Lecture No. 0403
Great Ocean of Lamrim
Lecture No. 0403
Date: 17 Feb 2022
Topic: The Tale of the Impoverished Boy's Offering to the Buddha (II)
As the Impoverished Boy grew older, he sought out a teacher and began his studies. One day, while accompanying his classmates to the Bamboo Grove Monastery, he noticed the Wheel of Life in the five realms painted beneath the temple eaves. Turning to a nearby monk, he asked: “Venerable One, what is this?” The monk replied, “This is the Wheel of Life in the five realms.” Impoverished Boy pressed him further: “Venerable One, could you explain it to me? Please, do explain!” The monk nodded and said, “Then listen carefully.” He then proceeded to describe the distinctions among the hell, animal, hungry ghost, human, and deity realms. [00:43]
The Impoverished Boy asked further, “Venerable One, what actions did these beings commit to suffer such torment in the hells, being hacked, torn apart, and crushed?” The monk replied, “Noble youth, it is because they repeatedly and willfully committed the ten nonvirtuous deeds, driven by intense defilements. As a result of this karmic force, they now endure such unbearable agony!” [01:13]
The Impoverished Boy asked again: “Venerable One, what actions did these beings commit to be reborn as animals, suffering such misery, bearing heavy burdens, devouring one another, and the like?” The monk replied as well, “Noble youth, it is because they repeatedly engaged in the ten nonvirtuous deeds, acting with heedlessness and ignorance. As a result of this karmic force, they now endure the suffering of the animal realm!” [01:40]
The Impoverished Boy pressed further: “What deeds did these hungry ghosts commit to suffer such agonies, ravaging hunger, burning thirst, and the like?” The monk replied: “Noble youth, it is because they were miserly, refusing to give alms; they obstructed others’ generosity; and they withheld offerings to the Three Jewels, their parents, and kin. By this karmic force, they now endure such torment!” [02:14]
The Impoverished Boy asked further, “What deeds did these deities beings perform to enjoy such sublime bliss?” The monk replied, “Noble youth, it is because they sincerely practiced the ten virtuous deeds, held deep reverence for the Three Jewels, and faithfully upheld moral precepts. Through the power of this virtuous karmic force, they were reborn in the deity realms, where they now partake in divine joy.” [02:41]
The Impoverished Boy then asked, “Venerable One, what actions did these human beings perform to enjoy modest happiness, yet still endure the hardships of survival, the constant struggle for [food, shelter, and] livelihood?” The monk replied, “Noble youth, it is because they practiced the ten virtuous deeds, but with a mind that was lax, inconsistent, and often distracted. As a result of this [mixed] karma, they were reborn as humans, able to experience moments of joy, yet bound to the relentless toil of worldly life!” [03:20]
The Impoverished Boy said to the monk, “Venerable One, I am filled with dread at the thought of falling into the three wretched realms. I long to be reborn among humans or deities. Venerable One, what must I do to ascend to the deity realm?” The monk replied, “If you renounce the household life and enter the path under the Buddha’s well-expounded Dharma-Vinaya, and strive diligently in this very life to sever the defilements, you will bring an end to suffering altogether. But if, at the time of death, some afflictions still remain, [then by the strength of your virtuous effort,] you will be reborn in the deity realms!” [03:56]
The Impoverished Boy asked, “Venerable One, if one renounces the world to become a monastic, what is required of them?” The monk replied, “One must not transgress for the rest of this life, never deviate from moral purity.” [04:07]
The Impoverished Boy exclaimed, “Ah! I am unable to achieve that! Is there another way to attain rebirth in the deity realms?” The monk replied, “Yes. If you uphold the eight precepts [in one day] and the five precepts as a lay follower, that too can lead to deity rebirth.” The Impoverished Boy asked, “What must one do?” The monk answered, “For a day and night, or even for life, abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and the remaining unwholesome acts.” [04:33]
The Impoverished Boy gasped, “Ah, even that feels too difficult for me! Is there any other deed that can lead to rebirth in the deity realms?” The monk replied, “If you make an offering of food to the Buddha and the Sangha, the merit from such a generous act will lead you to reborn in deity realm.” The Impoverished Boy asked, “Venerable One, this I can do! But how much would it cost to prepare such an offering to the Buddha and the Sangha?” The monk responded, “Five hundred gold coins will suffice.” The Impoverished Boy exclaimed, “This I can accomplish!” He then bowed at the monk’s feet, and departed." [05:19]
Overjoyed, he rushed home. And what did he do there? The Impoverished Boy said to his mother, “Mother, today I went to the Bamboo Grove Monastery and saw the vivid painting of the Wheel of Life beneath its gate, depicting the five realms of: hells, animals, hungry ghosts, humans, and deities. I was filled with fear at the sight of the three miserable realms, and I now long for rebirth in one of the two blissful realms. Mother, do you also wish to be reborn as a human or in the deity realms?” She replied, “I do!” The Impoverished Boy said, “Then please give me five hundred gold coins. [We will] make an offering to the Buddha and the Sangha, [such a meritorious act will ensure] our rebirth in the deity realms!” [06:14]
His mother sighed, “You lost your father at a young age, and I raised you alone—sometimes through my own hard labor, other times with help from relatives. Now you have just come of age and begun your studies, and even then, we struggle to cover your tuition. How could we possibly come up with five hundred gold coins?” But Impoverished Boy insisted, “If we are poor, then I will hire myself out as a laborer and earn the sum!” His mother replied, “You are still young and not yet strong. How could you endure the work of a servant?” He answered firmly, “Then I will train myself until I am as strong as the strongest!” Seeing his unwavering determination, his mother finally gave in. [07:22]
And so, the Impoverished Boy went to the marketplace, referred to in the scriptures as the “hiring grounds,” much like a modern-day labor exchange. What did he do there? He waited to be hired as a laborer. Though Brahmins and householders came seeking workers, no one approached him. He stood and watched, waiting... and watching... as time passed, evening fell. The crowd thinned. Still alone, [unnoticed and unchosen,] he quietly trudged home. [08:14]
His mother asked, “Did you go to the hiring grounds today?” The Impoverished Boy replied, “No one even looked at me…” His mother sighed, “What laborer shows up so neatly dressed? [If you want to be hired, you must look the part like] a worker wearing tattered clothes, messy hair, a face streaked with dirt, only then will employers believe you are ready for hard work!” [08:41]
The next morning, the Impoverished Boy followed his mother’s advice. Dressed in coarse, ragged clothes, he returned to the marketplace. That day, a wealthy householder arrived in search of laborers to help build a house. Yet once again, he hired others and ignored the boy entirely. The Impoverished Boy waited… and waited… until at last he could bear it no longer. Stepping forward, he said, “I too am a laborer. Why won’t you hire me?” The householder scoffed, “Ah! With your frail frame, how can you do the work?” The boy replied, “Do you pay your workers in advance?” “No,” the householder answered. “Wages are given at dusk.” The Impoverished Boy said firmly, “Then let me work first. At day’s end, if I have proven myself, pay me what I deserve. If not, I will walk away with nothing. Is this fair?” After hearing [what the boy said,] he householder agreed and brought him to the worksite. [10:01]
At the worksite, the other laborers worked without care, only the Impoverished Boy labored with tireless dedication. Seeing this, the others said to him: “Look at you! You clearly do not know how this game works. Just do the bare minimum, why wear yourself out?” He shot back, “Elders, can’t you see? Being reborn in an impoverish household is the fruit of my past misdeeds. If I cheat others again, where do you think I will be reborn?” The workers responded, “You are still naïve, that is why you are working so hard. Give it time. You will be slacking more than the rest of us soon enough!” [10:48]
The Impoverished Boy, with his quick wit and easy charm, soon won over the other laborers. They delighted in his conversation and loved listening even more than talking. So, he worked and spoke, worked and spoke, and the crew began working harder. By day’s end, the Impoverished Boy led everyone to work through the day, and they accomplished twice their usual output! [11:26]
At dusk, the householder arrived to inspect the progress. Seeing that more work had been completed than usual, he asked the foreman, “Did you hire extra laborers today?” “No,” the foreman replied. “The crew was the same.” The householder asked: “Then how was the double output possible?” The foreman recounted [how the Impoverished Boy’s presence had inspired the others to work harder] to the householder. Pleased, the householder approached the boy and paid him twice the promised wage. Startled, the Impoverished Boy asked, “Is this payment for two days’ work?” The householder laughed, “I felt I have underpaid you, and so I have increased the payout.” The Impoverished Boy bowed deeply and said, “If you are pleased, allow me to continue working until the house is complete. Hold my wages until the end, and then pay me in full.” “Agreed,” said the householder. And so, the boy continued his labor. [12:35]
At last, the house was finished. The householder counted out the wages and prepared to pay the Impoverished Boy the salary. But the Impoverished Boy received only 450 coins, falling short of his goal. Does everyone remember how much he needed? He needed 500 gold coins [to sponsor a feast for the Buddha and Sangha]! The boy stared at the coins, then burst into tears. The householder asked, “Why weep, lad? Have I shorted your pay?” The Improvised Boy replied, “No, noble sir, you are honorable and generous, and it is impossible that you would take advantage of me. But I had hoped to save five hundred coins to offer [a meal] to the Buddha and Sangha. Since the money is insufficient, I must again do more laborious work... that is why I weep!” [13:33]
The householder said, “If this is for the sake of accumulating merit, I am willing to help you accomplish it!” The Impoverished Boy replied, “Noble sir, your gift would indeed be meritorious for you when you help make up [the shortfall]. But it would take from me the chance to earn my wish and own rebirth in the deity realm!” The householder asked, “Do you truly wish to offer to the Buddha and the Sangha out of sincere faith?” “I do!” the boy affirmed. “Then go,” said the householder, “and ask the World-Honored One himself. Whatever he tells you, just follow to do it!” [14:13]
At once, the Impoverished Boy hurried to the Buddha, bowed at his feet, and sat respectfully to one side. With humility, he reported to the Buddha: “World-Honored One, in order for me to offer alms to you and the Sangha, I wanted five hundred coins, earned by my own hands. So, I labored in the service of a householder for a long period of time. But when the work was done, my wages fell short from 500 gold coins. Out of kindness, the householder offered to make up the difference. O Blessed One, should I accept his help or decline it?” [14:51]
The Buddha said, “Dear child, you may accept it.” The Impoverished Boy hesitated. “But World-Honored One, if I have to rely on others to help [with the offering], I am afraid I cannot be reborn in deity realm.” The Buddha replied, “Child, your very resolve was already meritorious enough to ascend to deity realm. How much more so now, when the offering will truly be made?” [15:21]
【广海明月 讲次: 0403】
讲次 | 0403 (2022-02-14 ~ 2022-02-16)
标题 | 贫生童子供佛记（二）
(更新日期: 2022年2月17日)
00:00
贫生童子渐渐长大了，也找了老师学习。有一天，他跟着同学们去到竹林精舍，就看到寺门的屋檐下画着五趣生死之轮，于是就请问一旁的比丘说：“圣者！这是什么东西呀？”比丘回答说：“这是五趣生死之轮啊！”贫生又禀告说：“圣者！可以为我解说吗？请为我解说吧！”比丘说：“那你要好好地听呀！”于是就为他介绍了地狱、畜生、饿鬼、人、天等五趣的差别。00:43
贫生又问：“圣者啊！这些地狱道的有情，是曾经造了什么业，要承受这种被砍、被劈、被撕碎身体等等的这种痛苦啊？”比丘回答：“贤首啊！这是因为他们用强烈的心，经常不断地造十恶业道，由于这个业力，才要受这些痛苦啊！”01:13
贫生又问：“圣者啊！那这畜生道，是曾经造了什么业，要承受背负着重物、弱肉强食等等这样的痛苦呢？”比丘又回答道：“贤首啊！这是因为他们用轻微的心，经常不断地造十恶业道，由于这个业力，现在就要受这些痛苦啊！”01:40
贫生又问：“这饿鬼道，是曾经造了什么业，要承受这种饥渴、燃烧等等的痛苦呢？”比丘回答：“贤首啊！这是因为他们经常吝啬、不肯布施自己的财物；看到别人要布施，便去阻止；对于三宝、父母、亲族，没有布施之心，由于这个业力，现在要受这些痛苦啊！”02:14
贫生又问：“这个天道，是曾经造了什么业，能够享受胜妙的快乐呢？”比丘回答：“贤首啊！这是因为他们是以诚恳之心，修行十善业道，敬仰信奉三宝，受持禁戒，由于这个业力可以生天，享受胜妙的快乐。”02:41
贫生又问：“圣者！这个人道，是曾经造了什么业，能够享受中等的快乐，也还要承受为了活命而奔忙等等的痛苦呢？”比丘回答：“贤首啊！这是因为他们是以轻微的心，经常修习十善业道，由于这个业力，现在得到了人身，享受中等的快乐，也还要承受为了活命而奔忙等等的痛苦啊！”03:20
贫生童子禀告比丘：“圣者！我不想下三恶道，我很向往能生到人天当中。圣者，我要造什么业，才能生到那天道中呢？”比丘回答：“如果你能在佛陀所教诲的善说法律之中出家，并且在今生精进修行、断除烦恼，那就终结了痛苦；如果没有证果，还有烦恼留下，死后就会生到天上呀！”03:56
贫生说：“圣者！那如果出家，要做什么事情呢？”比丘回答：“一直到命终，都不能亏损梵行。”04:07
贫生说：“啊！那我做不到啊！那还有什么业可以投生天上吗？”比丘说：“假如受八戒和五戒，成为居士，那也是可以的。”贫生问：“这要做什么事情呢？”比丘答：“要在一昼夜，或者这一辈子，都不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不妄语等等。”04:33
贫生说：“哇！这个恐怕我也做不到，那还有造什么业是可以生天的呢？”比丘回答：“如果用饮食供养佛陀和僧众，由于这个福德的因缘，就会往生天上。”贫生说：“圣者！这个可行！要用多少钱才能办得起饮食，供养佛陀和僧众呢？”比丘回答：“可以用五百金钱。”贫生说：“这事我办得到！”贫生于是就起身礼拜比丘的双足，告辞而去。05:19
看起来他是很高兴的，就跑回家去了。他回家去做什么了呢？贫生回到家中对母亲说：“我刚刚去了竹林精舍，看到寺门下面画着彩色的五趣生死之轮，也就是地狱、畜生、饿鬼，以及人、天。我不想下三恶道，很想生到两种善趣。妈妈，您想生到人、天吗？”母亲说：“想！”贫生说道：“既然是这样，请给我五百金钱，用来供养佛陀和僧众，就可以生天了！”06:14
母亲说：“你从小就失去父亲，我独自养育着你，有时靠我自食其力，有时依靠亲族。今天你才刚成人，找老师学习，自己的学费都不够了，怎么可能突然会有五百金钱啊？”贫生童子禀告说：“如果我们很穷没钱的话，我可以当佣工用劳力赚钱啊！”母亲说：“你现在年纪轻、力气小，怎么能给人当佣工赚钱呢？”贫生回答：“我会努力，是有希望赶上别人的！”母亲看他如此殷勤，只好由他去了。07:22
于是贫生童子就到了市集──在大藏经里说市集就是市店所，相当于我们现在的人力市场吧──他到那里做什么呢？他寻求自己被聘为佣工的机会。当时虽然有婆罗门、居士来找工人，但是都没有人来问他。他就等呀、看啊，等呀、看啊，一直到了晚上，他还是一个人站在那里，人们都渐渐地走光了，他也只好静静地走回家去了。08:14
母亲问说：“白天你到了做工的地方了吗？”贫生回答说：“都没有人来问我……”母亲说：“哪有工人像你穿戴这么整齐呀！工人都是要破衣烂衫、蓬头垢面的，这样在人力集市上人家才会来问你吧！”08:41
第二天早晨，贫生童子就按照母亲所说，穿着粗糙的衣服去了集市上。当天有长者要盖房子，来到集市上寻找工人，结果他带走了别人，就是不问贫生。贫生等啊、等啊，终于按捺不住就去问他说：“我也是佣工啊，为什么您不雇用我呢？”长者说：“哎呀！看你容貌柔软，怎么能够干活呢？”贫生回答说：“您会先付工资给佣工吗？”长者说：“我都是到傍晚才给酬劳的。”贫生说：“那我可以先替您做，等到傍晚如果效率还算称职，您再酬付等值的工资；如果您不满意，就不用付钱了。这样可以吗？”长者听了，于是就把他带回去，让他工作了。10:01
在工作的地方其他工人并不用心，只有这位贫生尽力工作。工人们便对他说：“看你这样子，真是不懂得佣工的行情啊！能过日子就好了，你何必让自己那么辛苦呢？”贫生回应道：“各位兄长！你们知道吗？我就是由于恶业，生在贫困之家，假如这辈子又欺骗别人，之后会投生到哪里呀？”工人们说：“你现在还不懂，所以才会这么勤劳，不用多久，你就会比我们还懒了！”10:48
由于贫生童子非常健谈，跟工人们聊得很投机，大家都很喜欢跟他说话，也喜欢听他说话。贫生童子就一边工作、一边讲，一边工作、一边讲，大家为了听他说也闲不下来。就这样啊，贫生童子带着大家做了一整天，那天的工作量比其他时候足足多了两倍喔！11:26
到了傍晚，长者亲自前来检查，看到工作进度比平常倍增，便问工头说：“你今天有多找其他工人吗？”工头回话说：“没有多找呀！”长者说：“那为什么进度是之前的两倍呢？”工头就把实情都告诉了长者，长者听了非常高兴，就付给贫生童子两倍的工资。贫生童子很惊讶，就问说：“难道您是一并付给我两天的工资吗？”长者说：“啊！我觉得亏待你了，所以给你加倍的酬劳。”贫生说：“如果您满意的话，希望您能持续让我工作，直到房子完工，而且也暂时不用发工资给我，到完工的时候再一次付清就可以了。”长者说：“好啊！”于是就继续让他在那里工作了。12:35
这样就慢慢到了房子完工，长者开始算钱，准备酬付他的薪水了。结果，贫生童子只能得到四百五十金钱，没有能够满足他的期待。大家还记得他应该要多少钱吗？应该是五百金钱啊！童子看到手里的钱就哭了，长者问：“你为什么要哭呢？难道我欺负你了吗？”贫生回答说：“长者！您是大丈夫，不可能欺负我。但是我原本是想筹足五百金钱的，准备供养佛陀和僧众，钱既然不够，就得再做苦工，所以我才哭泣啊！”13:33
长者说：“如果你是为了积福的事情，我愿意帮助你完成！”贫生说：“长者，您帮忙把钱补足，自己是完成了一桩好事，可是这会妨碍我的心愿，使我不能生天啊！”长者说：“你是怀着信心去供养佛陀和僧众的吗？”贫生说：“是的！”长者说：“那么你可以去请问世尊，佛陀怎么说你就照着做吧！”14:13
于是贫生童子马上跑到佛前，礼拜佛陀的双足，坐在一旁，禀告佛陀：“世尊！我为了供养佛陀和僧众，想要五百金钱，自愿受雇于人，所以长期在某位长者家里工作。到了完工的时候，我还没有赚满五百金钱，长者看我还不够，就想要帮我补足，我是该拿补足的钱？还是不该拿呢？”14:51
佛陀说：“孩子！可以拿的。”贫生童子禀告佛陀：“世尊啊！靠别人出资帮忙，我怕无法生天。”佛陀说：“孩子啊！以你当初所发的善心就足以生天了，何况真的去做布施，怎么会不生天哪？”15:21