Sūtras About Women

In The Questions of Gaṅgottarā, a laywoman named Gaṅgottarā leaves her home in the city of Śrāvastī and visits the Buddha Śākyamuni in Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. The Buddha asks her from where she has come, sparking a dialogue on the true nature of things. Among other things, they discuss the fact that, from the perspective of ultimate truth, all things, including Gaṅgottarā herself, are like magical creations, and thus no one comes or goes or pursues nirvāṇa.

在這部大乘佛經中，佛陀最出色的一群聲聞弟子正在王舍城中托缽乞食，逐漸行至阿闍世王的宮殿，爾時王女無憂施坐於寶座之上，見諸長老不起不迎，亦無任何禮敬之意。阿闍世王對女兒的無禮感到震怒並加以訓斥，然而王女並無悔意，反以優美偈頌，向父王述説菩薩道之殊勝，是故不宜禮敬聲聞。諸位長老遂與王女展開辯論，王女基於對諸法性空的了悟，逐一破斥長老們提出的問題，其胸有成竹、辯才無礙的回答令長老們無言以對，心生欽佩。此時王女卻起身下座，恭敬地爲長老們奉上飲食。隨後諸長老齊赴靈鷲山，佛陀於此授記王女未來當得成佛。

Vimalaśraddhā, the daughter of King Prasenajit, comes to see the Buddha in Jetavana, together with a retinue of five hundred women. She pays homage to the Buddha and asks him to explain the conduct of bodhisattvas. The Buddha responds by presenting twelve sets of eight qualities that bodhisattvas should cultivate. Vimalaśraddhā and her five hundred companions, having developed the mind set on awakening, join the ranks of the bodhisattvas, and the Buddha prophesies her future attainment of awakening.

The Miraculous Play of Mañjuśrī presents a series of profound teachings within a rich narrative structure involving a beautiful courtesan’s daughter, Suvarṇottama­prabhāśrī. A banker’s son has purchased her favors, but while they are riding together toward a pleasure garden the girl’s attention is captivated instead by the radiantly attractive Mañjuśrī, who gives her instructions related to the meaning of the mind set on awakening. She then expresses her new understanding in a dialogue with Mañjuśrī, in the presence of King Ajātaśatru, his retinue, and the citizens of Rājagṛha.

This sūtra contains teachings given by the Buddha to a 120-year-old woman in the city of Vaiśalī. Upon meeting the Buddha, she asks him questions concerning the four stages of life, the aggregates, the elements, and the faculties. In response, the Buddha gives her a profound teaching on emptiness, using beautifully crafted examples to illustrate his point. After hearing these teachings her doubts are dispelled and she is freed from clinging to the perception of a self.

此經記述佛陀的大弟子須菩提在一次托缽乞食時的遭遇，當中以與一位名為轉女身的女菩薩之間的對話為主。她的教法精闢且深奧，通達勝義之諦。世尊在經文最後給予轉女身菩薩未來成佛的授記。

世尊与弥勒菩萨于晨间托钵时，遇见王后有乐夫人，身着华贵珠宝端严殊妙。世尊将此珍宝严饰喻为果实，问有乐夫人言：彼名何树，汝今身着如是之果？有乐夫人答言：“彼树名福德，我于往世种，此果是彼果，我今如是食。”经文继而讲述福德终能导向佛果，并授记有乐夫人将于未来成佛。

This sūtra recounts an event that took place in the buddha realm of Sukhāvatī. The discourse commences with the Buddha Śākyamuni relating to the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara the benefits of reciting the various names of Śrī Mahādevī. The Buddha describes how Śrī Mahādevī acquired virtue and other spiritual accomplishments through the practice of venerating numerous tathāgatas and gives an account of the prophecy in which her future enlightenment was foretold by all the buddhas she venerated.