时间：02/08/2025 02/09/2025
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
质多罗居士的不必相信佛陀所说
有一次，耆那教教主尼干若提子率领着他的沙门团，来到质多罗居士的家乡磨叉指陀山地区游化。尼干子知道质多罗居士是当地有影响力的富绅，就打算要吸收他成为自己的门徒。
质多罗居士知道了尼干子的意图，就主动去见他。
大家见了面，问讯寒暄后，尼干子问质多罗居士说：
「居士！对于沙门瞿昙所说：『有无寻无伺的禅定，有寻与伺的止息。』你相信吗？」
「大德！对这件事来说，我不必相信世尊所说。」
尼干子知道质多罗居士是在家佛弟子，听他这么回答，以为质多罗居士已经不再信服佛陀了，觉得是吸收这位地方富绅为弟子的机会来了，不禁以十分激赏的口气，傲然的神情，对着他在座的弟子们说：
「看！眼前这位质多罗居士，是多么的正直！多么的诚实！多么的开明不呆板保守啊！
居士！有人以为，如果能够止息寻、伺，就能以网子捕捉住吹过的风；以拳头阻断恒河水流，而我呢，则是在行、住、坐、卧中，能常常保持着智慧之见。」
「大德！您认为『信仰』应该在前面呢？还是『智慧』？『信仰』与『智慧』哪一个较为殊胜？」质多罗居士开始反问尼干子。
「居士！应先有『信仰』，然后才能生出『智慧』，但若两者相比，『智慧』应该较为殊胜。」
「我说，大德！只要我愿意，我随时可以离感官的欲乐，离所有的不善法，进入有寻有伺，感受因『离』而来的踊动之喜与温馨之乐，而安住于初禅；也可以进一步将寻伺平息下来，内心转而沉静与专注，并由这样专注的定力，引生踊动之喜与温馨之乐，无寻无伺而安住于第二禅；也可以再进一步止息喜而进入第三禅，安住于第三禅；也可以更进一步舍乐与苦进入第四禅，安住于第四禅。大德！我已经有这样的能力，哪还需要去『相信』任何一位沙门、婆罗门所说的：『无寻无伺的禅定；寻与伺的止息』呢？」质多罗居士终于更明确地说出他真正的意思了。
这时，尼干子才知道自己没弄清楚人家的意思，有被耍了的感觉，不禁生气地说：
「大家看看！这位质多罗居士，是多么不正直啊！多么不诚实！多么的虚伪啊！」
「大德！你刚刚不才赞美我正直与诚实的吗，怎么才一转眼，就又反过来说我不正直、不诚实呢？如果刚才说的是对的，现在说的就是错的，反之亦然。刚才你还说：你在行、住、坐、卧中，常常保持智慧之见的，怎么连这一点小事都弄不清楚？那就更不要提能知道，或者能做到那些超越常人能力的事了。
大德！如果我提一个问题问你，你有能力给予肯定的解说与回答吗？不只一个问题，甚至要对十个问题，都能一一给予肯定的解说与回答，你能吗？如果不能，又怎能想来这里引诱我当你的门徒呢？」
尼干子听了，无颜以对，赶紧收拾行囊，率徒众离开了。
Date: 02/08/2025 02/09/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Layman Jetavana Does Not Necessarily Believe What the Buddha Says
Once, the Jain leader Nigantha Nataputta, along with his group of ascetics, came to the region of Mount Macchikasanda to spread their teachings. Nigantha learned that the layman Jetavana was an influential and wealthy figure in the area and decided to recruit him as a disciple.Jetavana, knowing Nigantha’s intentions, took the initiative to visit him.
After greeting each other, Nigantha asked Jetavana:
“Layman! Regarding what the ascetic Gautama says: ‘There is a meditative state without applied thought and sustained thought, and there is the cessation of applied and sustained thought,’ do you believe it?”
“Venerable Sir, when it comes to this matter, I do not need to believe what the Blessed One says.”
Nigantha, aware that Jetavana was a lay disciple of the Buddha, assumed that Jetavana no longer had faith in the Buddha. He thought this was an excellent opportunity to win over this influential layman. Feeling quite pleased, Nigantha turned to his disciples and said, in an admiring tone and with a proud demeanor:
“Look! This layman Jetavana is so upright! So honest! So open-minded and free from rigidity!
Layman, some people think that by ceasing applied and sustained thought, they can catch the wind with a net or stop the flow of the Ganges with their fist. But as for me, I maintain a vision of wisdom in all my actions—walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.”
“Venerable Sir, do you think ‘faith’ should come first, or ‘wisdom’? Between ‘faith’ and ‘wisdom,’ which is superior?” Jetavana began to question Nigantha in return.
“Layman, faith should come first, and then wisdom arises. But if we compare the two, wisdom is superior.”
“Venerable Sir, I say this: Whenever I wish, I can detach myself from sensory pleasures and all unwholesome states, entering the first jhāna with applied and sustained thought, experiencing rapture and joy born of detachment, and abide there.
Further, I can calm applied and sustained thought, and with the mind becoming tranquil and concentrated, experience rapture and joy born of concentration, entering the second jhāna and abiding there without applied or sustained thought.
Moreover, I can cease rapture, entering and abiding in the third jhāna, experiencing equanimity and mindfulness.
Finally, I can go beyond pleasure and pain, entering and abiding in the fourth jhāna, characterized by purity of mindfulness and equanimity.
Venerable Sir, with such abilities, why would I need to ‘believe’ any ascetic or Brahmin who speaks of ‘meditation without applied and sustained thought’ or ‘the cessation of applied and sustained thought’?”
Jetavana then clarified his true meaning.
At this point, Nigantha realized he had misunderstood Jetavana’s words and felt tricked. Angrily, he exclaimed:
“Look at this layman Jetavana! How deceitful! How dishonest! How hypocritical he is!”
“Venerable Sir, did you not just praise me for being upright and honest? How is it that, in just a moment, you have reversed your opinion and now call me deceitful and dishonest? If what you said earlier was correct, then what you say now must be wrong, and vice versa. You also claimed to maintain a vision of wisdom in all your actions—walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. Yet you cannot even discern this small matter. How, then, can you expect to understand or accomplish things that are beyond the ordinary?”
“Venerable Sir, if I ask you a question, do you have the ability to provide a clear and definitive explanation? Not just one question—if I were to ask you ten questions, could you provide a clear and definitive answer to each? If not, how can you expect to persuade me to become your disciple?”
Hearing this, Nigantha was left speechless. Embarrassed, he quickly packed his belongings and left with his followers.
