Saturday, October 17, 2015

禅宗大德故事 Zen School Bhadanta Tales - 了然尼师 Nun Liao-ran


http://www.fo5.cn/gushi/fo/22/434.html

了然生于公元一七九七年,是日本著名武士信原的孙女。
Liao-ran was born in 1797, grand-daughter of Samurai Xin-yuan.

由于她卓绝的诗才和超凡的美貌,十岁时就成了皇后的贴身侍女。
Due to her talent in poetry and her beauty, she was the queen's closest serving maid at the age of 10.

就在了然声名鹊起之时,皇后突然病故了,她的美梦也随之破灭。
As her fame rose, the queen became sick suddenly and her dream was broken.

她由此而深深体会到了人世的无常,因此决定出家习禅。
From these she realised the impermanence of human realm, and decided to be ordain to practice Zen. 

怎奈家人根本不同意她自作主张,以为她年轻气盛,过一阵子就好了。
But she received great opposition from her family, they think that she is still young and impetuous and will be better in a while.

父母开始催她嫁人,了然怎么也不肯嫁,双方僵持了很长一段时间,最后父母作出让步,等她生下三个孩子之后,即可出家为尼。
Her parents rushed her to get married but she refused, and both parties were at stalemate for a long period until the parent gave way and will agree to her being a nun after she gives birth to 3 children.

了然勉强答应了。
Liao-ran reluctantly agreed.

在二十五岁那年,她生下了第三个孩子,父母亲和丈夫不能违背当初的协议,她终于如愿以偿,削发为尼。
At 25, after the birth of the third child, her parents and spouse can't retract on their agreement and she finally become a nun.

她起名叫了然,意谓明悟,从此踏上了修行之路。
She choose a name Liao-ran, meaning understand and realised, and hence stepped on to the path of cultivation.

她前往江户-Edo,请求铁牛禅师 ZM Tie-nu收她为徒,这位大师一见她便拒绝了,理由是她长得太美了。
She went to Edo to request that ZM Tie-nu take her as student, but was rejected on sight and the reason being that she is too beautiful.

她又去求见白隐禅师 ZM Bai-ying,白隐不但以同样的理由回绝了她,而且还进一步说,她的美貌只会带来麻烦。
She also went to request the same from ZM Bai-ying, and was rejected for the same reason, and the ZM even went further to said that her beauty will bring trouble.

了然不由得感慨万千,苦苦思索了一个晚上。
Lamenting and thinking hard for a whole night.
 
第二天一早,她望着炉中熊熊的火焰,不禁微微一笑,有了主意。
The next day, she looked at the brightly burning fire sparks in the stove, she can't help but smile as she got an idea.

只见她迅速抽出炉中烧红的通条,猛地烙向自己的脸面。
She swiftly picked out some rods that were red-hot and roughly put them against her own face.

一阵焦糊的气味散开,她的美貌化为一缕青烟消散在空中。
After a spell of burnt smell spread out, her beauty vanished like smoke into the air.

她重新来到白隐禅师门前,禅师这才收她为徒。
She again went to ZM Bai-ying's door, and was accepted as a student.

后来她在自己常用的一面小镜子的背后题诗记道
Later, she wrote a poem at the back of the mirror that she usually use:

昔游官里烧兰麝,今入禅林燎面皮。
四序流行亦如此,不知谁是个中移!
She lamented about burning skin on her face to enable her to enter the Zen School. As the 4 sequence is the current fashion, wonder who is moving within!

了然即将离世时,回顾自己的一生,写了这样一首诗偈:
When she was about to leave the world, she reflected upon her life and wrote this poetic verse:

六十六年秋已久,漂然月色向人明。
After 66 long years, drifting moon-light shines on people.

莫言那里工夫事,耳熟松衫风外声!
No mentioning those deeds, matured ear and loose shirt sound other than the wind's!
~~~~~~~~~~~

Hahaha! 
Beauty become a Hindrance?

Dear all, count yourself lucky that this same problem don't apply in this time!

However, I do wonder about the depth of zen masters of that time when beauty is perceived as trouble!

So they presumed that others will not be able to "Behave" upon sight of this beauty and "Give birth" to unwholesome or evil thoughts that lead to deeds too?

Zen masters of that time do not believe in 一心不乱 - a heart unaffected into chaos!

Likewise those in TBS' core has the same mentality that Presumed all will be easily affected by the words "Leave TBS", and take action of Leaving TBS physically!

Hahaha!

Now: Why does Liao-ran thinks that she needs to study under zen masters?

If her beauty is a hindrance, she can always wear a face mask?

Many women in the East wear face masks traditionally, for modesty sake.

Hahaha! we all wear face masks now because of the pollutants in the air!

I recalled that I was shunted by fellow students after I took refuge with GM Lu!
Upon hearing that someone cast Black magic on me, many shunted me and advised those around me to do so too!

A group from a local chapter even went to the extend of saying if YH continue to help me and cultivate with me, they that had booked their trip to Seattle to attend the 2008 August Hevajra event will be affected and they might not be able to go.

Well? 
YH said if that is so, then he will give up going with them or give up the trip completely.

YH and the group went to Seattle and attended the event without mishap!

Hahaha! 
Only YH is fearless and has depth!

The rest are all very superficial and have no knowledge of Buddha Dharma at all!

Why do One take refuge in GM Lu?
Or the Triple Gems?

One actually make vows of Boddhicitta at refuge, are you aware?

In the Heart Sutra - what leads to being without fear and off-balance dreams?

Yes! 
Non-attachment!

Knowing thoroughly about how Karma works, one also knows how not to fear others' karmic returns "bouncing" onto one, from being in the vicinity or extending help!

Cheers all

Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef

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