能度 難修能修
難證能證 難得能得
What is difficult to relinquish, she can relinquish;
What is difficult to practice, she can practice.
What is difficult to give, she can give;
What is difficult to accomplish, she can accomplish.
What is difficult to cross over, she can cross over;
What is difficult to cultivate, she can cultivate.
What is difficult to realize, she can realize.
What is difficult to attain she can attain.
又說偈曰：Another verse says:
龍女獻珠速成佛 超越僧祇法身活
萬緣放下識本體 一塵不染悟蜜多
法華會上顯奇蹟 無垢世界演摩訶
時節因緣相遇合 如是如是不可說
Dragon Girl offers up her pearl and instantly attains Buddhahood, Transcending asamkhyeyas of time, she brings the Dharma-body alive. Letting go of myriad conditions, she realizes her fundamental being.
Not defiled by a single mote of dust, she awakens to the Paramitas.
After having manifested the inconceivable at the Wonderful Dharma Lotus assembly,
She proclaims the Mahayana at the Free of Defilement World.
When the right time and ripened conditions come together,
The Thus Thusness is just indescribable.
【淺釋】 Commentary：
在《金剛經》上說：「無有定法，是名阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」這就是說成佛的方法沒有什麼一定的。所以，佛說出來八萬四千法門，每一門都能到成佛的果位上。不過，你要認真，腳踏實地，躬行實踐的去做；不是知道了就可以了，也不是說一說就可以了，必須要實實在在去做。
The Vajra Sutra mentions: “Unfix dharma is Anuttara-samyak-sambodhim” This is to say there is no fixed method to attain Buddhahood. Hence, the Buddha spoke of eighty four thousand dharma doors, and every single dharma door can lead to the fruition of Buddhahood. However, you must be sincere and honest, and truly practice. It is not enough to have mere knowledge or lip service about it; rather, you should put it into practice.
這位龍女，雖然說她「以女身成佛」，可是相信她在無量劫以前就種諸善根。龍本來是畜生，那麼她做畜生的女，受這個報做為龍女。可是文殊菩薩，他會觀機逗教，因人說法，他看龍宮裡頭這個龍女機緣成熟了，於是乎他就到龍宮去，講說《妙法蓮華經》。龍女她是智慧聰明利根的，所以她能深入經藏，能把諸佛所說的秘密之藏，深入這種的法海裡頭，得諸禪定，一切沒有執著，可以得到解脫。這位龍女，她年只有八歲的時候，就聞佛法，發菩提心。她發菩提心，可是即刻成佛了。
Even with a female body, the Dragon Girl attained Buddhahood, as she must have planted enormous roots of goodness in numerous kalpas before. Dragons are a type of animal, and she had undergone the retribution of being reborn as a dragon girl. However, Manjushri Bodhisattva was able to observe beings’ conditions and potentials and teach accordingly; he saw that the time was ripe to teach the Dragon Girl. Hence, he went to the dragon palace and spoke the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. The Dragon Girl had sharp faculties and wisdom and could thoroughly comprehend the secret treasury of the Dharma spoken by the Buddha. She could deeply enter the sea of Dharma, attain the various samadhis, free herself of attachment, and thereby achieve liberation. At the age of eight, the Dragon Girl had encountered the Buddhadharma and brought forth the Bodhi resolve. Upon bringing forth the Bodhi resolve, she immediately became a Buddha.
那麼這時候，在多寶佛塔，多寶如來也因為他發願：有佛要說《法華經》，他和他的多寶佛塔，一定要從地湧出給作證。所以這個時候，他帶著他的侍者也來給在法華會上作證。
In the past, the Thus Come One Many-Jewels vowed that if there was a Buddha speaking the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, Thus Come One Many-Jewels, along with his Many-Jewel Pagoda, would spring forth from the ground to bear witness. Therefore, at that time, he and his attendants came to this Dharma Flower assembly.
因為龍女是個女身，那麼成佛了。這位智積菩薩就對佛法生了懷疑了，說本來這個女人的身，不能成佛的；因為什麼不能成佛呢？就因為她有五種障。五種障是，她也不能做梵天王，也不能做帝釋，也不能做魔王，也不能做轉聖王，也不能成佛。那麼現在這個女身居然就成佛了，於是乎他就生了懷疑了，他說：「佛在三千大千世界，沒有一粒微塵的地方不是釋迦牟尼佛的捨身命處，這個龍女她怎麼這麼快就成佛了？」
Because the Dragon Girl became a Buddha in her female form, Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva had doubts about the Buddhadharma — because one cannot attain Buddhahood in a female form. Why? The female body has five obstructions, which renders females unable to become a Brahma king, a Lord Shakra, a demon king, a wheel-turning sage king, or a Buddha. Since she became a Buddha with a female body, the Bodhisattva gave rise to such doubts, and he asked, “Throughout the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds system, there is not a place, even as minute as a dust mote, where the Buddha had not sacrificed his bodies. How can the Dragon Girl attain Buddhahood in such a short instant?”
舍利弗尊者也說：「佛在三大阿僧祇劫，修福修慧，所謂『三祇修福慧，百劫種相好。』然後才夜睹明星，而成正覺。那麼這個龍女是個女身，她以什麼因緣成佛？」他說這個話呀，龍女就現身，就以這個龍女這個寶珠獻給佛，那麼佛就受了，她就問在法會的人，說你現在看我供養佛這個寶珠，這個事情快不快？迅速不迅速？那麼一般人說這個很迅速的，於是乎，這個龍女即刻就轉為男身，到這個南方無垢世界成佛去了。雖然她成佛，還是轉女成男身成佛。
Venerable Sariputra also said, “The Buddha cultivated blessings and wisdom for three great asamkhyeyas kalpas, as it is said: ‘To attain Buddhahood, one must cultivate for three asamkhyeyas of kalpas of blessings and wisdom, and hundreds of kalpas to perfect the hallmarks.’ Then, only upon seeing the bright star at night, the Buddha attained Awakening. However, this Dragon Girl has a female body, what causes and conditions allowed her to attain Buddhahood?” The Dragon Girl appeared while Venerable Sariputra was speaking. She offered her precious pearl to the Buddha and the Buddha accepted it. The Dragon Girl asked the assembly, “Is the offering of my precious pearl to the Buddha fast or not?” Most of the people said the offering was fast. Thereafter, the Dragon Girl transformed into a male body and went in the southern direction to Free of Defilement World to attain Buddhahood. Even though she accomplished Buddhahood, she had to change from a female body to a male body to do so.
那麼這個贊是這麼說的：A verse of praise says:
「難捨能捨」：這個龍的寶珠，這是她最捨不得的，可是她能捨。「難行能行」：人家做不到的事情，她能做到。「難讓能讓」：人家不能讓給旁人的東西，她也能讓。「難成能成」：女人不成佛，可是她也成了。「難度能度」：難度的眾生，剛強的眾生，她也能度。「難修能修」：難修，她也修了，所以「難證能證」：難證，她也證了。「難得能得」：難得，她也得到了，她得到佛的果位。
What is difficult to relinquish, she can relinquish. The precious pearl is the most difficult object for a dragon to relinquish, yet she was able to relinquish it. What is difficult to practice, she can practice, doing what others cannot. What is difficult to give, she can give. She can give away what others cannot.What is difficult to accomplish, she can accomplish. She was able to accomplish Buddhahood even though with female forms.What is difficult to cross over, she can cross over. She can cross over beings that are difficult to cross over, including stubborn and unyielding beings.What is difficult to cultivate, she can cultivate. She can cultivate what is difficult to cultivate.What is difficult to realize, she can realize.What is difficult to attain, she can attain, including the fruition of Buddhahood.
所以說，龍女因為把她不能捨的東西，她捨了，這一念的真誠心，她很快就成佛了。我們這個人哪，為什麼不能成佛？不能那麼快成佛？也就因為我們猶豫不決，想要捨，又捨不得；捨不得，又要捨；想要去做，又不做；不做呢，又要做。這麼來回推車磨豆腐，所以把時間都空過了，耽誤了。龍女她就能看得破，放得下，所以她就得到自在。
Because the Dragon Girl was able to relinquish things that were difficult for her to let go, she was able to swiftly attain Buddhahood with a [single] thought of sincerity. Why can’t we humans attain Buddhahood as quickly? It is because we are indecisive: wishing to relinquish but not being able to, not being able to relinquish yet still wanting to, wishing to do something but not being able to, and not being able to yet still wanting to do it. Such indecisiveness, like a grinding cart for tofu-making turning around and around (remaining at the same position), wastes a lot of time and delays accomplishment. The Dragon Girl was able to see through it (all of her attachment and indecisiveness) and let it go, so she attained effortless self-mastery.
又說偈曰 Another verse says ：
「龍女獻珠速成佛」：她最捨不得的東西，她能把它捨了，所以「超越僧祇法身活」：她能超越這個阿僧祇劫。法身活，她法身活起來了。「萬緣放下識本體」：她把萬緣都放下了，所以她認識本來的佛性，本來的法身。「一塵不染悟蜜多」：她一塵不染，所以她就悟得波羅蜜這個法門。
Dragon Girl offers up her pearl and instantly attains Buddhahood. What was the most difficult to give up, she had given up.Transcending asamkhyeyas of time, she brings the Dharma-body alive. She could transcend asamkhyeyas of kalpas and bring the Dharma-body to life.Letting go of myriad conditions, she realizes her fundamental being. She had let go of tens of thousands of distracting conditions, and thereby realized her fundamental Dharma body, which was her Buddha-nature.Not defiled by a single mote of dust, she awakens to the Paramitas. She was not defiled by a single grain of dust. Therefore, she realized the Paramitas.
「法華會上顯奇蹟」：她在法華會上，就即刻成佛，「無垢世界演摩訶」：到無垢世界去，她演這個大摩訶教理。「時節因緣相遇合」：這都是時節因緣配合得恰到好處。「如是如是不可說」：所以這也是沒什麼出奇的，以這種很快的因緣，她成佛了。
After having manifested the inconceivable at the Dharma Flower assembly. She attained Buddhahood instantly at the Wonderful Dharma Lotus assembly. She proclaims the Mahayana at the World Free of Defilement. She went to the Free of Defilement World to proclaim the great teaching of the Mahayana.When the right time and ripened conditions come together. All that happened because the time and conditions met and matched perfectly.The Thus Thusness is just indescribable. This outcome was not something really surprising, because the causes and conditions expedited her becoming a Buddha.
我們要難捨能捨，放不下的，也能放下，也就很快成佛了。我們能把這個情情愛愛放下，那個法身也就快活了。可惜啊！人都在這個上用功夫。在這個情情愛愛上用功夫，所以把自性的光明智慧都遮住了，都現不出來了，也不知在這個世界多久了，到現在也沒成佛！
We must be able to relinquish what we cannot.Things that cannot be let go of must be let go, then we can quickly attain Buddhahood. When we can relinquish love and affection, then the Dharma-body will swiftly come to life. But what a pity, people are putting effort in emotional love. When we do so, the bright light of wisdom from our inherent Nature is covered and cannot reveal itself. We do not know how long we have been in this world and up to now we have yet to attain Buddhahood.
想要成佛嘛？就萬緣要放下，一塵不染，就夠了。
Do you want to attain Buddhahood? Then you must let go of the tens of thousands of distractions and not be defiled by a single mote of dust. That will suffice.♦