Women Who Wish to Become Noble Should Diligently Recite the Buddha's Name

There is a well-known story from the Buddha's time. When the Buddha was in the world, King Prasenajit had a consort called Lady Molili—perhaps you've heard of her. She later became one of Buddhism's great patrons.

But she hadn't always been in such a position. Originally, she was a lowly maidservant who tended a garden called the Jasmine Garden. One day, while working there, she saw the Buddha entering the great city of Shravasti to beg for alms. Struck by his radiant features and luminous presence, she felt a surge of faith and joy. She made offerings with complete sincerity, and afterward she made a vow: to free herself from her lowly status as a maidservant and become a king's consort.

She had felt the sting of being looked down upon, and that feeling deepened her resolve. Not long after, an opportunity arose. King Prasenajit had led a hunting party and, on the way back, grew thirsty and weary, so he entered the garden. When the maidservant Molili saw the king arrive, she was extraordinarily attentive—laying out a place for him to rest, quickly bringing water and refreshments.

Then she invited him to lie down and gave him a massage, doing everything with such exquisite care that the king was deeply pleased. He thought her remarkably clever. There was more to it, too: Lady Molili had originally been called "Yellow Head"—a rough name for a sallow-haired serving girl—and she had not been considered attractive.

But after seeing the Buddha's radiant features and feeling that surge of joy, she began to recollect the Buddha's virtues, and gradually her appearance softened and grew more pleasing. Combined with her attentiveness, this won the king's favor, and he brought her back to the palace. The name "Lady Molili" stuck because she was the lady from the Jasmine Garden—and in time, he truly did make her queen.

So this is how, in a single lifetime, she transformed her humble status into that of a queen. Any woman who wishes to change her circumstances and become noble should diligently recite the Buddha's name and visualize Amitabha's radiant features and luminous presence. Not only will you be reborn into a noble family in the future, but you can change your humble status in this very life. Humble status comes from one's own humble character and humble karmic forces.

This connects to what we mentioned earlier about that vow concerning deficiencies in the six sense organs. "Ugly" here means having an unattractive appearance. When we hear and believe in Amitabha's name and recite it, our appearance can become pleasing. It's a point many people overlook, but it's right there in the meaning. Everyone wants a dignified appearance—especially women. Why all the cosmetics? It's simply the desire to be beautiful, to draw a few more glances, to have a high "head-turn rate." That makes a woman feel proud. "So many people are turning to look at me!" But if no one gives her a glance, she feels deflated. In the psychology of women, when a man walks past, she may pretend to be annoyed on the surface, but once he's gone, she inwardly regrets it—why did he leave? Why didn't he linger? Yes, women like that kind of attention. Deep down, they want people to notice them.

But if you want to be noticed and your appearance is too rough, people will take one look and not dare to look twice. That's no good. Cosmetics can't really solve this. In fact, they often backfire: layer on too much makeup and your skin grows rougher; a little sweat and your made-up face turns into a smeared mess. Hardly an improvement.

The way to become radiant is from within—through reciting the Buddha's name and visualizing the Buddha. Your features will come to resemble the Buddha's, glowing from the inside out. A woman who, without makeup, radiates freshness and light—that is true beauty. This is how an unattractive appearance can be transformed.

We've seen it not only in women but in men as well: when practitioners truly enter into the recitation of the Buddha's name, their appearance becomes more dignified. If after years of practice someone still looks fierce, still appears haggard, still gives off the vibe of some street thug—then their recitation isn't taking hold. After a few years, people should be looking at them with new eyes: "How have you changed so much?" With merit and virtue, transformation is sure to follow.