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阿那律尊者與化樂天女 佛教的宇宙觀將世界分為欲界、色界、無色界，其中欲界的眾生仍有男女飲食等情慾存在，故而稱為欲界。在欲界中又可分為天、人、阿修羅、畜生、餓鬼、地獄等六種眾生，其中欲界天還可區分為六層不同的天界，簡稱六欲天。 六欲天中每一層天界的福報與壽命皆不相同，愈高層天界所享有的美貌、智慧、神通、福報及壽命比下一層天界更好，這就是所謂的「天外有天」。 離人間最近的四天王天，就是分由四大天王各居宇宙的東西南北四處，統領世界各地鬼、夜叉及羅剎，他們天上一日等於人間五十年，他們平均壽命約五百天壽，如以一年三百六十天換算，相當於九百萬年的人間歲月。 第二層為三十三天，又稱做忉利天，由三十二個天王所組織的天界，帝釋天主統領諸天王，位居第三十三，故而合稱為三十三天。帝釋天主依經中記載已證初果，是佛教在天上的大護法神。他們天上一日等於人間一百年，他們平均壽命約一千天壽，如以一年三百六十天換算，相當於三千六百萬年的人間歲月。 再下來是第三層夜摩天，第四層兜率陀天，第五層化樂天，第六層也是欲界最高的天界他化自在天，他們的美貌、智慧、神通、福報與壽命都是呈倍數遞增，譬如第六欲天他化自在天的天上一日等於人間一千六百年，他們平均壽命約一萬六千天壽，如以一年三百六十天換算，相當於九十二億一千六百萬年的人間歲月。 本篇出現的天女就是欲界第五欲天化樂天女，他們的特質不但是容貌絕色，且身上散發的光彩可以隨己意變換，善能變化出各式各樣美妙及誘人的色、聲、香、味、觸等五欲塵境，除非是已斷除貪慾的聖者，否則世間凡夫俗子必將為之神魂顛倒、意亂情迷，難逃其魅力的魔網。 阿那律尊者因不眠不休的精進修行導致雙眼失明，佛陀便教授他四念處使他得以開啟天眼，能清楚照見宇宙三千大千世界如掌中的小芒果。 本篇大意是某日許多美麗絕倫的化樂天女來到阿那律尊者面前為尊者變化出種種極樂的五欲供其享受，但尊者已是離欲的阿羅漢，不為所動。如果尊者當時未證得阿羅漢，且生起對化樂天界的貪愛，那麼尊者死後來世便極可能轉生到化樂天中。嗣後尊者去請教世尊一個女人該如何修行才能在來世轉生成化樂天女，享有其榮耀與福樂，佛陀便為其解說本篇經文，內容非常有趣，歡迎各位觀賞。 選譯自南傳巴利英譯《增支部》第八章第四十六篇 優婆塞喬正一譯於西元2005/10/30八關齋戒日 有一次世尊駐錫在古印度憍賞彌的一處精舍裡。當時阿那律尊者在無人的僻靜之地精進修行。接著有許多來自化樂天的天女出現在尊者面前，向尊者頂禮後便站在一旁。 她們向尊者表示：「尊者，我們就是化樂天女，我們在以下三種情況下可以隨意變幻：當我們喜歡或想要變出某種特定的顏色，便能輕易瞬間變出該種特定顏色；當我們喜歡想要某種特殊的妙音，便能隨意瞬間發出該種妙音；….乃至輕易瞬間變幻出我們想要或喜歡的美妙特殊歡樂。尊者，以上就是化樂天女的特質。」 接著阿那律尊者為了測試她們，心中便默唸：「希望這些天女能變成藍色，穿著藍衣，配戴藍色裝飾品。」這些天女果能讀取尊者心思，全照著尊者意思變成藍色，穿著藍衣，配戴藍色裝飾品。 無論尊者希望她們變成何種顏色，她們都能照做。 其中一位天女先開始唱歌，其他天女則隨歌聲曼妙起舞，天女們很有默契並訓練有素地以柔美的歌詞，伴隨著動人心弦及醉人的歌聲，以五倍的音樂展開表演。 但阿那律卻嚴謹的守護心智感官，不理睬她們。 天女們認為阿那律尊者既不傾聽也不享受，並沒有從表演中得到任何快樂時，便離開了。 阿那律尊者當晚遇見佛陀時，便將上述經過向世尊報告。並請教世尊：「世尊，請問一個女人要具備何種條件才能在來世轉生到化樂天，成為化樂天女？」 世尊回答：「阿那律，一個女人必須具備八種特質才能在死後出生在化樂天，是哪八種呢？分別是： 一、
當她依照父母的意思許配給丈夫時，她必須親切與慈悲的對待她的丈夫，晚睡早起，仔細照顧丈夫，對丈夫說話時親切愉悅，不尖酸刻薄傷人。 二、
她必須尊敬夫家的公婆長輩，以及夫家所敬信的沙門、婆羅門。當他們抵達夫家時應讓座並供給茶水； 三、
在夫家工作時，譬如棉、絲、紗一類的針織女紅，她應表現機靈、仔細，不偷懶，做好該做的事； 四、
對於夫家的僕人、使者、工人，她應知人善任，清楚知悉何人生病、何人健壯、何人虛弱，應妥善管理，按其能力分配適當的工作及任務，並公平分配每人食物及營養品； 五、
不論是財富、穀米、金、銀等財產，只要是丈夫賺來的，她不應像小偷盜賊般貪婪，應以不嗔、不輕率、不浪費的態度妥善保管； 六、
她應皈依三寶，成為在家弟子； 七、
她應有善德，不傷害一切生靈，不偷盜，不邪淫，不妄語，不飲酒； 八、
她應遠離貪婪的污染，具有慈悲心，親手去佈施、給予、奉獻所有需要幫助的人（註：沙門、婆羅門、窮人、病人、從遠地來的人…..），並給予照料。 阿那律，一個女人只要具備以上八種善德，死後便能出生在充滿歡樂的化樂天界。」
接著佛陀便說出以下的偈語：「 每天應時常關心那養育你的人； 不可輕視那照顧你一切的丈夫； 不可以諷刺或嫉妒的言語使人由樂轉怒； 有智慧的女人於夫家時應照料及侍奉公婆及尊長； 對於員工應激勵他們努力工作，不偷懶； 不要常與丈夫爭吵，並妥善保管他的財產； 如果一個女人生前能如此善待她的丈夫，那麼她死後必將成為化樂天女。」 46. At one time The Blessed One lived in Gosita's monastery in Kosambi. At that time venerable Anuruddha was in seclusion in the day time. Then several charming goddesses approached venerable Anuruddha, worshipped, stood on a side and said: "Venerable sir, we are known as charming goddesses, are superior and wield power over others in three instances. When we desire a certain colour we gain that colour appropriately When we desire a certain sound, ...re....pleasantness,...re....we gain that pleasantness appropriately. Venerable sir, we are known as charming goddesses, are superior and wield power over others in these three instances. Then it occurred to venerable Anuruddha: "All these goddesses should be blue, clothed and decorated in blue. Those goddesses knowing his thought all became blue, dressed and decorated in blue Then it occurred to venerable anuruddha- "All these goddesses should be yellow,...re....red, ...re... white,....re.... clothed and decorated in white. Those goddesses knowing his thought, all became white, dressed and decorated in white. One of these goddesses sang, another danced and the other clapped to tune. Just as the fivefold music is in conformity to each other well trained and struck together and is with lovely words, enticing, capturing the mind and intoxicating, the sound of those goddesses were also with lovely words, enticing, capturing the mind and intoxicating. Then venerable Anuruddha restrained his mental faculties. Then those goddesses saying venerable Anuruddha does not enjoy, did not sing and disappeared from there. Venerable Anuruddha that evening getting up from his seclusion approached The Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said to The Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, I was in seclusion in the day time. Then several charming goddesses approached me, worshipped, stood on a side and said: "Venerable sir, we are known as pleasant goddesses, are superior and wield power over others in three instances. When we desire a certain colour we gain that colour appropriately When we desire a certain sound, ...re....pleasantness,...re....we gain that pleasantness appropriately. Venerable sir, we are known as charming goddesses, are superior and wield power over others in these three instances. Then venerable sir, it occurred to me: "All these goddesses should be blue, clothed and decorated in blue. Those goddesses knowing my thought, all became blue, dressed and decorated in blue Then it occurred to me: "All these goddesses should be yellow,...re....red, ...re... white,....re.... clothed and decorated in white. Those goddesses knowing my thought, all became white, dressed and decorated in white. One of these goddesses sang, another danced and the other clapped to tune. Just as the fivefold music is in conformity to each other well trained and struck together and is with lovely words, enticing, capturing the mind and intoxicating, the sound of those goddesses were also with lovely words, enticing, capturing the mind and intoxicating. Then venerable sir, I restrained my mental faculties. Then those goddesses saying venerable Anuruddha does not enjoy, did not sing and disappeared from there. Venerable sir, endowed with how many things do women after death are born with the charming goddesses? Anuruddha, women endowed with eight things are born with the goddesses of charm after death. What eight? Here, Anuruddha, the woman when given by her mother and father to whomever husband she lives with him desiring his good compassionate towards him and arousing compassion rising before him, going to bed after him, looking out to see what should be done for him and speaking pleasantly Whoever elders be in the family of the husband mother or father or recluses and Brahmins reveres and honours them. At their arrival offers them seats and water. Whatever work there be in the husband's house to make cotton or silk yarn, she becomes clever, not lazy looking out to see what should be done and getting it done. Whoever be the slaves, messengers and workmen in the husband's home she knows who does the work and who does not do the work. She knows the sick, the powerful and the weak. She divides the eatables and nourishments among them up to the last. Whatever the husband brings wealth, grains, gold and silver, she protects them without a thievish mind, without anger with a non -fondling and non-destructive mind. She is a lay disciple who has taken refuge in the enlightenment, the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus She is virtuous, abstaining from, destroying living things, taking the not given, misbehaviour in sexuality, telling lies, and taking intoxicating and brewed drinks She is benevolent with a mind free from the stains of selfishness, with open hands ready to give to the needy and arranging such gifts. Anuruddha, women endowed with these eight things are born with the goddesses of pleasantness after death. Be constantly zealous about the one who fosters you everyday Do not look down on your husband who looks after all your needs. Don't make the happy man angry with envious words The wise attend to all needs of the elders in the husband's house. Is not lazy, with aroused effort is attended by the junior staff. Does not go beyond the words of the husband, protects his wealth. If a woman lives thus within the interests of the man She is born with the goddesses of charm..
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