时间：03/28/2026 03/29/2026
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
二十亿耳的苦行
佛陀在世的时候，经常外出游历，随缘度众生。有一次，他游历到占波国境内，选择一个叫雷声池的大湖岸边暂时住下来。
占波国的民风淳朴，风景优美，尤其雷声池湖边的风景更加秀丽迷人。每年夏季多雨时节，这里常常有很响亮的雷鸣声，久久在湖面上回荡，因此而得名。
由于占波国风景优美，尤其是依山傍水的雷声池那里又很幽静，所以吸引了许多修行者到这里修行，苦修者二十亿耳就是其中之一。
二十亿耳在雷声池湖畔找了一个幽静的地方，一个人独自在那里修行。他奉行的是以苦行获得解脱的修行方式，所以常常不分昼夜地赤着双脚在山林中快速行走，就算脚掌被利石划破、被荆棘刺穿，也不停下休息。
尽管二十亿耳这么勤苦地修行，但是他身体中存在的欲望并没有消除，心中的痛苦仍没有得到解脱，所以二十亿耳更加苦恼了。
有一天，二十亿耳心想：「像我这样吃苦修行，从不因痛苦而退缩的人，在这个世界上恐怕找不到第二个了。可是到现在我心中还有欲望没有被清除，心中的痛苦也没有得到解脱，这是为什么呢？对了，我家广有产业，积有不少财富，我应该回去把财物都布施给他人，这样对我的修行应该大有益处。」于是二十亿耳决定回家把财产全部施舍出去。
二十亿耳的家距离雷声池不远，他很快就回到家中，不顾家人的劝阻，大量向别人及僧侣施舍财物。他什么也不想，只盼着施舍完财产能尽快修得正道。
佛陀知道了二十亿耳广施财物的事，并且明白二十亿耳心中所想的一切。佛陀觉得应该点化这位认真的苦行僧，于是动身到二十亿耳的家中。
等到二十亿耳发放完食物后，佛陀来到他面前，对他说：
「二十亿耳，我听说你未出家时，弹得一手好琴，是吗？」
「是的，我从前很会弹琴。」
二十亿耳知道眼前这位慈眉善目的人就是人们传诵的佛陀，虽然他选择的修行方式与佛陀倡导的不一样，但二十亿耳还是对佛陀很尊敬。
佛陀又问：「假如你的手指不停地拨动琴弦，使琴弦发出急促的声响，这样的琴声好不好听？」
二十亿耳回答：「这样弹奏的琴手不是好琴手，弹出的音乐也不会好听。」
「那么，如果你的手指一直很慢地拨动琴弦，这样的琴声好不好听呢？」
「这样弹奏的琴手也不是好琴手，而且弹出的音乐也是不好听的。」
佛陀接着问：「如果一个琴手按照音乐的节拍旋律，有快有慢，有板有眼地弹奏，弹出的音乐将会怎样？」
二十亿耳认真回答：「这样的琴手才是好琴手，弹出的乐声是很动听的。」
二十亿耳隐约感受到佛陀想教他些什么，所以屏住呼吸，全神贯注地等待佛陀开口。
果然，佛陀慢慢开了口，对二十亿耳说：
「一个人在修行时，为了更快得到正果，急功近利，是不能够摆脱痛苦欲念，求得正果的；如果一个人对修行十分懈怠，从不努力去做，同样也是得不到正果。只有处于两者之中，既不急躁也不懈怠，中道的修行，才是真正的修行，持续努力一定会得到解脱。」
二十亿耳听了佛陀的话，大受启发。他又重新回到雷声池湖畔，认真按照佛陀提示的方法修行，最后终于修成了阿罗汉。
Date: 03/28/2026 03/29/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Austerities of Two Hundred Million Ears
While the Buddha abided in the world, he frequently journeyed abroad, teaching and liberating beings according to conditions. On one occasion he traveled to the land of Campā and chose to dwell for a time beside a great lake called the Thunder-Sound Pool.
The customs of Campā were simple and sincere, and its scenery exceedingly beautiful. Most wondrous of all was the landscape surrounding the Thunder-Sound Pool. Each year during the rainy season, resounding peals of thunder echoed across the waters and lingered long above the lake; thus it came to bear that name.
Because the land was pleasing and the lakeside both secluded and serene, many ascetics gathered there to cultivate. Among them was an austere practitioner known as Two Hundred Million Ears.
At the shore of the Thunder-Sound Pool he found a solitary place and dwelt alone in practice. Holding to the path of extreme austerity as the means to liberation, he walked swiftly day and night barefoot through the forests and mountains. Even when sharp stones cut his soles and thorns pierced his flesh, he did not pause to rest.
Though Two Hundred Million Ears cultivated with such hardship and diligence, the desires within his body were not extinguished, nor was the suffering in his heart brought to cessation. Thus he became ever more troubled.
One day he reflected within himself:“Among those who endure hardship in cultivation, who does not shrink from pain as I do, surely there is none equal to me in this world. Yet still desire remains in my heart, and suffering has not ceased. Why is this so? My family possesses vast estates and has accumulated much wealth. If I return and give all of it away in almsgiving, surely this will greatly aid my practice.”
Having formed this resolve, he returned home, which was not far from the Thunder-Sound Pool. Ignoring the pleas of his family, he distributed large portions of his wealth to others and to the monastic community. He thought of nothing else but hoped that through generosity he might swiftly attain the right fruit.
The Buddha, knowing of his extensive giving and understanding fully the thoughts within his heart, perceived that this earnest ascetic required guidance. Therefore he went to the house of Two Hundred Million Ears.
When the alms had been distributed, the Buddha approached him and said:
“Two Hundred Million Ears, it is said that before you left home you were skilled in playing the lute. Is this true?”
He replied,
“It is so. Formerly I was adept in the art of the lute.”
Recognizing the compassionate and serene one before him as the Buddha renowned throughout the land, though his own method differed from that taught by the Tathāgata, he nonetheless showed great reverence.
The Buddha asked further:
“If one were to pluck the strings continually with great force, producing harsh and hurried sounds, would such music be pleasing?”
He answered,
“That musician would not be skilled, and the sound produced would not be pleasing.”
The Buddha asked again:
“If one were to pluck the strings always too softly and too slowly, would such music be pleasing?”
He replied,
“That musician also would not be skilled, and the sound would not be pleasing.”
The Buddha then said:
“If a musician accords with measure and melody, now swift, now slow, keeping proper rhythm and harmony, how would the sound be?”
Two Hundred Million Ears answered earnestly,
“That musician would indeed be skilled, and the music most delightful.”
Sensing faintly that the Buddha intended to teach him a deeper principle, he composed himself, attentive and silent, awaiting further instruction.
Then the Blessed One spoke gently:
“When a person cultivates the path and, eager for swift attainment, strains with urgency and seeks quick gain, he cannot thereby abandon suffering and desire, nor attain the right fruit. Likewise, one who is lax and indolent, making no effort, will not attain the fruit. Only one who abides between these two — neither impatient nor negligent — practicing the Middle Way, truly cultivates. By steady and balanced effort, liberation is attained.”
Upon hearing the Buddha’s words, Two Hundred Million Ears was greatly awakened in understanding. He returned once more to the shore of the Thunder-Sound Pool and practiced in accordance with the Blessed One’s teaching. In time, he realized the fruit of Arhatship.
