时间：09/26/2026 09/27/2026
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
舍身为奴只为供养三宝
昔日，在舍卫城中有一位长者，他的妻子为他生了一个男孩，孩子相貌端庄俊美。出生没有多久，孩子就会说话，他问自己的母亲：“母亲，释尊如今还在世吗？”母亲听了回答道：“是的依然在世。”于是孩子又问：“那么阿难尊者和舍利弗等人都还在吗？”长者和妻子回答：“也还都在。”夫妻二人听到了孩子问这些，心知这个孩子绝非常人，于是决定请示佛陀。
夫妻二人带着孩子一同来到祇园精舍，来到祇园恭敬顶礼佛陀后，说明了今日的来意。佛陀看着孩子慈祥地微笑着说道：“这个是一个有福缘的孩子，你们不用有太多的疑虑和害怕。”
夫妻听了佛陀的话后，心中总算安下心来，欢喜地带着孩子返回家中。回家以后，长者向自己的父母表示，想要请佛陀和众弟子来家中接受供养，父母听了便是赞同，于是说道：“这样非常的好，如果能够供养佛陀及众比丘，那将是无上的福报和荣幸。”不过我们要先好好地筹划一番，一定要准备好供养的食物和器具。
长者对父母说道：“我们只要将房舍打扫干净，准备好供僧的座位，再设立三个高座便可，在准备好食物便可。还有就是我前世的母亲，现在就居住在波罗奈国，我想将她接过来一同参加这次供养。”
长者夫妻听了便是派人前去波罗奈国将他们接到了舍卫城。长者所设立的高座就是给佛陀还有今生前世的母亲。当一切准备就绪后，佛陀与众弟子也来到了长者的家中接受供养。众人依序入座，丰盛的食物随即摆上桌面。用斋结束后，佛陀为众人开示妙法，长者一家听闻了佛陀的开示，都获得殊胜的因缘，证得了须陀洹果。等到长者的儿子长大之后，出家跟随佛陀修行，通脱精进努力地修行，证得了阿罗汉果，更是获得了六种神通。
阿难尊者见到长者的儿子竟有如此殊胜的果报，不仅能出生在富贵人家，长大后还能跟随佛陀出家修行，最后还能证得果位。
于是询问佛陀其中的因缘，佛陀告知众比丘道：“长者的儿子前世出生在波罗奈国，那时的他家中开始虽然富裕，但是父亲早逝，后来家道中落，虽然有心供养三宝，却没有多余的能力。”当时他因为无法供养三宝心中一直耿耿于怀，于是决定舍弃贵族身份，委身到富贵家庭中做了奴隶，因为用心工作，一年后在主人手中求得千两金币的酬劳。主人好奇他会用这些做什么，于是便问：“如此多的金钱你要怎么用，是要娶妻吗？”听到主人问话于是回答：“我要用这些钱供养佛陀和他比丘弟子们。”主人听了也是非常的赞叹，于是将自己的庭院提供给他，用来供养佛陀及众弟子。也是因此，才会有这一世的福缘。
Date: 09/26/2026 09/27/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Selling Oneself into Servitude to Offer to the Three Jewels
Long ago, in the city of Śrāvastī, there lived a wealthy elder whose wife gave birth to a handsome and dignified boy. Remarkably, not long after his birth, the child could already speak. He asked his mother:
“Mother, is the Blessed One still in this world?”
His mother replied, “Yes, he is still in the world.”
The child then asked, “And are Venerable Ānanda and Śāriputra also still here?”
His parents answered, “Yes, they are all still present.”
Hearing such questions from a newborn child, the couple realized he was no ordinary being. They decided to consult the Buddha. Bringing the child to Jetavana Monastery, they paid homage and explained everything.
The Buddha looked at the child with a gentle smile and said:“This is a child of great merit and affinity. You need not worry.”
Relieved and joyful, the parents returned home.
Later, the elder expressed his wish to invite the Buddha and the Saṅgha to receive offerings at their home. His parents fully supported this idea, saying:“To offer to the Buddha and the Saṅgha is the highest blessing and honor.”
They carefully prepared—cleaning the house, arranging seats for the monastics, setting three high seats, and preparing abundant food. The elder also said:
“My mother from a previous life now lives in the land of Vārāṇasī. I wish to invite her here to participate in this offering.”
Messengers were sent to bring her. The three high seats were prepared for the Buddha, his present mother, and his mother from a past life.
When all was ready, the Buddha and the monastic community arrived. After the meal offering, the Buddha taught the Dharma. The entire family, upon hearing the teaching, attained the fruit of Stream-Entry (Sotāpanna).
When the boy grew older, he renounced the household life, followed the Buddha in practice, and through diligent effort attained Arhatship, complete with the six supernormal powers.
Seeing such extraordinary results, Venerable Ānanda asked the Buddha about the causes behind this merit.
The Buddha explained:
“In a past life, this boy was born in Vārāṇasī. His family was once wealthy, but after his father passed away, they fell into poverty. Though he deeply wished to make offerings to the Three Jewels, he lacked the means.
Filled with regret, he made a great resolve: he gave up his noble status and sold himself into servitude in a wealthy household. Through diligent work, after one year he earned a reward of one thousand gold coins.
His master, surprised, asked:‘What will you do with such wealth? Will you marry?’
He replied:‘I will use it to make offerings to the Buddha and the Saṅgha.’
Deeply moved, the master praised him and even offered his residence as the place for the offering. Because of this act of pure generosity, he accumulated immense merit—leading to the blessings of his present life.”
This story reveals: true giving is not measured by wealth, but by sincerity and sacrifice. When one gives with a pure heart—even at great personal cost—the resulting merit becomes vast and transformative, leading ultimately to liberation.
