慈悲道場懺法 1.2

1.2

This repentance rite was compiled by Emperor Wu of Liang on behalf of Empress Chi. A few months after Empress Chi passed away, the Emperor constantly mourned her; by day he was disheartened and joyless, and by night he tossed and turned sleeplessly. While staying in his bedchamber, he heard a rustling sound outside, and looking out he saw a python coiling and dragging itself up into the hall, staring with flashing eyes and agape mouth toward the Emperor. The Emperor was greatly terrified, with nowhere to flee, and having no choice he sprang to his feet and said to the snake: “Our palace is heavily guarded and is no place where your kind of serpent dwells. Must it not be that you are a demonic monstrosity seeking to haunt Us?” The snake spoke in human speech and addressed the Emperor: “This python was formerly Empress Chi. During my life, I was jealous of the women of the imperial quarters; my nature was cruel and venomous, and once anger flared, it was like blazing fire and shot arrows, damaging things and harming people. Because of this sin, I died and was banished to become a python. I have no food or drink to fill my mouth, and no burrow or den to shelter my body; tormented and pressed by hunger and distress, my strength cannot sustain itself. Moreover, beneath each of my scales are many insects gnawing my flesh, and the pain is so excruciating that it is as if awls and knives were driven in. Being a python, I am no ordinary snake, and having arrived through transformation, I was not obstructed by the depth and security of the imperial residence. Moved by the depth of Your Majesty’s past affection for your concubine, I have availed myself of this hideous form to reveal myself to the Emperor, praying for a single meritorious deed to deliver and save me.” When the Emperor heard this, he sighed with sorrow and was deeply moved, but when he looked for the python afterward, it was no longer to be seen. The next day, the Emperor assembled a great gathering of śramaṇas in the palace court, proclaimed the circumstances, and asked what supreme good deed could redeem her suffering.