Chinese
于是，须菩提谓女言：“姊宁出门有夫婿乎？” 其女答曰：“贤者！唯听，我夫非一。所以者何？假使众生好乐勤修放逸自恣，亦能奉顺善权方便，斯等众生皆我夫主。” 须菩提问：“姊！何谓好乐顺权方便？” 其女答曰：“唯，须菩提！或有众生先以一切欲乐之乐而娱乐之，然后乃劝化以大道，若以众生因其爱欲而受律者，辄授爱欲悦乐之事，从是已去，现其离别，善权方便，随时而化。” 须菩提问：“姊！如来从始以何好乐？随其时宜不违法教？”须菩提谓女曰：“如来、至真未曾教人随爱欲也。” 其女答曰：“贤者不闻乎？如来法教，若有比丘，随心所好衣食床卧具，病瘦医药，慈心之种乞丐诸家，所到居业，与其同等志所慕乐，和上教师追学务训因化入道。” 须菩提报曰：“唯然，如姊今者来言。” 女曰：“以是之故，贤者当了如来听之，随其时宜，不违所乐，以斯善权而济度之。” 须菩提问女：“众生之类，以何善权乐随类教？” 其女答曰：“可数三千世界所有星宿，我所开化随欲所度众生之限，使发无上正真道意不可称计。” 现代汉语译本 《便经》 《顺权方便经》卷下 西晋月支三藏竺法护译 假号品第四 于是，须菩提（Subhuti，佛陀的十大弟子之一，以解空第一著称）问那位女子：‘您出门有丈夫吗？’ 那位女子回答说：‘贤者！请听我说，我的丈夫不止一个。为什么呢？假使众生喜欢勤奋修行，却又放逸自恣，但也能奉行顺应善巧方便之法，这些众生都是我的丈夫。’ 须菩提问：‘您说的喜欢顺应善巧方便是什么意思呢？’ 那位女子回答说：‘是的，须菩提！有些众生，先用一切欲乐之乐来娱乐他们，然后再劝化他们走上大道。如果因为众生喜爱欲望而接受戒律，就先给予他们爱欲的快乐，然后逐渐让他们明白爱欲的离别之苦，用善巧方便，随时教化他们。’ 须菩提问：‘如来（Tathagata，佛陀的称号之一）最初以什么爱好来随顺时宜，而不违背佛法教义呢？’须菩提对女子说：‘如来、至真（佛陀的称号）从未教人随顺爱欲啊。’ 那位女子回答说：‘贤者难道没听说吗？如来的教法是，如果有比丘（bhiksu，佛教出家男众），随心所好地得到衣食、床卧具、病时的医药，以慈悲之心向各家乞讨，所到的地方，与当地人同等生活，志向慕乐，和上（Upadhyaya，亲教师）和教师（Acharya，轨范师）追随学习，努力训导，因此感化他们进入佛道。’ 须菩提回答说：‘是的，正如您现在所说。’ 女子说：‘因此，贤者应当明白，如来听任众生随顺时宜，不违背他们的喜好，用这种善巧方便来救度他们。’ 须菩提问女子：‘众生之类，用什么善巧方便乐于随顺各类教化呢？’ 那位女子回答说：‘即使能数清三千世界所有的星宿，我所开化、随顺欲望而度化的众生数量，发起无上正真道意的人数，也是不可称量计算的。’
English
English version The Sutra of Expediency The Sutra of Skillful Means, Volume 2 Translated by Dharmaraksa of the Yuezhi during the Western Jin Dynasty Chapter 4: Assumed Names Then, Subhuti (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for understanding emptiness) asked the woman, 'Do you have a husband when you go out?' The woman replied, 'Virtuous one! Please listen, I have more than one husband. Why? If beings enjoy diligently cultivating but are also indulgent and unrestrained, yet can follow skillful means, then these beings are all my husbands.' Subhuti asked, 'What do you mean by enjoying following skillful means?' The woman replied, 'Yes, Subhuti! Some beings are first entertained with all kinds of sensual pleasures, and then they are encouraged to follow the Great Path. If beings accept the precepts because of their love of desire, they are first given the pleasures of desire, and then gradually shown the suffering of separation from desire, using skillful means to teach them at the appropriate time.' Subhuti asked, 'From the beginning, what did the Tathagata (one of the Buddha's titles) enjoy that was in accordance with the times and did not violate the Dharma?' Subhuti said to the woman, 'The Tathagata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, has never taught people to indulge in desire.' The woman replied, 'Virtuous one, have you not heard? The Tathagata's teaching is that if a bhiksu (Buddhist monk) obtains clothing, food, bedding, and medicine for illness according to his liking, begs from various families with a compassionate heart, and lives in the same way as the local people wherever he goes, sharing their aspirations and joys, and if the Upadhyaya (preceptor) and Acharya (teacher) follow and diligently train him, thus influencing him to enter the Buddhist path.' Subhuti replied, 'Yes, that is as you say now.' The woman said, 'Therefore, virtuous one, you should understand that the Tathagata allows beings to follow what is appropriate for the time, without violating their preferences, and uses these skillful means to save them.' Subhuti asked the woman, 'What skillful means do beings enjoy that allow them to be taught according to their kind?' The woman replied, 'Even if one could count all the stars in the three thousand worlds, the number of beings I have enlightened and saved according to their desires, and the number of those who have developed the intention for unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, would be immeasurable.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 须菩提问：“姊！以何方便令人欢乐？”
Chinese
其女答曰：“或有众生乐于梵天，我修梵行随无量禅，欣然志安从乐授之，然后乃化劝佛大道。或慕帝释，现天帝位甚可爱乐，示斯自在无常之法，因而劝化发大道意。或有众生，慕好诸天、龙、神、揵沓和、阿须伦、迦留罗、真陀罗、摩睺勒，我悉示之斯位所乐，然后现变皆虚不实，劝化各使发大道意。或有慕乐转轮王位，或有慕乐大臣、百官、州牧、郡守、令长、四征公卿、君子、梵志、工师、细民，或有好乐于色声香味细滑法，或乐华香安息涂香衣服幡盖大幢，或好金银明月真珠水精琉璃砗磲码瑙白玉珍琦，如是所乐不可计量若干品业，或有好乐鼓舞歌戏淫乐悲声若干种伎，我则随意取令充饱各得所愿，然后尔乃劝发道意度脱众生，随上中下各使得所。” 须菩提问女曰：“姊当知之，欲得求习于贤圣道则为阴盖，无所求法乃无所阂，一人得入随受律化，离于因缘得未曾有，所作甚难。菩萨大士所为无量，乃以是法造无上业，为众生故彼以斯法周化众生，得顺法律，我代欣庆。” 时有二尊者子，俱来会彼门前中庭听所演法，见其女姊宣说宿本所可乐行，顺权方便所开化众，劝于无上正真之道。 时二童子谓尊者须菩提：“仁者！勿以己身 现代汉语译本 须菩提问：‘姊姊！用什么方法能使人感到快乐呢？’ 那位女子回答说：‘有的众生喜欢梵天，我就修习梵行，随着无量的禅定，欣然安稳地将快乐给予他们，然后才劝化他们走上佛的大道。有的众生羡慕帝释天，我就显现天帝的尊位，非常可爱快乐，向他们展示这种自在也是无常的道理，因而劝化他们发起追求大道的意愿。有的众生羡慕诸天、龙、神、乾闼婆（Gandharva，天上的乐神）、阿修罗（Asura，非天）、迦楼罗（Garuda，金翅鸟）、紧那罗（Kinnara，歌神）、摩睺罗伽（Mahoraga，大蟒神）等，我就全部向他们展示这些位置所能带来的快乐，然后显现这些变化都是虚幻不实的，劝化他们各自发起追求大道的意愿。有的众生羡慕转轮王的地位，有的众生羡慕大臣、百官、州牧、郡守、县令、四征公卿、君子、婆罗门、工匠、百姓，有的众生喜欢美好的色、声、香、味、细滑的触感，有的众生喜欢鲜花、香料、安息香、涂香、衣服、幡盖、大幢，有的众生喜欢金银、明月、珍珠、水晶、琉璃、砗磲、玛瑙、白玉等珍奇宝物，像这样他们所喜欢的，不可计量，有各种各样的品类。有的众生喜欢鼓舞、歌唱、戏曲、淫乐、悲伤的音乐等各种各样的技艺，我就随意地让他们得到满足，各自得到他们所希望的，然后才劝发他们追求道意，度脱众生，根据他们上、中、下的根器，各自让他们得到相应的利益。’ 须菩提问那位女子说：‘姊姊您要知道，想要学习贤圣之道，如果有所求，反而会被阴盖所遮蔽；如果无所求，那就没有什么阻碍了。一个人能够进入圣道，随着所受的戒律教化而改变，脱离了因缘的束缚，得到前所未有的境界，所做的事情非常困难。菩萨大士所做的事情是无量的，因此用这种方法创造无上的功业，为了众生的缘故，他们用这种方法普遍地教化众生，使他们能够顺应佛法的规律，我为此感到欣慰和庆幸。’ 当时有两位尊者之子，一起来到她家门前的中庭，听她演说佛法，看到这位女子宣说过去世所喜爱的行为，顺应权巧方便来开导教化众生，劝导他们走上无上正真之道。 当时两位童子对尊者须菩提说：‘仁者！不要用自己的想法……’
English
English version Subhuti asked: 'Sister! What means do you use to bring joy to people?' The woman replied: 'Some beings delight in Brahma, so I cultivate Brahma-like conduct, following immeasurable meditations, and joyfully and peacefully grant them that pleasure. Then I encourage them to embark on the great path of the Buddha. Some admire Indra (帝释, the ruler of the gods), so I manifest the position of the heavenly king, which is very lovely and delightful, showing them that this freedom is also impermanent, thereby encouraging them to generate the aspiration for the great path. Some beings admire the various devas (诸天, gods), nagas (龙, dragons), gandharvas (乾闼婆, celestial musicians), asuras (阿修罗, demigods), garudas (迦楼罗, mythical birds), kinnaras (紧那罗, mythical beings, part human and part horse), and mahoragas (摩睺罗伽, great serpents). I show them all the pleasures of these positions, and then reveal that these transformations are all illusory and unreal, encouraging each of them to generate the aspiration for the great path. Some admire the position of a Chakravartin (转轮王, wheel-turning king), some admire ministers, officials, governors, prefects, magistrates, the Four Conquering Dukes, gentlemen, Brahmins (梵志, priests), artisans, and common people. Some delight in beautiful forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and fine, smooth sensations. Some delight in flowers, incense, benzoin, scented oils, clothing, banners, and large canopies. Some delight in gold, silver, bright moons, pearls, crystal, lapis lazuli, conch shells, agate, white jade, and other precious and rare treasures. Their delights are immeasurable, with various kinds of activities. Some delight in drumming, dancing, singing, lewd music, and sorrowful sounds, with various kinds of skills. I then freely satisfy them, allowing each to obtain what they desire, and then encourage them to generate the aspiration for the path, liberating beings, according to their superior, middling, or inferior capacities, allowing each to obtain what is appropriate.' Subhuti asked the woman: 'Sister, you should know that if one seeks to learn the path of the wise and noble, then seeking itself becomes a hindrance. If one seeks nothing, then there is no obstruction. If one person can enter the path, changing according to the precepts and teachings they receive, and departing from the bonds of causality, they will attain something never before experienced, and what they do will be very difficult. The actions of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas (菩萨大士, great beings) are immeasurable, and they use this method to create unsurpassed karma. For the sake of beings, they use this method to universally teach and transform beings, enabling them to accord with the laws of the Dharma, and I rejoice and celebrate this on their behalf.' At that time, two sons of venerable ones came together to the courtyard in front of her door to listen to her expounding the Dharma, and saw this woman proclaiming the practices she had delighted in in past lives, skillfully and expediently guiding and transforming beings, and encouraging them to embark on the unsurpassed, true, and correct path. At that time, the two boys said to the Venerable Subhuti: 'Benevolent one! Do not use your own thoughts...' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
之智度他人慧。于须菩提所趣云何？萤火之光宁能照己身掌乎？除其冥耶？” 须菩提答曰：“族姓子！其萤火光明不足名，这可照掌耶！” “如是，须菩提！学声闻乘族姓、女族姓子，德薄智鲜，光耀功勋慧明乐，一思不远得致寂灭，犹如劫烧其恒河水泉源诸流宁能灭乎？” 须菩提曰：“正使一切百千巨亿大海江河众水，不能消灭劫烧盛火，况复江水大河流乎？” 其女答曰：“如是，须菩提！诸菩萨众智慧光明不可限量，功德威耀而不可计，假使菩萨江河沙劫，以五所欲而自娱乐不可尽极。菩萨智慧光明功德，威耀回邈巍巍无量。犹如须菩提，贫匮之士得疾甚困，医来治之应病与药，从其轻重莫不除愈，其药易得，薄德之士独自遭苦困而得安。所以者何？用财不丰。 “如是，须菩提！诸声闻乘行止之德少欲无贪，处在闲居去于悭嫉，所知甚少堕一切恼，尔乃得致漏尽意解，当作是观。 “唯，须菩提！如贫匮士得见疗治困而得愈，谓声闻乘之解脱也。犹大国王顶有威相，而得疾病，医来疗之，以帝王药应病疗治，其药色妙香美，向面面愈项颐悉安，身无众患诸味具足，帝王财宝华香杂香捣香熏身，以众伎乐自然为鸣，帝王将无恐惧以用怀忧。” 答曰：“不也 现代汉语译本：以智慧衡量他人的智慧，对于须菩提所追求的境界来说怎么样呢？萤火虫的光亮难道能够照亮自己的手掌吗？能够驱除黑暗吗？' 须菩提回答说：'善男子！萤火虫的光明微不足道，怎么能照亮手掌呢！' '是的，须菩提！学习声闻乘的善男子、善女人，德行浅薄，智慧稀少，所追求的光耀、功勋、智慧光明和快乐，都只着眼于短暂的寂灭，就像劫火焚烧时，恒河的水源和支流能够熄灭它吗？' 须菩提说：'即使是一切百千巨亿的大海江河之水，也不能消灭劫火的猛烈燃烧，更何况是江河之水呢？' 那位女子说：'是的，须菩提！诸位菩萨的智慧光明不可估量，功德威严光耀不可计数，即使菩萨经历江河沙数般的劫数，以五种欲望来自我娱乐也无法穷尽。菩萨的智慧光明功德，威严光耀回旋邈远，巍峨无量。就像须菩提，贫困的人得了重病非常困苦，医生来医治他，根据病情给予药物，无论轻重都能痊愈，这种药容易得到，德行浅薄的人独自遭受困苦而得到安宁。这是为什么呢？因为花费的钱财不多。' '是的，须菩提！诸位声闻乘的修行，行为止息的德行少欲无贪，安住在闲静的地方远离悭吝嫉妒，所知甚少而堕入一切烦恼，最终才得以证得漏尽意解，应当这样看待。' '是的，须菩提！就像贫困的人得到医治，从困境中痊愈一样，这就是声闻乘的解脱。又像伟大的国王头顶具有威严的相貌，却得了疾病，医生来医治他，用帝王级别的药物根据病情进行治疗，那药物色泽美妙，香气芬芳，向着面部，面部痊愈，颈部下巴都安适，身上没有各种疾病，各种美味都具备，帝王用财宝、华香、杂香、捣香熏身，用各种伎乐自然地演奏，帝王将不会因为使用这些而感到恐惧，也不会因此而感到忧愁。' 回答说：'不会的。'