时间：11/21/2026 11/22/2026
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：陈双双
佛法修行
文殊菩萨的考验
从前有一个国王，名为萨恕檀。这个国王心地善良，怜悯贫穷孤寡之人，经常对人们周济和布施，只要他们有所需求，国王都尽量满足他们，因此国王的善名远扬，超越了国界，而且传到了上天的众神耳中。
文殊菩萨得知人间有这么一个慈悲的国王，心里很高兴，同时也想亲自试一试这个国王到底是不是诚心行善。
有一天，文殊菩萨摇身一变，变成了一个少年婆罗门，从邻国进入萨恕檀国，并来到了王宫门前，乞求布施。
国王听说从异国来了一个少年婆罗门找他，很高兴地接见了来者，并非常关切地问道：“少年人，你是从何处来呀？有什么需要我为你效力帮忙的吗？”
少年婆罗门回答，“我在异国听说您的功德善名，故不远万里前来，想得到您的布施。”
国王听了，高兴地说：“好呀！你有什么要求，需要得到什么布施，尽管说好了，别犯难。我的臣民向我要求布施我都会答应，何况你还是异国的客人呢。”
文殊菩萨见状心想：果然名不虚传，既然如此，我就大胆地试试他吧。
于是就说：“大王您可是君子一言。我提的要求也许有些过分了，我想让国王给我做奴隶，让王后给我做婢女！”
国王听了，并没有发怒、生气，反而非常痛快地答应说：“好吧！你让我个人做奴隶，我现在就可以答应你，我很愿意从现在起就听从你的使唤，服侍你。但是王后本来是一个大国王的公主，远嫁到我们国家来的，她是不是能做你的婢女，我作不了主，我应该去征求征求她的意见。”
于是国王就到内宫，把少年婆罗门要求施舍的要求向王后说了，并问她能不能做他的婢女。王后也是心地善良，是一心想普救众生的女子，何况在国王的身边，耳濡目染，她不愿拂逆国王之意，就同意了少年婆罗门的要求。
国王和王后一起从内宫走出来，对少年婆罗门说：“我们商量好了，愿意一起做你的奴仆和奴婢！”
婆罗门这时就说：“既然同意给我做奴隶，那你们就应该把鞋子脱掉，要和真的奴仆与奴隶一样。”
国王、王后一齐说道：“是的，主人，我们应该与所有的奴婢一样，他们什么样，我们也什么样。”于是就把鞋子脱掉，把衣服也换成了奴隶穿着的粗布衣服。
文殊菩萨只是为了考验国王、王后。为了不给这个国家添麻烦，文殊就找了另外两个，用法力将他们变成国王、王后，和往常一样处理朝政。而真的国王、王后就加入了去异国当奴隶的人的行列。
再说国王的夫人天生贵人，原来是别国的一位公主，从小娇生惯养，嫁给国王后更是豪华尊贵，哪里有过光着脚长途跋涉的苦楚！又正赶上身孕沉重，行动不便。因此随众奴隶一起行走，累得气喘吁吁，全身酸痛，脚心早被杂草和石头刺破，疼得钻心，真是一步比一步难行，便渐渐落在了队伍的后面。文殊菩萨早已将这些都看在眼里。本来就慈悲为怀的菩萨虽然于心不忍，但为了考验国王、王后的真心，他仍然装出一副恶狠狠的样子，一边回头吼道：“快走啊快走！”一边责骂王后说，“你现在是我的婢子，就要像个婢子的模样，按照奴婢之法行事。你现在还像当王后一样，娇里娇气的给谁看！”
王后听了，心中委屈不打一处来，于是长跪地下，泪流满面地诉说道：“主人啊主人，我实在是不敢怠慢，实在不敢偷懒，我现在真是累极了，稍稍休息一会儿再走，请您可怜一下吧！”
没想到这个婆罗门是个铁石心肠，不但不为所动，反而对着王后说：“得啦得啦，你快起来，跟我走吧］这样的奴婢以后我也没法使唤，干脆把你卖了吧！”
于是，就把王后带到人市上，高声叫卖：“都来瞧，都来看，有个奴婢我要卖！价钱便宜人漂亮，谁买到手谁福气！”
王后原来是一人之下，万人之上，整日生活在王宫里，哪见过这个场面。但现在不同了，自己是个奴婢，奴婢就是这样买卖的。而他的丈夫国王，此时也和她落得同样的下场，被一起卖掉了。
本来国王、王后还在一起。这样一卖，两个人分别被人买走了，相隔数里，不能互相照应。国王被一位老者看中，买去以后当作一个坟墓的看门人，专门负责收埋死人的安葬费。这个地方又寒冷，又荒凉，特别是每到深夜，鬼火乱窜，狼嚎犬吠，弄得不得安宁，难以入睡。那老者还时不时地检查他是不是收费以后有所私藏。但国王心里并无怨言。他想：既然为奴，就尽到为奴的责任，我这才是真心布施，修炼功德。
王后的处境比国王更惨。王后是被一个大家买走。这个大家的夫人好像母夜叉一样，见王后面容娇美，非常嫉妒，经常给王后使坏，故意把脏活累活派给她。一大早天还没亮，她就吵吵嚷嚷地把王后叫起来干活，一直干到日落西山，而且不能有丝毫的怠慢，稍有不是，非打即骂。
又过几个月，王后十月怀胎，一朝分娩，生了一个又白又胖的男婴。这家女主人本来无后，见婢子偏偏在她跟前生了个漂漂亮亮的男婴，不禁妒心似火，十分恼怒，对着王后叫骂道：“你这个臭婢子，也配生孩子吗？”然后就逼着王后把儿子杀掉。
那时婢子即为奴，就要完全听凭主人的吩咐。主人叫你死，你就不能活。王后此时没有办法，于是硬着心肠含着泪杀死了新生儿子，然后带着死婴去墓地埋葬。
王后去埋死婴，正好与看守墓地的国王相见。相见之后都有干言万语，但他们并没有流露出任何委屈和不满，没有任何抱怨。他们正在说话的时候，须臾之间，真是恍惚如梦，刚才还在冷清的墓地，现在却回到了本国，身上着的是国王和王后的服装，坐的是正殿宝座，一切又恢复到原来的模样。更令他们喜不自胜的是，他们所为之惋惜、日夜思念的已经被埋掉的儿子，此时却活生生地出现在他们的眼前，正在伸着小手，甜蜜地向他们微笑呢！
国王、王后正在惊疑之间，正不知这是怎么回事，只见文殊菩萨端坐空中的一朵大宝莲荷花上，现出五色真身，向他们夫妇二人称赞说：
“善哉！果然名不虚传，你们普救众生，广为布施，可真是至诚至信，真心实意，真是了不起啊！”
国王、王后这才悟到，原来的一切都是菩萨显灵，在考验他们是否真诚。他们此时不禁为自己经受了考验感到由衷的喜悦，连忙向文殊恭敬行礼。
文殊菩萨见国王、王后果然是人间少有的至诚至善之人，自然也非常高兴。在文殊四方讲法的时候，经常以国王、王后作为宣扬佛法的例子，广为宣传。国王、王后的作为，也使得各国人众十分震动，而本国之人更不用说了，都以国王、王后为榜样，广行善事，后来都在修道上有所进境。国王及王后呢？最后都双双修成了正果。
佛告诉阿难说：“当时的国王，就是我的前身。那王后就是现在的瞿夷，太子就是现在的罗云。”
Date: 11/21/2026 11/22/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Shuangshuang Chen
Dharma Talk
The Test of Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva
In the past, there was a king named Sashutan. He was kind-hearted and compassionate, always helping the poor and the lonely. Whenever people were in need, he did his best to give. Because of this, his reputation for generosity spread far and wide, even reaching the heavens.
When Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva heard of such a compassionate king, he felt pleased, yet wished to personally test whether the king’s virtue was truly sincere.
One day, Mañjuśrī transformed himself into a young brāhmaṇa and came from a neighboring country to the palace, asking for alms.
The king, upon hearing that a young brāhmaṇa from afar had come, gladly received him and kindly asked,“Young man, where have you come from? What can I do for you?”
The brāhmaṇa replied,“I have heard of your virtue and reputation, so I have come from afar to seek your generosity.”
The king said joyfully,“Very well! Whatever you need, just say it. I grant the wishes of my people, and you are a guest from afar.”
Mañjuśrī thought, “Indeed, his reputation is well deserved. I shall test him more deeply.”
So he said,“Great King, since you speak as a man of honor, I will make my request. It may be excessive—I ask that you become my servant, and that your queen become my maid.”
The king did not grow angry. Instead, he calmly replied,“I can offer myself at once and gladly serve you. But the queen is a princess from another land. I must ask her consent.”
He went to the queen and explained the request. The queen, also kind-hearted and devoted to benefiting others, agreed without hesitation.
Together they came before the brāhmaṇa and said,“We are willing to become your servants.”
The brāhmaṇa then said,“If you are truly my servants, remove your shoes and dress like slaves.”
The king and queen replied,“Yes, master. We should be no different from other servants.”
They removed their shoes and changed into coarse garments.
Mañjuśrī, not wishing to disrupt the kingdom, used his powers to create illusory forms of the king and queen to continue governing, while the real king and queen followed him away as servants.
The queen, once a princess raised in luxury, now walked barefoot on rough roads. She was also heavily pregnant, and soon became exhausted. Her feet were cut by stones and thorns, and she fell behind.
Mañjuśrī saw this but continued the test, shouting harshly,“Hurry up! You are now a servant—act like one!”
The queen, unable to endure further, knelt down and wept, saying,“Master, I dare not be lazy. I am simply too exhausted. Please allow me a moment to rest.”
But the brāhmaṇa said coldly,“If you cannot serve well, I will sell you.”
He took her to the marketplace and cried out,“Come and see! A servant for sale—beautiful and cheap!”
The queen, once honored above all, was now sold. The king was also sold elsewhere, and the two were separated.
The king was bought by an old man and made to guard a graveyard, collecting burial fees. The place was cold and desolate, filled with eerie sounds at night. Yet the king bore no resentment. He thought, “If I am a servant, I will fulfill my duty. Only then is my giving sincere.”
The queen suffered even more. She was bought by a harsh woman who, out of jealousy, treated her cruelly, forcing her to do endless labor. If she made any mistake, she was beaten and scolded.
Months later, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. But her mistress, filled with jealousy, shouted,“You, a mere servant, dare to have a child?”and forced her to kill the newborn.
Bound by her condition as a servant, the queen, in tears, carried out the order and took the child to the graveyard for burial.
There, she met the king. Though filled with sorrow, neither complained nor expressed resentment.
At that very moment, everything suddenly changed. It was as if awakening from a dream. They found themselves back in their palace, dressed once more as king and queen. Their child, whom they believed dead, was alive again, smiling at them.
As they stood in wonder, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva appeared in the sky upon a radiant lotus, revealing his true form. He praised them:
“Excellent! Your virtue is genuine. Your giving is sincere and without regret. Truly admirable!”
Only then did the king and queen realize that all had been a test. Filled with joy, they bowed in gratitude.
From that time on, Mañjuśrī often used their story to teach others. Their example inspired many to practice generosity and virtue, and both the king and queen ultimately attained enlightenment.
The Buddha later told Ānanda:“The king of that time was my former self. The queen is now Yaśodharā, and the prince is now Rāhula.”
