时间：01/18/2025 01/19/2025
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
舍利弗对昔日老友的关怀
有一年夏天雨季，佛陀在摩揭陀国首都王舍城北郊的迦兰陀竹园安居，而尊者舍利弗则在憍萨罗国首都舍卫城南郊的祇树给孤独园安居。
三个月的安居期结束了，有一位比丘从迦兰陀竹园来祇树给孤独园。
尊者舍利弗知道这位比丘从迦兰陀竹园来，就向他打听佛陀与僧众们的情况，得知大家一切安好。接着，又向他打听一位住在王舍城的昔日好友，名叫「陀然」的在家婆罗门，得知这位老友一方面仗着国王的权势，欺压民众，一方面又仗着群众的力量，要挟国王，欺上瞒下，为非作歹。
于是，尊者舍利弗为了规劝这位昔日老友，就动身前往王舍城。
陀然婆罗门在家里看到尊者舍利弗从远地来访，十分高兴，赶紧为他准备美食。
然而，尊者舍利弗拒绝了陀然婆罗门的食物，直接质问他是否欺压民众，要挟国王。
陀然婆罗门辩解道：
「舍利弗！你也知道我是个在家人，有事业要照顾，有父母要供养，有妻儿要养育，有奴婢要照料，有租税要缴纳，还要祭祀诸天、祭拜祖先、布施出家人，以为下一辈子的福分打算。舍利弗！这一切都不能少啊。」
「陀然！我问你：假如有人为了孝顺父母而作恶，因为这样的缘故，来生下了地狱，能因为孝顺父母的理由，而免受地狱之苦吗？」
「不能，舍利弗！」
「同样地，假如是为了妻儿、奴婢、国王、诸天、祖先、出家人而作恶，因此而下了地狱，能以这些理由而免除地狱之苦吗？」
「不能，舍利弗！」
「陀然！在家人应当合法、合道德地求取钱财，不要为恶求财，这样才能赢得家人与奴仆的敬重、出家人的好感。有家人与奴仆的敬重、出家人的好感，则更能使自己的德行增长不退。」
经过了尊者舍利弗这番开导，陀然婆罗门终于坦承，他是为了一位名叫「端正」的情妇，才会欺上瞒下地为恶敛财。于是，陀然婆罗门下定决心，从今以后舍离情妇，改邪归正，并要归依尊者舍利弗。
尊者舍利弗则要陀然归依佛陀，并且为他说法。
几天后，尊者舍利弗就离开王舍城，到一个叫「南山」的地方去了。
后来，陀然居士患了重病，生命垂危。
尊者舍利弗得知了这个消息，又从外地赶回王舍城，来探望这位昔日老友。
陀然居士躺在床上，看见尊者舍利弗来了，想撑起身子来迎接，但被尊者舍利弗制止了。
询问过病情后，尊者舍利弗对陀然居士开导道：
「陀然！地狱与畜生，哪一道比较好？」
「畜生比较好。」
「畜生与饿鬼，哪一道比较好？」
「饿鬼比较好。」
「饿鬼与人，哪一道比较好？」
「人比较好。」
「人与四王天，哪一道比较好？」
「四王天比较好。」
「四王天与三十三天，哪一道比较好？」
「三十三天比较好。」
「三十三天与焰摩天，哪一道比较好？」
「焰摩天比较好。」
「焰摩天与兜率天，哪一道比较好？」
「兜率天比较好。」
「兜率天与化乐天，哪一道比较好？」
「化乐天比较好。」
「化乐天与他化乐天，哪一道比较好？」
「他化乐天比较好。」
「他化乐天与梵天，哪一道比较好？」
「梵天最好。」
这时，尊者舍利弗心想，在婆罗门的信仰中，普遍都向往梵天界，我不如就为他说往生梵天的修行方法。
于是，尊者舍利弗说：
「陀然！有知有见的正觉者世尊，曾经说过『四梵住』的修行方法，只要修习、多修习，命终之后，就能往生梵天界。
陀然！多闻圣弟子让自己的心沉浸于慈、悲、喜、舍之中，并且将之由近而远地无限扩充，直到遍及于一切，这就是修往生梵天界的方法。」
尊者舍利弗说完法后，就离开王舍城，到迦兰陀竹园去见佛陀。
陀然居士照着「四梵住」的方法修，就在尊者舍利弗到达迦兰陀竹园前，舍离了欲贪，往生于梵天之中。
尊者舍利弗拜见了佛陀，将老友陀然居士的事禀告了。
佛陀说：
「舍利弗！你为什么不继续教导陀然比梵天更究竟的法就离开了呢？如果教他更究竟的，陀然应当也能成就的。」
「世尊！因为我想婆罗门们都喜欢梵天，以梵天为尊贵，以往生梵天为究竟，所以，世尊！我才这样做。」
「但是，舍利弗！陀然已经去世了，往生于梵天之中。」
Date: 01/18/2025 01/19/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Sariputra’s Care for an Old Friend
One summer, during the rainy season, the Buddha stayed in the bamboo grove of Kalanda, located in the northern outskirts of Rajagriha, the capital of the Magadha Kingdom, while Venerable Sariputra resided in the Jeta Grove in the southern outskirts of Shravasti, the capital of the Kosala Kingdom.
When the three-month retreat period came to an end, a monk came from the Kalanda Bamboo Grove to the Jeta Grove.
Venerable Sariputra, upon learning that this monk had come from Kalanda Bamboo Grove, inquired about the Buddha and the monks, and learned that everyone was doing well. He then asked about an old friend of his who lived in Rajagriha, a lay Brahmin named “Tuo Ran.” He learned that this old friend, taking advantage of the king’s power, was oppressing the people, and also using the power of the masses to threaten the king, deceiving both the king and the people, and committing evil deeds.
Therefore, Venerable Sariputra decided to visit Rajagriha to admonish his old friend.
When the Brahmin Tuo Ran saw that Venerable Sariputra had come from afar, he was very happy and quickly prepared food for him.
However, Venerable Sariputra refused the food and directly asked him whether he was oppressing the people and threatening the king.
Brahmin Tuo Ran explained:
”Sariputra! You know that I am a householder, with business to care for, parents to support, a wife and children to raise, servants to attend to, taxes to pay, and offerings to the gods and ancestors, as well as giving to monks, all for the blessings in the next life. Sariputra! All of this cannot be omitted.”
”Sariputra! I ask you: If someone commits evil in the name of filial piety, and as a result, is born in hell, can they escape the suffering of hell because of their filial piety?”
”No, Sariputra!”
”Likewise, if someone commits evil for their wife, children, servants, king, gods, ancestors, or monks, and as a result, goes to hell, can they escape the suffering of hell because of these reasons?”
”No, Sariputra!”
”Tuo Ran! Laypeople should lawfully and morally earn money, not seek it through evil means. Only in this way can they gain the respect of their family and servants and the goodwill of monks. The respect of family and servants, and the goodwill of monks, will further help to increase one’s virtue and prevent it from regressing.”
After Venerable Sariputra’s guidance, Brahmin Tuo Ran finally admitted that it was for a mistress named “Duan Zheng” that he had been deceiving and committing evil to amass wealth. He then made the resolution to abandon the mistress, change his ways, and take refuge in Venerable Sariputra.
Venerable Sariputra instructed him to take refuge in the Buddha and also to practice the teachings.
A few days later, Venerable Sariputra left Rajagriha and went to a place called “South Mountain.”
Later, Brahmin Tuo Ran fell seriously ill and was near death.
When Venerable Sariputra heard the news, he hurriedly returned to Rajagriha to visit his old friend.
Brahmin Tuo Ran, lying in bed, saw that Venerable Sariputra had arrived and tried to sit up to greet him, but Venerable Sariputra stopped him.
After inquiring about his condition, Venerable Sariputra advised Brahmin Tuo Ran:
”Tuo Ran! Which is better, hell or the realm of animals?”
”The realm of animals is better.”
”Which is better, the realm of animals or the hungry ghost realm?”
”The hungry ghost realm is better.”
”Which is better, the hungry ghost realm or the human realm?”
”The human realm is better.”
”Which is better, the human realm or the Four Heavenly Kings’ realm?”
”The Four Heavenly Kings’ realm is better.”
”Which is better, the Four Heavenly Kings’ realm or the Thirty-three Heavenly realm?”
”The Thirty-three Heavenly realm is better.”
”Which is better, the Thirty-three Heavenly realm or the realm of Yama?”
”The realm of Yama is better.”
”Which is better, the realm of Yama or the realm of Tushita?”
”The realm of Tushita is better.”
”Which is better, the realm of Tushita or the realm of the Blissful?”
”The Blissful realm is better.”
”Which is better, the Blissful realm or the realm of the other Blissful?”
”The other Blissful realm is better.”
”Which is better, the other Blissful realm or the Brahma realm?”
”The Brahma realm is the best.”
At this point, Venerable Sariputra thought to himself, “In the Brahmin faith, most people aspire to the Brahma realm. It would be better for me to teach him the method for rebirth in the Brahma realm.”
Then Venerable Sariputra said:
”Tuo Ran! The Buddha, the fully awakened one, has taught the method of the ‘Four Divine Abidings.’ By practicing and continuously practicing, one can be reborn in the Brahma realm after death.
Tuo Ran! A disciple who has heard much of the Dharma, by immersing their heart in loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and by extending these qualities infinitely from near to far, until they encompass all, will achieve rebirth in the Brahma realm.”
After Venerable Sariputra finished his teaching, he left Rajagriha and went to the Kalanda Bamboo Grove to meet the Buddha.
Brahmin Tuo Ran, following the method of the ‘Four Divine Abidings,’ practiced and, before Venerable Sariputra reached the Kalanda Bamboo Grove, had abandoned his desires and was reborn in the Brahma realm.
Venerable Sariputra, upon meeting the Buddha, reported the matter of his old friend, Brahmin Tuo Ran.
The Buddha said:
”Sariputra! Why did you not continue to teach Tuo Ran the more ultimate Dharma and then leave? If you had taught him the more ultimate Dharma, Tuo Ran should have been able to attain it.”
”World-Honored One! I thought that the Brahmins all highly esteem the Brahma realm, consider it noble, and regard rebirth in the Brahma realm as the ultimate. Therefore, World-Honored One, I did this.”
”But Sariputra! Tuo Ran has already passed away and has been reborn in the Brahma realm.”
