天女散花：以戲劇表演闡釋維摩詰所說經中無分別心之大乘教義=A Goddess Scattering Flowers: A Dramatic Performance to Illustrate the Mahāyāna Concept of Indiscrimination in the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra
bodhisattva=菩薩; dharma=法; drama=戲劇; impermanence=無常; indiscrimination=無分別; Law of Dependent Origination=緣起法; Mahāyāna=大乘佛法; non-self=無我; non-dualism=不二; voidness=空
摘要
The Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra, an influential Mahāyāna scripture, is famous for its used stories for the purpose of preaching, in particular, “A Goddess Scattering Flowers”, an internationally renowned scene which expounds on major Mahāyāna teachings. By analysing its dramatic representations, the current study elaborates on the doctrine of indiscrimination, grounded in the law of dependent origination, voidness, impermanence, non-self, non-duality, and dharma. It also presents the effectiveness of using humour, metaphors, similes, conflicts, contrasts, contradictions, and paradoxes to powerfully delineate rich connotations through character performance, stage property, stage setting, dialogue, and action. With the aid of these theatrical components and techniques, this demonstrates how such a brief scene within a fable is capable of explaining a cluster of Buddhist philosophies pertaining to self-transcendence, self-management of mind, and freedom from dichotomy, formalism, and self-boundary; in conclusion, enlightenment. This theatrical presentation highlight may allow scholars to further explore alternatives for philosophical discussion.
