諸經要集 2.26

2.26

Furthermore, the *Aśokarāja-sūtra* says: "In the past, King Aśoka had a man of the Way preach the Dharma. At that time, a curtained corridor was used to screen the women so that they could listen to the Dharma. Then the Dharma master preached the Dharma for the women, constantly preaching on generosity, on morality, and on rebirth in heaven. There was a woman who was willing to break the king's law: she parted the curtain, went before 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 generosity and morality, or did he awaken to other dharmas as well?' The Dharma master answered: 'The Buddha awakened to the fact that all conditioned phenomena with outflows are suffering, just like molten iron; the cause of this suffering arises from habituated craving, just like a poisonous tree; and cultivating the Eightfold Noble Path is how to extinguish suffering and its accumulation.' Hearing these words, this woman attained the stage of srotāpanna. Tying a sword to her neck, she went to where the king was and said to the king: 'Today I have violated the king's grave law. I pray the king punish me according to the law.' The king asked: 'What offense did you commit?' She replied: 'I broke the king's prohibition and went to where the man of the Way was, just as a thirsty cow 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 at all?' She replied: 'I was able to see the four noble truths, understand the skandhas, āyatanas, and dhātus, and know that all the elements are without self, thereby attaining the Dharma-eye.' Hearing these words, the king leaped with joy. He immediately bowed to her, and then issued an order, saying: 'From this day forth, screens and partitions are not permitted. Those who delight in listening to the Dharma are permitted to go straight to the Dharma master's presence and listen to the Dharma face to face.' He praised her, saying: 'How extraordinary! From within my palace has emerged a jewel of a human being!' By these conditions, one should know that listening to the Dharma brings great benefit."