Great Ocean of Lamrim
Lecture No. 0405
Date: 2022-02-21 ~ 2022-02-23
Topic: The Tale of the Impoverished Boy's Offering to the Buddha (IV)
At that time, “Elder Sujāta” reflected inwardly: “The blessings my household now enjoys are entirely due to the majestic power of the World-Honored One. I must invite the Buddha and the Sangha to my home and make a heartfelt offering.” With this resolve, Sujāta went before the Buddha, bowed reverently at his feet, and sat respectfully to one side. The Buddha then expounded the Dharma, and Sujāta listened with deep devotion. When the teaching had concluded, Sujāta rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, knelt with palms joined, and humbly offered his request: “O Bhagavān, out of your boundless compassion, may you and the bhikkhus grace my home tomorrow and accept this humble offering.” The Buddha, in silent assent, accepted. [00:53]
When Elder Sujāta saw that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, he bowed reverently at the Blessed One’s feet and quietly withdrew. That evening, he carefully prepared an array of exquisite food and drink, attending to every detail with mindfulness, just as had been done before. With his own hands, Sujāta served the Buddha and the noble Sangha. When the assembly had finished their meal and set aside their bowls, he took a humble seat before the Buddha, eager to receive the Dharma. Perceiving the elder’s sincere aspiration and his readiness to receive the truth, the Buddha taught him in a manner suited to his propensity condition. As the wisdom of the Dharma flowed into his heart, Sujāta’s mind was illumined. Then, seated beside his wife, the elder awakened profound insight. With 20 types of mountain-like wrong views of theirs were destroyed by the wisdom vajra, and they achieved the effect state of stream-enterer! [01:50]
Having realized the Truth, they turned to the Buddha and declared: “O Bhagavān, it is through you alone that we have attained the effect of liberation, not through our parents or ancestors, nor through kings, devas, ascetics, brahmins, or kin. By relying upon you, the great excellent teacher, we have been delivered from the realms of hell-beings, animals, and hungry ghosts, and firmly established on the blessed paths of humans and deities. The torrent of suffering has ceased; we now taste the joy of nirvāṇa. The ocean of blood and tears has dried up; the mountain of withered bones has been left behind. The wrong views accumulated since beginningless time is utterly destroyed, we have attained the first fruit of the path: stream-entry. Now, we take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha. May the World-Honored One recognize us as upāsakas and upāsikās, devoted lay disciples. From this day until the end of our lives, we vow to uphold the five precepts: to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicating substances.” With these words, they bowed in unison at the feet of the Blessed One, their hearts filled with joy as they rejoiced in his [liberating] teachings. [03:10
The World-Honored One expounded the Dharma to the couple, guiding them to receive, understand, and uphold the teachings. With words of encouragement, allowing them to be joyful in their attainment of the supreme effect. Then, the Blessed One rose from his seat and quietly departed. When the Buddha returned to the abode, the bhikkhus, perplexed and curious, approached the World Honored one and asked: “Venerable One, by what past actions was Elder Sujāta born into the condition of a laborer? And through what merit did he later come to possess such abundance of treasures spontaneously appearing in his home?” [03:52]
The Buddha addressed the bhikkhus: “The past deeds of Sujāta have now borne fruit as the conditions have come together, for no karmic action is ever truly lost. The results of beings’ wholesome or unwholesome actions from former lives do not ripen in the external elements, earth, water, fire, or wind, but within their own aggregates, sense-spheres, and elements.” Then the Blessed One recited this verse: "Even in one hundred eons, karma does not perish. When the circumstances and the time arrive, beings surely feel its effects.” [V.1 p.214] [04:41]
“O Bhikkhus, listen carefully to the causes behind this. In the distant past, in a certain village, there lived an elder of great wealth and luxury. The land in which he resided was one of remarkable beauty: in the month of spring, blossoms burst forth in every direction; verdant forests and crystal-clear ponds brought delight to all who beheld them. Birds of radiant plumage, such as śārikā, parrots, and golden orioles etc., filled the air with harmonious song. When spring unfolded, the landscape was adorned with flowers of every hue. The dense groves and limpid waters gladdened every heart, while vibrant birds, śārikās, parrots, and golden orioles, sang melodies so pure and enchanting they seemed to echo the joy of heaven itself. [05:45]
One day, the elder gathered a group of men and women and led them into the forest for leisure and sightseeing. At that time, no Buddha had yet appeared in the world, only a pratyekabuddha wandered the earth. Moved by compassion for the destitute, this pratyekabuddha lived in simplicity, dwelling in modest shelters and sustaining himself on plain food. Like the solitary horn of a unicorn, he stood alone in the world [silent, serene, and abiding in deep seclusion]. [06:18]
Wishing to benefit living beings, the pratyekabuddha made his way toward the village. At dawn, robed and bearing his alms bowl, he set out on his daily round for food. As he walked, he reflected: “Why trouble myself by going from house to house through the village? Better to remain in the forest grove. If any attend the festival gathering, their offerings will be sufficient.” With this thought, he quietly turned and made his way to the garden woods. [07:03]
From a distance, the elder beheld the pratyekabuddha, his serene composure, tranquil mind, and noble bearing. At once, a deep sense of faith, reverence, and heartfelt aspiration arose within him. Drawing near, he bowed in full prostration at the pratyekabuddha’s feet and earnestly implored: “O Holy One, you seek sustenance, and I seek merit. I beg you, remain here in this grove and accept my humble offerings.” The pratyekabuddha remained silent, signaling his consent. From that day onward, the elder faithfully offered him alms each day [with unwavering devotion]. [07:42]
Sometime later, the elder was required to travel to a nearby village on business. Before departing, he gave his wife clear instructions: “Noble one, I must journey to such-and-such village. While I am away, continue offering alms to the Holy One without fail. Let there be no lapse.” Having firmly impressed this upon her, he took his leave. True to his words, the elder’s wife rose early each morning to prepare the offerings with great care and diligence. Observing her daily efforts, their son then asked: “Mother, why do you labor so tirelessly? For whom is this food?” She gently replied, “For a field of supreme merit!” Hearing this, the boy grew angry and exclaimed, “He eats food prepared by others, yet does no work of his own!” His mother immediately scolded him, “Speak no more! Do not commit such grievous verbal karma!” [08:37]
When the elder returned home, he asked his wife, “Were the Holy One’s alms ever neglected [in my absence]?” She replied, “The offerings were made without fail. However, our son has committed a grave act of verbal karma against the noble one.” She then recounted the boy’s disrespectful words. Hearing this, the elder was filled with dismay and thought, “Alas! This child, in his ignorance, has brought misfortune upon himself, he is destined to fall into the miserable realms”. At once, he took the boy to the pratyekabuddha’s dwelling. [09:14]
At this time, from a distance the pratyekabuddha saw the elder approaching with his son and thought to himself, “The elder has always come alone, why is he accompanied today?” Turning his mind inward, he immediately understood the cause. Moved by compassion and choosing to teach not through words but through miraculous display, he resolved to inspire transformation. Like a king of swans rising effortlessly into the sky, he ascended into the air and manifested eighteen extraordinary displays of supernatural power: Flames blazed from his upper body while cool streams of water flowed from below. His form expanded and contracted at will, radiant and serene, instilling awe and profound faith [in all who beheld him]. [10:04]
When ordinary beings behold miraculous displays, their hearts are swiftly overcome with awe and devotion. Like great trees felled at the root, they bow down from afar, taking refuge at the noble one’s feet and imploring: “O Compassionate One, have mercy upon us! We beg you, descend swiftly and accept these humble offerings, made with sincere and penitent hearts.” Moved by their heartfelt remorse, the noble one gently descended from the sky. The elder then reverently presented him with fresh, fragrant flowers of the season. Together with his son, he bowed at the noble one’s feet and made this solemn vow: “You, the supreme field of merit, were worthy of our highest reverence, yet in our ignorance, we slandered you, calling you a mere ‘hireling.’ May we never suffer the bitter consequences of such transgression. By the power of this sincere offering, may we be reborn into a family of wealth and virtue, and may we one day attain the same exalted state [as yourself]. In future lives, may we serve a master even greater than you, without ever growing weary, without ever turning away.” [11:19]
The Buddha concluded: “Bhikkhus, do not be surprised. That elder’s son of long ago is none other than Sujāta today. Because he once uttered the slanderous word ‘hireling’ toward a pratyekabuddha, he was to toil as a laborer for five hundred lifetimes. Only now has that the unwholesome karma been fully exhausted. Yet by the power of his sincere offerings, he was reborn into wealth. And through the vow he made to attain the noble one’s exalted state, he has now realized the Dharma in my presence. As for his aspiration to one day serve a master far greater than that solitary sage, without weariness or defiance, that too has borne fruit. For I surpass a hundred billion pratyekabuddhas, and when Sujāta offered to me, not a trace of hesitation or resistance stirred in his mind. [12:24]
Therefore, O Bhikkhus! Those who perform only nonvirtuous deeds will reap only nonvirtuous effects. Those who perform only virtuous deeds will reap only virtuous effects. Those who engage in mixed deeds will experience mixed results. Thus, Bhikkhus! Abandon both the nonvirtuous and the mixed. Devote yourselves to cultivating what is purely virtuous, that you may harvest the fruits of untainted virtuous effects. In this way, you should train.” [13:03]
【广海明月 讲次: 0405】
讲次 | 0405 (2022-02-21 ~ 2022-02-23)
标题 | 贫生童子供佛记（四）
更新日期: 2022年6月16日)
00:00
这个时候“善生长者”心想：“今天我家里所享受的果报，都是世尊的威神之力，我应该请佛陀和僧众来到家里接受我的供养。”于是善生长者就到佛前，礼拜佛陀的双足，坐在一旁。佛陀为善生长者说法，长者听完了法，便起身长跪，整理衣服，合掌而恭敬地禀告佛陀：“世尊！请求您慈悲，明天和比丘们莅临我家，接受微薄的供养吧！”世尊默然地接受了。00:53
善生长者看到佛陀接受了，就礼拜佛陀的双足，离席而去。当晚就准备了各种上好的饮食，详细的情形，就如同前面所讲过的那样。长者亲手捧着食物供养佛陀和僧众，当他看到圣众们收起了钵，为了要听法，就又拿着矮小的座位坐到了佛前。这时，佛陀了解长者的意乐、根性，随着他的条件为他说法，让这位长者的心得以开悟。长者夫妇二人就在座位上，用智慧的金刚杵摧破二十种萨迦耶见之山，证得了预流果！01:50
他们见到真谛之后，禀告佛陀：“世尊！我们因为佛陀证得了解脱之果，这不是父母、祖先、国王、天神、沙门、婆罗门、亲友眷属等等所能做到的。我们因为依靠大善知识世尊您，使我们被救出地狱道、畜生道、饿鬼道，安置在人间、天上这么美好的地方；终结了痛苦，可以得到涅槃的快乐；干涸了血泪之海，超越了枯骨之山；无始以来所积聚的萨迦耶见完全消灭，获得了初果。如今，我们皈依佛、法、僧宝，希望世尊为我们证明：我们是优婆塞、优婆夷，从今天起直到命终，接受五戒──不杀生，乃至不饮酒。”他们说完，就一起礼拜佛陀的双足，欢喜地奉行佛陀的教诲。03:10
世尊为这对夫妇宣说法要，令他们受持，并鼓励他们、让他们欢喜得到殊胜之果，世尊便离席而去。回到住处之后，比丘们都有疑问，便请问世尊：“这位善生长者曾经造了什么业，由于这个业力成为劳力工人？又造了什么业，他的家里边会自动地涌出那么多珍宝呢？”03:52
佛陀告诉比丘们：“今天这位善生，他先前所作的业当因缘和合就会成熟，果报是不会消失的。凡是有情前生所作的善恶之业，这些业的果报不会成熟在外界的地、水、火、风，而会成熟在自身的蕴、界、处。”佛陀就说了偈颂：“假令经百劫，所作业不亡，因缘会遇时，果报还自受。”04:41
“比丘们！这其中的因缘，你们应当听闻啊！在很久很久以前，某个村落当中有一位长者，拥有着极其丰厚的财富和享受。他们所处之地也非常地美妙：春阳之月众花遍开，茂林清池皆可爱乐，异色诸鸟发和雅音，所谓舍利、鹦鹉、百舌之类。到了春季的时节，就开满了各色的花朵，繁茂的森林、清澈的水池都让人们赏心悦目；色彩斑斓的鸟们，像舍利鸟啊、鹦鹉啊、百舌鸟，也发出非常悦耳、优雅而美妙的鸣叫声。05:45
有一天，长者带着许多男女的朋友到林中游玩、观赏。那个时候世上没有佛陀出世，只有独觉出世。这位独觉很同情贫苦人家，他自己住在下等的房子里边，过着粗茶淡饭的生活。他有如麟角一般，在世上独处。06:18
这位独觉为了利益众生在人间云游，云游到了这个村落。这天早晨，他就披着法衣、持着钵想去乞食，他边走就自己想道：‘我现在为什么要跟自己为难，满身辛苦地进入了村落，到处行乞呢？应该住在园子里，如果有人来参加节庆的聚会，以他们所布施的东西，我就够用了。’于是他就前往园林里面。07:03
长者远远地望见独觉那寂静调柔的身心和威仪，倍增信仰、敬重和渴望之心，便过去礼拜在独觉的脚下，禀告说：‘圣者！您需要寻求饮食，而我需要求福，那就请您住在这个园子里，接受我的供养。’独觉听后便默许了，所以长者就天天都去奉上饮食。07:42
这样过了一段时间，长者要到其他的村庄里边去办事，便告诉自己的妻子说：‘贤首！最近我需要去某村办事，请你照常供养圣者，不要有所欠缺。’很认真地交代完就离开了。于是长者的夫人也就每天非常认真地早起准备饮食，他儿子看到了，就问说：‘妈妈！您现在每天这么辛苦，到底是为谁呢？’母亲说：‘是为了殊胜福田啊！’儿子一听，就很愤怒地说：‘他不给别人帮佣，就吃别人的！’母亲立即呵斥：‘你不要造这么重的口业罪过！’08:37
等到长者后来回到了家中，便问妻子说：‘圣者的饮食没有欠缺吧？’妻子就报告说：‘所供养的饮食是没有欠缺的，但是我们这个小孩却对圣者造了口业的罪过。’于是就把儿子的话复述给长者听。长者就想：‘啊！小孩无知啊，害了自己，将来会堕落恶趣的呀！’于是就带着小孩前往尊者的住处。09:14
此时，这位独觉远远地看见长者和他儿子一起过来，就想：‘长者以往都是独自走来，为什么今天有人会陪着一同前来呢？’独觉进行了观察，立刻知道了事情的原委，决定不用口说，而是以身说法。独觉因为悲悯他们，就像鹅王一样飞上了空中，示现了十八种神通变化，上身喷发火焰，下身流淌清水，伸缩自如，令人生起深刻的信心。10:04
由于凡夫看见神通便会立刻倾心仰慕，他们就像大树连根倒下，远远地匍匐礼拜，皈依在尊者的脚下，说：‘尊者慈悲为怀，求您可怜我，快快地下来吧！接受我微薄诚心所献的些许供养。’这时，圣者怜悯他们，于是就飞了下来。长者就用当令的鲜花殷勤地供养，带着孩子，父子都礼拜在尊者的脚下，而发愿说：‘您这样的大福田，我应该好好供养的，却反而对您造罪，骂了“帮佣”的话，但愿未来不要承受痛苦的报应。希望能用所有虔诚供养的功德，来世生在富足的人家，并且得到这样殊胜的果位。我也要承事比这更超胜的大师，绝不厌烦、有所违背。’”11:19
佛陀讲到这里，说：“比丘们！不要觉得奇怪，当时的长者子，就是现在的善生长者，由于他对独觉发嗔动怒，说了‘帮佣’的话，结果五百辈子都要当佣人，如今帮佣的恶业才结束啊！又由于至诚供养的功德，所以生在了有钱的人家；而且他过去发愿得到这样殊胜的果位，所以今生在我座前，得以见到真谛。他又发愿要承事比这更加超胜的大师，绝不厌烦、绝不有所违背，我胜过独觉百千亿倍；而他供养我的时候，没有厌烦、没有违背之心。12:24
因此，比丘们！如果造纯黑业，会感得纯黑的异熟；如果造纯白业，会感得纯白的异熟；如果造黑白混杂之业，会感得混杂的异熟。比丘们！应该远离纯黑业和混杂之业，要修习纯白业，感得纯白的果报，应该这样修学啊！”13:03