大方便佛報恩經 5.55

5.55

"At that time, the lady Gautamī perfumed and cultivated her mind with great compassion, and universally for the sake of all women of the future, said to the Buddha again: 'Bhagavat! If in the evil age of the future there are good women who have faith, joy, love, and respect for the Buddha-Dharma, I only pray that they be permitted to receive this precedent.' The Buddha said: 'Excellent! If there are women who protect and uphold the Buddha-Dharma, progressively cultivating and learning morality, generosity, extensive learning, and all good dharmas, whether at home or having left household life, from the three refuges and the five precepts up to the complete precepts, as well as the various means of liberation and the dharmas conducive to the path, they are all permitted to cultivate them as they wish, and they will also attain these three kinds of karmic retribution, and the nirvāṇa of humans and devas.' At that time, having heard this teaching, Gautamī was filled with joy in her heart and said to the Buddha: 'Bhagavat! If these karmic retributions are obtained, it is truly the Buddha's kindness.' The Buddha said: 'Do not speak like this. The Tathāgata ultimately holds no kindness toward sentient beings, nor does the Tathāgata calculate kindness toward sentient beings. If one calculates having kindness, that destroys the Tathāgata's mind of equanimity. Gautamī! You should know that if the Tathāgata were to calculate toward sentient beings whether he has kindness or lacks kindness, he would have no equanimity. Why is this? If there are sentient beings who defame and harm the Buddha, the Tathāgata does not become angry; if there are sentient beings who smear the Tathāgata's body with sandalwood paste, the Tathāgata does not rejoice. The Tathāgata regards enemies and kin equally among all sentient beings. It is only Ānanda, not the Tathāgata. Because of Ānanda, women were enabled to enter the Buddha-Dharma. Gautamī! In the future final age, if there are bhikṣuṇīs and all good women, they should always with a sincere mind remember Ānanda's kindness, recite his name, make offerings, and venerate, respect, and praise him without interruption. If they are unable to do so constantly, they should keep him unforgotten in their minds during the six periods of the day and night.'"