Date: 11/01/2025 11/02/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Beauty Like a Bubble
Thus have I heard:
In times past, within the land of Magadha, there was a pleasure garden of delightful scenery and pleasing sight.
On one occasion, a man named Wei-jian, the son of a minister, and a woman named Shang Jin-guang-shou, of striking beauty, came to that garden to offer incense and bow before the Buddha. At that time, each was drawn to the other, and during their worship they secretly cast glances of desire.
Suddenly, Shang Jin-guang-shou fell to the ground, her limbs stiffened. Wei-jian was astonished, and moved to touch her, but she did not stir.
At once her face grew dark, and from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth there issued pus and blood, with a stench most foul. In but a moment, her beauty perished, and she became a corpse decaying beneath the hot sun. Swarms of green flies came, drinking from her flesh and blood.
Wei-jian, terrified and stricken, thought to flee. Yet as he turned, the trees nearby spoke:
“Alas, how pitiful! Such beauty of form, such grace of body—now cast aside in ruin.”
Another tree said:
“Sir, do you desire only her beauty in life, and care nothing for her wretchedness in death?”
Hearing this, Wei-jian halted. Shamed by the words, he took off his outer garment, wrapped the corpse, and carried it into the forest, hiding it from sight.
As he departed, behold! In the sky there shone immeasurable Buddha-light, illuminating the heavens. The Blessed One appeared in radiance beyond measure.
Wei-jian, struck with awe, rubbed his eyes. Then before him appeared Śakra, Lord of the Devas, his body adorned with the five-colored auspicious light.
“Young man,” Śakra said, “rejoice! To behold the form of the Buddha in your youth is great merit. Surely you have done virtuous deeds in the past.”
Wei-jian bowed and said:
“Lord Śakra, savior of beings, I am troubled and distressed. Please show me a path of deliverance!”
Śakra replied:
“Do not be dismayed. Come with me before the Blessed One.”
Thus they went to the monastery where the Buddha resided. Śakra manifested a flower and gave it to Wei-jian, saying:
“Place this upon the body of the Blessed One, and speak your heart.”
Wei-jian laid the flower at the Buddha’s feet, bowed low, and said:
“O Blessed One, hear me. Today a maiden invited me to the garden. Suddenly she died, blood flowed from her seven orifices, her flesh decayed, and I was filled with terror. What am I to do?”
Even as the Buddha was about to speak, two young women entered the hall. Wei-jian beheld them, astonished, for one of them was none other than Shang Jin-guang-shou herself.
The two made their offerings and departed. When Wei-jian looked again, the Buddha and Śakra had vanished, and before him stood the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī.
Mañjuśrī asked:
“Young man, do you know those two sisters?”
Wei-jian replied:
“I know the elder; she is Shang Jin-guang-shou.”
Mañjuśrī said:
“From today’s vision, what have you understood?”
At once Wei-jian awakened, and said:
“Beauty is but like a bubble: it withers, it vanishes. Even Shang Jin-guang-shou is thus. I will not be entangled by her form. Even the joy between us is but fleeting illusion. Only the Buddha’s Path is my refuge eternal.”Mañjuśrī smiled in approval, and then vanished. Wei-jian knew that these were manifestations shown to him for the sake of instruction. From then on, he practiced diligently, later becoming the Bodhisattva of Radiant Virtue, and in the end attained Buddhahood.
