法苑珠林 52.24

52.24

Furthermore, the Mahā-bodhisattva-piṭaka Sūtra states: “Śāriputra, if there are sentient beings who relish and attach themselves to sons and daughters, wives and concubines, and all feminine carnal desires, you should know that this is just like relishing a hailstorm of gravel and stones; it is just like relishing the blade of a sharp knife; it is indeed just like relishing a burning-hot iron ball; it is just like relishing sitting upon a burning-hot iron bed; it is just like relishing a burning-hot iron footstool. Śāriputra, if one relishes flower garlands and fragrant ointments, it is just like relishing flower garlands of burning-hot iron, and it is also just like relishing smearing one’s body with feces and urine. Śāriputra, if one takes possession of dwellings and houses, you should know that one takes possession of a great burning-hot iron cauldron. If one takes possession of male and female slaves and servants, you should know that one takes possession of the wicked minions of hell. If one takes possession of elephants, horses, camels, donkeys, cattle, sheep, chickens, and pigs, you should know that one takes possession of the black and spotted swine and dogs in hell, and it is also taking possession of imperial guards stationed across a hundred yojanas. In brief: if one takes possession of wives, concubines, sons, daughters, and all feminine carnal desires, you should know that this is taking possession of a mass of all sufferings, sorrows, griefs, and afflictions. Śāriputra, one would rather lean upon a great burning-hot iron bed a thousand yojanas in size, exceedingly hot, blazing everywhere with fierce, raging flames, than gaze from afar with a defiled mind of attachment upon the form of the wives, concubines, and various feminine carnal desires provided by those parents—how much less draw near to them and embrace them! Why is this? Śāriputra, you should know that woman is the root of all suffering, the root of obstruction, the root of slaughter, the root of bondage, the root of sorrow, the root of enmity, and the root of innate blindness. You should know that woman extinguishes the eye of noble wisdom. You should know that woman is like burning-hot iron flowers scattered on the ground, upon which one’s feet tread. You should know that woman spreads and increases all improper dispositions. Śāriputra, for what reason and cause is she called ‘woman’ (fùrén)? The word ‘woman’ (fù) signifies imposing a heavy burden. Why is this? Because she causes sentient beings to receive a heavy burden; because she causes sentient beings to bear a heavy burden and go about their activities; because she causes sentient beings to carry a heavy burden and wander everywhere; because she causes sentient beings to suffer mental fatigue over this heavy burden; because she causes sentient beings to be tormented and oppressed by this heavy burden; and because she causes sentient beings to be harmed and ruined by this heavy burden. Śāriputra, by what further condition is she called ‘woman’ (fù)? The word ‘woman’ (fù) is the place to which sentient beings surrender and entrust themselves; it is the place into which the slaves of craving sink and are submerged; it is the place to which those who obey woman pay their tribute; it is the place where those bewitched by woman are deluded; it is the place to which those vanquished by woman submit; it is the place relied upon by those who yield to woman; it is the place of heedlessness for those over whom woman has mastery; it is the place of exhaustion and toil for those enslaved by woman; and it is the place admired and looked up to by those who are swayed by woman. Śāriputra, on account of such causes and conditions as these, these various states are named ‘woman’ (fù).”