时间：11/14/2026 11/15/2026
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：陈双双
佛法修行
黄金铺地建祇园
佛陀在竹林精舍教化一段时日后，皈依的信众逐渐增加，弟子日渐增多，发心供养的人也与日俱增。
一天，佛陀应邀到一位首罗长者家中应供，正好首罗长者的知友须达长者从舍卫城远道来访。须达长者是一位宅心仁厚的大富长者，平日喜欢济弱扶孤，因此赢得「给孤独」的雅号。
须达长者到王舍城访友，不意恭逢盛会。当他在寒林见到佛陀与众不同的庄严相好，又听闻佛陀宣说微妙法音后，当下感动莫名，欢喜踊跃，趋前顶礼佛陀，表达自己发心皈依的心愿，并且恳请佛陀到憍萨弥罗国舍卫城去说法。
「舍卫城在北方，我很早就想到北方去弘法，但是我的弟子人数很多，没有广阔的精舍不容易安住下来。」佛陀深思似的，又若无其事似的说着。
「佛陀！我的国家土地很广大，人情很淳厚，舍卫城离开佛陀的祖国迦毗罗卫国也不远，国主波斯匿王以仁爱治国，善护众生，他和佛陀的父王同样获得远近臣民的敬仰。我想就在舍卫城建立一所和竹林精舍一样的精舍，希望佛陀怜愍我国愚昧的众生，带领比丘们一同光临！」
佛陀知道须达长者发了殊胜的心，很欢喜的赞叹布施功德殊胜：「给孤独！你现在发心行大布施，不存贪欲的执着，不但可以做人间的模范，而且有这样的存心也才能与真理相合。你生平乐善好施，因为你知道无常的火燃烧着你财宝的仓库。储蓄钱财，决定不是持宝，把钱财用作救人利世，才是真正的储宝。布施虽是为人，实在也是为自己。做人不要过份的贪图金钱，要过合理的经济生活，那慈悲恭敬的心念才会自然涌起，嫉妒和我慢的邪执才会消除，这就是布施的力，这就是解脱的因。
你发心回国建立精舍，这不是金钱布施，这是法宝布施。有人布施的目的，是为希求五欲的快乐，或是为好的名闻，或是为免除自己的贫贱，而你是怀了能让众生得到法乐和解脱而布施精舍，你已经没有愚痴爱执的心，你很有远大的眼光，你就回国赶快动工吧，佛陀一定如你的愿望，等精舍完成时，就会前去。」
须达长者领受佛陀的教导，生大欢喜，即刻礼佛而退，准备即日返国。
一天，须达长者返抵憍萨弥罗国的舍卫城，在国中到处探访适合供养佛陀建立精舍的圣地，在他探访很多的地方之中，唯有国主波斯匿王的祇陀太子所拥有的一座园林，山明水秀，林茂花香，是一个最佳的地方。他知道这座园林是深为太子爱惜，大概是怎样请求他出卖也是没有办法，可是他不因为园林是太子的，没有办法就断念。他终于晋谒祇陀太子，向他提出要求道：「太子！我想你一定已经知道我们印度出了一位伟大的佛陀，他实在是人类的救主，是真理的明灯，为了要让我国人民能承受他的法益，永离生死苦恼，登上清净快乐的领域，我想迎请他前来我们的国家，我要建筑一座甘露的宝殿，以便给佛陀和他的弟子们安住。可是在我们的国中，我寻来访去，很难找到一个理想的地方。我唯有觉得太子的那座园林，是最适宜兴建精舍供养佛陀，为了我国人民的利益着想，希望太子能把这座园林卖给我，让佛光早日照到我们的国家来！」
憍萨弥罗国波斯匿王的祇陀太子，听了给孤独长者要买花园的一席话，对于佛陀的为人还未完全了解，感到很是为难，如果承认给孤独的请求，那有一个做太子的把心爱的花园卖给别人？如果不承认他，他是憍萨弥罗国一个有名的长者，岂不是要使他对自己生起反感？祇陀太子这么想了一会，终于决定随便说一个很大的数目，让他断念。因此，太子说道：「给孤独长者！你也知道我最心爱的就是这座，你现在说要请佛陀莅临我国说法，用金钱向我买园林兴建精舍，那除非你能用黄金布满我的园林，我才将这座园林过户给你。」
用黄金布地来购买园林，祇陀太子的话并不能吓住给孤独长者，他回到家中，即令家人开下仓库，用车装载黄金去布园林之地。这样的至诚，终于使祇陀太子感动，他向给孤独长者说道：「长者！我园林的土地是卖给你了，但我园中的树木没有承认卖给你，请你允许我也布施给佛陀好吗？」
给孤独长者听到太子如此一说，心里自是万分欢喜，即日赶往摩竭陀国竹林精舍，请求佛陀选派一位弟子到舍卫城去，以便设计精舍修建式样及督促工程的进行。最后，给孤独长者又把向祇陀太子购买园林的经过情形报告佛陀，佛陀慈和的微笑着说道：「发心的功德是不可思议的，精舍就定名为祇树给孤独园吧！我叫舍利弗前去计划工程，你回去的时候可以和他同行，一切都依照他的指示进行工作。」
在舍利弗尊者的指导和给孤独长者的支持之下，祇园精舍很快就完成了。从此「祇园精舍」与「竹林精舍」便成为佛陀经常宣扬教化的两处道场。
Date: 11/14/2026 11/15/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Shuangshuang Chen
Dharma Talk
Covering the Ground with Gold to Build Jetavana
After Śākyamuni Buddha had taught for a period of time at the Bamboo Grove Monastery, more and more people took refuge in him. His disciples increased day by day, and those who wished to make offerings also grew in number.
One day, the Buddha accepted an invitation to receive offerings at the home of a wealthy elder. At that time, the elder’s friend, Anāthapiṇḍika, had come from Śrāvastī to visit. Anāthapiṇḍika was a man of great wealth and deep compassion, known for helping the poor and the helpless, which earned him the honorable name “Giver to the Lonely.”
By chance, he encountered the Buddha. When he saw the Buddha’s dignified and extraordinary appearance and heard the profound Dharma, he was deeply moved. Filled with joy, he stepped forward, bowed, and expressed his wish to take refuge. He then earnestly invited the Buddha to come to Śrāvastī to teach the Dharma.
The Buddha said, “Śrāvastī lies in the north. I have long wished to teach there. However, I have many disciples. Without a spacious monastery, it would be difficult for us to settle.”
Anāthapiṇḍika replied, “World-Honored One! My land is vast, and the people are kind. Śrāvastī is not far from Kapilavastu. The king rules with benevolence and protects all beings. I will build a monastery like the Bamboo Grove, so that you and the Saṅgha may reside there. I sincerely invite you to come and benefit the people of my country.”
Knowing that he had generated a noble intention, the Buddha praised him:
“Anāthapiṇḍika, your generosity is extraordinary. True wealth is not in storing riches, but in using them to benefit others. Giving is not only for others—it is also for oneself. When one gives with a mind free from attachment, one accords with truth and plants the cause of liberation.
Those who give for pleasure, fame, or to escape poverty still have attachment. But you give so that beings may gain the joy of the Dharma and liberation. This is the giving of the Dharma itself. Go back and begin the work. When the monastery is completed, I will surely come.”
Hearing this, Anāthapiṇḍika rejoiced and returned home.
Back in Śrāvastī, he searched everywhere for a suitable place. Among all the locations, only the beautiful garden owned by Prince Prince Jeta stood out. The land was serene, with lush trees and flowing waters—perfect for a monastery.
However, this garden was dearly cherished by the prince. Still, Anāthapiṇḍika did not give up. He approached the prince and said:
“Your Highness, a great Buddha has appeared in our world, a guide for all beings. I wish to invite him here and build a monastery for him and his disciples. I have searched everywhere, and only your garden is suitable. For the benefit of all people, I humbly ask that you sell it to me.”
The prince hesitated. He was reluctant to part with his beloved garden, yet he also did not wish to offend such a respected elder. After thinking for a while, he said:
“If you can cover the entire ground of this garden with gold, then I will sell it to you.”
He believed this impossible condition would make the elder give up. But Anāthapiṇḍika immediately returned home, opened his treasury, and had carts of gold brought to cover the land.
Seeing such sincerity, the prince was deeply moved and said:
“The land I will sell to you, but the trees I will offer as my own gift to the Buddha. May I also share in this merit?”
Anāthapiṇḍika gladly agreed.
He then returned to invite the Buddha and requested guidance for constructing the monastery. When the Buddha heard the story, he smiled and said:
“The merit of such aspiration is inconceivable. This monastery shall be called Jetavana—‘the Grove of Jeta and Anāthapiṇḍika.’ I will send Śāriputra to oversee the construction. Follow his instructions.”
Under Śāriputra’s guidance and with Anāthapiṇḍika’s support, the monastery was quickly completed.
From then on, Jetavana Monastery, together with the Bamboo Grove Monastery, became two of the most important places where the Buddha taught and transformed countless beings.
