时间：11/02/2024 11/03/2024
地点：星河禅修中心
主讲：黄云全
佛法修行
愚蠢的善宿
有一次，佛陀在末罗国游化，住在阿奴匹亚城郊。
这天，佛陀早晨准备入城乞食，看看天候尚早，就绕到一处外道游行者的修行园，去会见他们的领导者，一位名叫跋迦婆的修行人。两人见面寒暄后，跋迦婆向佛陀求证说：
「前几天，有一位名叫善宿的离车族人来见我，告诉我说，他已经不再跟您修学，也不跟您同住，弃您而去了，是吗？」
于是，佛陀完整地陈述了当时的情况。原来，是善宿觉得自己受到冷落，跑来对佛陀说：
「世尊不教我神通，所以我要舍离世尊，不要再随世尊修学了。」
「当初是我邀请你来随我修学神通的吗？还是你要来随我修学时，就以修学神通为条件的呢？」佛陀问。
「没有，世尊！」
「你真是个愚蠢的人啊，善宿！这样，你怎能说要舍去谁呢？你说说看，是不是来跟我修行，依照我的教导修学的人，不论是否会神通都能得到苦的完全止息这样的目的呢？」
「是的，世尊！但世尊也没有告诉我世界的起源是什么。」善宿又转而提出另一个不满。
「当初，是我邀请你来随我修学世界起源的吗？还是你要来随我修学时，就以修学世界起源为条件的呢？你真是个愚蠢的人啊，善宿！说不说世界的起源，与苦的完全止息有什么关系？只要能够依照我的教导来修学，就可以达到苦的完全止息。善宿！还记得过去你在跋耆国时，是怎样地赞叹佛、法、僧的吗？」
虽然经佛陀这样再三地开导，但是，善宿仍然决定离开，像是一个已决定迈向地狱的人一样。
接着，佛陀告诉了游行沙门跋迦婆有关善宿的一些愚蠢往事，其中之一，是善宿有一次随佛陀在末罗国游化，遇到一位持狗戒；学狗生活的裸体外道，名叫库罗卡提耶。当看到这位外道学狗在地上爬行，学狗以嘴巴直接啃食散在地上的食物时，善宿竟然打从内心里欢呼赞叹，愚蠢地认为这一定是一位阿罗汉了。当佛陀指责他说：「愚蠢的人啊！你还配自称是一位佛弟子吗？」他还不服气地反问佛陀，是不是在嫉妒那位裸体外道库罗卡提耶「阿罗汉」呢！
接下来，佛陀又评论了有关世界与人类起源的古老传说：有说人类是由自在的大梵天所造，其实，这是第一位出生在梵天有情的错觉；有说人类是因为心中生起了嫉妒不清净，从天界堕落下来的，这是来自于修行者片面而有限的宿命神通错觉；有说人类是无因无缘而来的，这是一类过去生曾经在无想天的修行者，今世在禅定修习中得到的错觉。佛陀不仅对这些都知之甚详，而且更超越他们，知道世界人类的起源，而又不执着；不执着而对苦、集、灭、味、患、离如实知之，由此证入了解脱涅槃。
最后，跋迦婆十分赞叹佛陀能安住于清净解脱，要求佛陀也教导他。佛陀感慨地说：「跋迦婆！你要领悟这清净解脱法门，目前还很困难，因为你有着不同的见解、不同的志向、不同的行持。但是，如果你能继续护持你对我的好感，那么，将来还是有机会的。」
Date: 11/02/2024 11/03/2024
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Foolish Sunaksatra
Once, Buddha was traveling through the Malla country and residing on the outskirts of Anupiya city.
On this particular day, Buddha was preparing to enter the city for alms early in the morning but noticed the weather was still early. He decided to visit the practice garden of an ascetic group to meet their leader, a practitioner named Bhaggava. After exchanging greetings, Bhaggava sought confirmation from Buddha and said:
”A few days ago, a Licchavi noble named Sunakṣatra came to see me and told me that he had stopped learning from you, no longer lived with you, and had abandoned you. Is that true?”
Buddha then explained the situation. As it turned out, Sunakṣatra had felt neglected and had approached Buddha to say:
”Master, since you do not teach me supernatural powers, I am going to leave you and no longer follow your teachings.”
Buddha asked, “Did I ever invite you to study supernatural powers with me? Or when you first came to follow me, did you set any conditions that learning supernatural powers was necessary?”
”No, Master!” Sunakṣatra replied.
”You are a foolish person, Sunakṣatra! How can you say you want to abandon someone like this? Tell me, if someone comes to follow my teachings and practices according to my instructions, whether or not they have supernatural powers, do they not still attain the goal of completely eliminating suffering?”
”Yes, Master!” Sunakṣatra answered. “But Master, you also never told me the origin of the world.” Sunakṣatra then shifted his complaints.
Buddha asked again, “Did I invite you to study the origin of the world with me? Or did you make learning the origin of the world a condition when you started following me? You are a foolish person, Sunakṣatra! What does discussing the origin of the world have to do with the complete elimination of suffering? As long as you practice according to my teachings, you will achieve the end of suffering. Sunakṣatra! Do you remember how, when you were in Vajji, you praised the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha so highly?”
Despite Buddha’s repeated guidance, Sunakṣatra still decided to leave, like a person determined to head towards hell.
Buddha then shared with Bhaggava several of Sunakṣatra’s foolish actions. One of these stories was about a time when Sunakṣatra was traveling with Buddha through the Malla country and they encountered a naked ascetic named Kukkurakatiya, who lived like a dog and practiced “dog-like” behavior. When Sunakṣatra saw this ascetic crawling on the ground and eating food directly off the earth with his mouth, he enthusiastically praised him from the bottom of his heart, foolishly believing that this man must be an Arhat. When Buddha rebuked him, saying, “You foolish person! Do you even deserve to call yourself a disciple of mine?” Sunakṣatra arrogantly questioned if Buddha was jealous of Kukkurakatiya, who he considered to be an Arhat.
Buddha then commented on ancient myths regarding the origin of the world and humanity. Some said that human beings were created by the Great Brahma, but this was a misconception from the first being born in Brahma’s realm. Others said humans fell from the heavens due to jealousy and impurity, which was a partial misunderstanding from ascetics with limited past-life knowledge. Still, others claimed that humans originated without any cause or reason, which was a misconception from past practitioners in the realm of unconscious meditation. Buddha knew all of this clearly, yet he transcended these views. He understood the origin of the world and humans without attachment, and through this understanding, he knew the reality of suffering, its cause, its cessation, its flavor, its danger, and detachment, thus attaining liberation and nirvana.
In the end, Bhaggava greatly praised Buddha for residing in pure liberation and asked Buddha to teach him as well. Buddha compassionately replied, “Bhaggava! It is still difficult for you to grasp the path to pure liberation at the moment because you have different views, aspirations, and practices. However, if you continue to maintain your goodwill toward me, there may still be an opportunity in the future.”
