法苑珠林 24.53

24.53

Furthermore, the Aśokāvadāna says: In the past, King Aśoka had a man of the Way preach the Dharma. At that time, a folding screen was used to shield the women so that they could listen to the Dharma. Then the Dharma master preached the Dharma for the women, always preaching on giving, on morality, and on birth in the heavens. There was a woman who was willing to violate the king's law: lifting the screen, she approached the Dharma master and asked him, "When the Tathāgata, the Great Awakened One, awakened to all dharmas beneath the Bodhi tree, did he awaken to giving and morality, or did he also awaken to other dharmas?" The Dharma master replied, "The Buddha awakened to the truth that all contaminated phenomena are suffering, like molten iron; the cause of this suffering arises from accumulation (samudaya), like a poisonous tree; and by cultivating the Noble Eightfold Path, suffering and accumulation are eradicated." Hearing these words, the woman attained the path of the srotāpanna. Tying a sword to her neck, she went to the king's place and addressed the king, "Today I have violated the king's heavy law. May the king punish me according to the law." The king asked, "What offense did you commit?" She replied, "I breached the king's prohibition and went before the man of the Way. Just as a thirsty ox does not avoid death, I was truly thirsty for the Buddha-Dharma, and for that reason I rashly intruded to listen to the Dharma." The king asked, "When you listened to the Dharma, did you attain anything?" She replied, "I attained the Dharma, saw the Four Noble Truths, understood the aggregates, sensory bases, elements, and the great elements, and knew that they are all non-self. Thereby I obtained the Dharma-eye." Hearing these words, the king leaped with joy and immediately paid homage to her. He then issued a proclamation saying, "From this day forward, screening barriers shall not be permitted. Those who take joy in listening to the Dharma are permitted to go straight before the Dharma master and listen to the Dharma face to face." He sighed, "How wonderful! From within my palace has emerged a human jewel." By this condition, one should know that listening to the Dharma brings great benefit.