时间：06/14/2025 06/15/2025
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
善于领导统御的手长者
有一次，佛陀游化到阿罗鞞伽罗国，住在阿迦罗瓦寺。
当地有一位富豪仕绅，名字叫「手」，大家都称他手长者。这天，有五百位仕绅跟着手长者来礼见佛陀。大家向佛陀问讯顶礼后，顺序坐定。
佛陀对手长者说：
「手长者！跟随你的人真多啊！你是怎么摄服他们的？」
「世尊！我是依您所教导的四摄法做到的。
世尊！如果这个人喜欢人家布施，我就以布施来摄服他，
如果这个人喜欢听好话，我就以美言来摄服他，
如果这个人重于利益，我就和他分享利益来摄服他，
如果这个人重于同事之乐，我就透过和他共事来摄服他。
世尊！因为这样，所以虽然我比人家富有，但大家跟我关系密切，没有人希望我变穷。」
「太好了，手长者！这真的是摄服大众的要领。任何过去、未来能够摄服大众的领导者，都是运用了这四摄法，现在的领导者也一样。」
经过这段开场白后，佛陀开始为大家说法，并且劝导、鼓励大家修学向道。之后，手长者带领大众，再次地礼敬佛陀后离去。
手长者离开后不久，佛陀向比丘们赞叹手长者，说手长者有七种难得的长处，也就是成就了信、戒、惭、愧、多闻、舍、慧。
此后的某一天，有一位比丘到手长者家乞食，就将那天所听到佛陀对他的赞叹，一五一十地告诉了手长者。结果，手长者却赶紧问这位比丘：
「尊者！佛陀这样说时，有没有其他在家人在场？」
「道友！那时并没有在家人在场。」
「尊者！那就好。」
「道友！如果有在家人在场，又有什么关系？」
「尊者！如果有在家人在场，万一对世尊的赞叹不服气，那他心中一定会起反感而受苦。反之，一定会对我更加恭敬顺从。不论哪一种情形，我都不乐意见到，所以我会这样关切。尊者！但愿您今天能留下来，接受我的饮食供养吧！」
这位比丘接受长者的饮食供养后，依例为长者说法，并且劝导、鼓励长者修学向道，然后才回去。
回去后，这位比丘向佛陀报告整个经过，佛陀听了后赞叹道：
「太好了！比丘！那位善男子少欲，自己有优点却不希望别人知道。就这一点，我要赞叹手长者有第八种难得的长处，那就是少欲。」
Date: 06/14/2025 06/15/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Householder Hasta, Skilled in Leadership and Harmonization
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was traveling through the country of Aroviṅgala and stayed at the monastery of Ākālava.
Now at that time, there was a wealthy nobleman in that land named Hasta—meaning “Hand”—who was widely known as the Householder Hasta. One day, accompanied by five hundred fellow noblemen, he came to visit the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One, bowed at his feet, and sat respectfully to one side.
The Blessed One then addressed the householder:
”Householder Hasta, how great is the multitude that follows you! By what means do you gather and harmonize them?”
The householder replied:
”World-Honored One, I do so by practicing the Four Means of Unification (saṅgahavatthu) as taught by the Blessed One.
When a person inclines toward generosity, I win them over through giving.
When one is drawn to kind speech, I win them over with kind and truthful words.
When one esteems mutual benefit, I share with them in both material and virtuous gain.
When one delights in cooperative action, I join in their endeavors.
World-Honored One, it is through these means that, though I am wealthier than many, I maintain closeness and harmony with them. None harbor ill will toward me, nor do they wish for my downfall.”
The Blessed One said:
”Excellent, Householder! Truly excellent. These are indeed the essential methods for winning the hearts of the people.
In the past, future, or present, all those who succeed in unifying and leading others employ these very Four Means of Unification.”
After these words of praise, the Blessed One expounded the Dharma for the gathered assembly—guiding, inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging them toward the path of liberation. When the discourse was concluded, Householder Hasta led his companions to respectfully take leave of the Blessed One.
Not long after his departure, the Blessed One praised the householder in the presence of the monks:
”Monks, the Householder Hasta possesses seven rare qualities:
He has perfected faith (śraddhā),
discipline (śīla),
a sense of shame (hrī),
a sense of moral fear (apatrāpya),
wide learning (bahuśruta),
generosity (tyāga),
and wisdom (prajñā).”
Later, on another day, a monk came to the home of Householder Hasta on alms round. While receiving food, the monk recounted the Blessed One’s previous words of praise in their entirety.
Hearing this, the householder anxiously inquired:
”Venerable Sir, when the Blessed One spoke these words, were there any laypeople present?”
The monk replied:
”Good friend, at that time there were no laypeople present.”
The householder then said:
”That is good, Venerable One.”
The monk, puzzled, asked:
”Good friend, what difference would it make if there were laypeople present?”
The householder replied:
”Venerable Sir, if laypeople had been present and harbored doubt or jealousy toward the Blessed One’s words, they would have felt discomfort in their hearts.
If, on the other hand, they had accepted the praise, they might become overly reverent or submissive toward me.
In either case, it would not be something I find pleasing. That is why I asked.
Venerable Sir, please honor me by staying today and accepting my humble offering of food.”
The monk accepted the meal, and in accordance with custom, delivered a Dharma talk to the householder—encouraging and guiding him along the path of virtue—and then returned to the monastery.
Upon his return, the monk reported the encounter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, upon hearing it, gave his praise:
”Excellent, monk! That noble lay disciple is content with little, and though he possesses virtues, he does not wish them to be known.
For this reason, I now declare that Householder Hasta possesses an **eighth rare quality**—namely, contentment with few desires (alpecchatā).”
