Bhikkhuni Diệu Nhân (1042-1113) was from the 17th generation of the Tỳ Ni Đa Lưu Chi Thiền (Zen) School in Vietnam. She was born under the secular name of Lý Ngọc Kiều at Hương Hải Village,
Phù Đổng, Tiên Du. She was the eldest daughter of Phụng Càn Vương Lý Nhật Trung,
a knighted nobleman. Since childhood she was allowed by King Lý Thánh Tông to live in the royal palace, and was given the title as a princess in her adulthood. Because she was highly respected for her well manners and good character, the King considered her his own daughter, and married her to one of his subjects. It was said that her husband had been ruling at Châu Mục, Chân Đăng, and that his last name was Lê. When he passed away, she declined getting married again to any other suitors, and remained a widow. One day she said, "To me all phenomena in life are dreams, why should we depend on such vain fame and wealth?" Then she decided to become a nun. She was a disciple of Zen Master Chân Không at Phù Đổng. On June 1st, 1113, under the rule of King Lý Nhân Tông, she did not feel well, and told her disciples to come and listen to her gatha as her final farewell. She passed away at the age of 72 in a sitting posture.
Bhikkhuni Diệu Nhân has been a role model for her contemporary nuns and all the bhikkhunis in Vietnam.
Following is her final gatha:
Bhikkhuni Diệu Nhân has been a role model for her contemporary nuns and all the bhikkhunis in Vietnam.
Following is her final gatha:
Sinh, lão, bệnh, tử
Tự cổ thường nhiên
Dục cầu xuất ly
Giải phọc thiêm triền
Mê chi cầu Phật
Hoặc chi cầu thiền
Thiền, Phật bất câu
Uổng khẩu vô ngôn.
(in Chinese Vietnamese)
(in Chinese Vietnamese)
Sinh, lão, bệnh, tử
Lẽ thường tự nhiên
Muốn cầu thoát ly
Càng thêm trói buộc
Mê, mới cầu Phật
Hoặc, mới cầu Thiền
Chẳng cầu Thiền, Phật
Mím miệng ngồi yên.
Translated by Ngô Đức Thọ and Nguyễn Thúy Nga (Thiền Uyển Tập Anh, p. 235).
The version translated by Zen Master Thích Thanh Từ in Thiền Sư Việt Nam, p. 163 is below:
Sanh già bệnh chết
Xưa nay lẽ thường
Muốn cầu thoát ra
Mở trói thêm ràng
Mê đó tìm Phật
Lầm đó cầu thiền
Phật, thiền chẳng cầu
Uổng miệng không lời.
Birth, old age, sickness, and death
Such is the natural course of life
To those who want to escape from that cycle
Trying hard to untie the fetters -- vain
Trying hard to find the Buddha -- illusion
Trying hard to sit in meditation -- mistake
The Buddha and meditation are not to be desired for
Words are redundant; speechless.
Birth, old age, sickness, and death
Such is the natural course of life
To those who want to escape from that cycle
Trying hard to untie the fetters -- vain
Trying hard to find the Buddha -- illusion
Trying hard to sit in meditation -- mistake
The Buddha and meditation are not to be desired for
Words are redundant; speechless.
(To be continued)
Sources:
http://thuvienhoasen.org/D_1-2_2-137_4-19598_5-50_6-1_17-71_14-1_15-1/dieu-nhan-ni-su-1041-1113.html
