时间：02/15/2025 02/16/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
察微王和补鞋匠
久远劫前，有位勤政爱民的国王，人称「察微王」。他笃信三宝，敬慎心行，常常在生活中思惟并落实佛法的义理。
在一个天气清朗的早晨，繁忙的政务刚好告一段落，察微王一身轻装，悠闲地走出宫殿。
天色才微微泛白，远远的，已有一户人家敞开大门，传出叮叮当当的声响──补鞋匠又开始了漫长辛苦的一天。
「这位客人，早安！」老鞋匠憨厚地招呼着，声音中还带着残余的睡意。
察微王坐下来，就着稀疏的日光，和老鞋匠天南地北地聊了起来。「老先生，您觉得全天下最快乐的人是谁？」
端详着鞋底的缝口，老鞋匠回答：「当然是国王啦！」
「国王？这话怎么说？」
把鞋头敲打一番，老鞋匠信心十足地发表看法：「朝廷百官恭敬奉承，老百姓又尽力贡献，没有不能满足的愿望 ── 当然快乐啦。」
「这样子啊 ── 」察微王从衣袋掏出陈年葡萄酒和老鞋匠对饮，不一会儿工夫，老鞋匠已醉得不省人事。
国王扶着犹自沉醉于梦乡的老鞋匠回到寝宫。起身迎接的皇后满脸讶异：「老先生是 ──？」
「这位老鞋匠说国王是全天下最快乐的人；朕想跟他开个玩笑，让他过过瘾，亲身体会一下。」
后宫一下子忙碌起来：有人帮老鞋匠擦洗，有人为他更衣，有人到处宣扬，皇后笑着叮咛宫女，排演接下来的情节，女孩们银铃般的笑声不时响起。只有老鞋匠仿佛置身事外，红扑扑的圆脸一派安详。
国王终于上座了！扶一扶头上的王冠，抖一抖厚重精致的御袍，「国王」在名贵典雅的王座上扭捏不安。上朝的大臣行礼如仪，恭敬肃立。「国王」── 才酒醒就不由分说被簇拥到大殿上升座的老鞋匠 ── 完全手足无措，不知身置何处。身旁的侍女忍着笑，一本正经地禀告：「大王，您醉了些日子，卷宗堆积如山，请您尽速过目，亲自批阅裁决。」大臣们依次上奏论议谘问，让老鞋匠原本就不太灵光的头脑，更加混沌糊涂了。
「大王，您这样动来动去没有威仪。」史官记下一笔。
「大王，臣以为，您对于儿童福利的处理，不合乎正常的逻辑 ── 幼稚园小班如何响应『人人补鞋运动？』」
「大王，您卷宗拿反了。」书记官提醒。
「大王，上殿不宜瞌睡。」史官又记一笔。
「大王，身为大王不能讲粗鲁话，要自称『朕』而非『俺』。」国策顾问递上一张纸条。
「大王，您……」
「大王，臣敢谏告 ── 」
这高贵的王座，实在不好坐！一天下来，「国王」腰酸背痛、头昏眼花、食不知味；而卷宗依然高耸如山。
度日如年、如坐针毡的日子，虽然难熬，还是一天一天的过去了。这一天，侍女如往常般侍奉饮食 ，看到「国王」日渐憔悴，不禁关切地询问：「大王先前神采飞扬，近来怎么消瘦了许多？」
「国王」端身正坐，一板一眼地回答：「朕夜梦己为补鞋老翁，辛劳困苦，衣食常缺，生活艰难，不禁头痛得要命！」在座的大臣们，个个忍俊不住，咧嘴笑了开来。「国王」红涨着脸，表情却更严肃了。
圆月高悬，月光映入窗门，照映出一张失眠的脸。
「我是谁？」一生都没想过的疑问跃上心头，久久不散。「我是补鞋匠？还是国王？是国王，皮肤为何粗干长茧；是鞋匠，为何却又天天升座理政 ── 国王吗？鞋匠吗？我心乱如麻；我老眼昏花；两个身份，究竟哪一个才是真的？谁？到底是谁？」补鞋匠 ── 或许该称「国王」 ── 不，还是补鞋的老先生 ── 不管哪个，他累坏了，沉入梦乡。
皇后端详着老先生：他变得消瘦了，憨厚的脸上仿佛有着淡淡的一层灰雾，却又隐隐透着智慧的光芒。「乐师们，请奏乐曲，让大王欢悦如初！」 皇后吩咐着，倒了一杯又一杯的葡萄酒。酒力模糊了补鞋匠的意识，终至丧失对世界的知觉。
「回家了吗？」小木屋的天花板映入眼帘，粗糙的床、蒙尘的工具箱、补鞋订单、新鞋旧鞋散落了一地。
陋室中，补鞋匠忍不住怀疑：哪里是家？哪个是我？摸到身上斜挂的粗布衣，发楞的呆滞目光忽然闪过一丝光芒。
「这位客人，早安？」老鞋匠眉开眼笑，憨厚地招呼面熟的高大客人坐下。察微王笑眯眯地观察着，一位和自己无二无别的「国王」。两人又天南地北的聊起来。
「您知道吗？」老鞋匠认真地凝视着察微王：「那天咱俩对饮，醉到前天才醒哩。我做了个好长的梦啊！梦到当上国王。……您瞧这鞋补得牢不牢？哦，那再补几针 ── 国王呐，上殿下殿、史官记缺点、群臣共指教，一言一行都得有模有样的，心里紧张得很。一天下来浑身酸麻胀痛，简直像挨了顿打。 ── 您用点素菜，别客气，咱好兄弟。── 痛得要命，折腾死我这老头儿。幸好是做梦而已。不过梦就这么凄惨，如果是真的 ── 哎……您再用点素菜，尝尝。──上次向您说天底下国王最快乐，恐怕是自己的幻想吧！……」
人生如梦幻，生生世世的轮回亦然。在这当中，作主、清楚、明白的心有如国王，日理万机有条不紊，微服出巡化身无量，启蒙化导无量有情。而迷糊、颠倒、妄想的心有如补鞋匠，头出头没不断变换六道身份，来时糊涂去时迷，始终烦恼不自在，一任无明迷惑，追逐着虚妄的快乐，而始终事与愿违。
一个念头，快乐和痛苦于焉诞生，菩萨相和众生相瞬间化现。身份，因缘假成，倏忽散灭；人生种种境遇亦如电光石火，幻起幻落。是谁？哪个是我？若明白，于一切处无不平等自在。
Date: 02/15/2025 02/16/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
King Chami and the Cobbler
Long, long ago, in an ancient age, there was a wise and diligent king who loved his people. He was known as King Chami because of his keen ability to perceive subtle truths. He devoutly believed in the Three Jewels and was cautious in his thoughts and actions, constantly contemplating and practicing the principles of the Dharma in his daily life.
One clear morning, after finishing a period of intense governmental affairs, King Chami dressed simply and strolled out of his palace for some fresh air.
The sky was just beginning to brighten. In the distance, a house had already opened its doors, and the sound of ding-ding, clang-clang rang out—the cobbler had begun another long and laborious day.
”Good morning, dear guest!” The old cobbler greeted him warmly, his voice still carrying traces of sleep.
King Chami sat down and, under the sparse morning light, began chatting with the old cobbler about all sorts of things. “Sir, in your opinion, who is the happiest person in the world?”
Still focused on stitching a shoe sole, the cobbler answered, “Of course, it’s the king!”
”The king? Why do you say that?”
Tapping on a shoe tip, the cobbler confidently explained, “The king has ministers who respect and flatter him, and the common people contribute everything they can. There is nothing he lacks—of course, he must be the happiest person in the world!”
”I see—” King Chami smiled as he reached into his pocket, pulled out an old bottle of wine, and shared it with the cobbler. Before long, the old cobbler was completely drunk and unconscious.
The king gently supported the drunken old cobbler and carried him back to the royal palace. The queen, upon seeing them, was astonished. “Your Majesty, who is this old gentleman?”
”This cobbler believes that a king is the happiest person in the world. I thought I’d play a little joke on him and let him experience it firsthand.”
The entire palace buzzed with activity. Some attendants bathed and dressed the old cobbler in royal robes, while others spread the news. The queen chuckled as she instructed the palace maids on how to act out the upcoming scenes, and the girls’ laughter rang like silver bells through the halls.
Yet, the old cobbler seemed entirely indifferent to the commotion. His round, ruddy face remained as peaceful as ever.
Finally, the “king” was seated upon the throne! Adjusting the heavy, ornate crown on his head and shaking out his grand, luxurious robes, the “king” sat uneasily on the elegant royal seat. The ministers entered, bowed in ceremony, and stood solemnly before him.
The “king”—who was, in reality, the old cobbler who had just woken up from his drunken stupor—was completely overwhelmed and had no idea what was happening.
A court maid, holding back laughter, solemnly announced, “Your Majesty, you have been intoxicated for several days. Documents have piled up like mountains. Please review them immediately and make your rulings.”
One by one, the ministers stepped forward to report, debate, and seek advice. The cobbler, whose mind was never particularly quick, now found himself in complete bewilderment.
”Your Majesty, shifting around so much is unbecoming of a king,” the historian noted.
”Your Majesty, your decision regarding children’s welfare is illogical—how exactly do you expect kindergarteners to participate in a ‘national shoe-repair movement’?”
”Your Majesty, you’re holding the documents upside down,” the secretary reminded.
”Your Majesty, napping in court is inappropriate,” the historian added another note.
”Your Majesty, as a king, you must not use crude language. You should refer to yourself as ‘We’ rather than ‘I,’” the policy advisor handed him a note.
”Your Majesty, you—”
”Your Majesty, I dare to offer counsel—”
Sitting on this throne of grandeur was far from easy!
By the end of the day, the “king” was exhausted—his back ached, his head spun, and his body felt sore as if he had been beaten. Yet, the pile of documents remained as high as ever.
Time dragged on, and the days felt like years. Though each moment was unbearable, time still moved forward.
One day, as a palace maid served his meal, she noticed that the “king” was growing thinner and thinner. Concerned, she asked, “Your Majesty, you were once full of energy. Why have you become so weary?”
The “king” straightened himself, sat properly, and replied with serious composure, “We have been dreaming of being a lowly cobbler. Life was hard—full of toil and suffering, with barely enough to eat or wear. The hardship gave Us a terrible headache!”
At that, the ministers could no longer contain themselves—they burst into laughter.
The “king’s” face turned bright red, but his expression grew even more solemn.
That night, the full moon shone high in the sky, casting its silver light through the palace windows onto a sleepless face.
”Who am I?” A question he had never considered before suddenly arose in his mind and refused to fade. “Am I the cobbler? Or am I the king?
”If I am the king, why is my skin rough and calloused? If I am the cobbler, why do I sit on the throne and govern the kingdom?
”Am I the king? Am I the cobbler? My mind is in chaos. My old eyes are dim. Two identities—yet which one is real?
”Who? Who am I?”
The cobbler—perhaps now the “king”—or was it still the old cobbler? Regardless, he was exhausted. He drifted into a deep sleep.
The queen gazed at the old man. He had grown thinner. A faint, almost imperceptible layer of dust seemed to cover his simple, honest face. Yet, beneath that, there was an unmistakable glow of wisdom.
”Musicians, play a joyful tune! Let the king be merry once again!” The queen commanded.
Cup after cup, the cobbler was given wine. As the alcohol clouded his senses, the world around him faded into oblivion.
”Am I home?”
The rough ceiling of his little wooden hut came into view. His coarse bed, the dusty toolbox, the scattered shoe orders, the new and old shoes strewn across the floor.
Sitting in his humble home, the cobbler couldn’t help but doubt—where was home? Who was he?
Feeling the rough cloth of his tunic draped over his shoulder, his dazed eyes suddenly flickered with clarity.
”Good morning, dear guest!” The old cobbler grinned, warmly greeting the familiar tall man before him.
King Chami, smiling, observed a “king” who looked exactly like himself.
And once again, the two of them talked about the world, from every corner of the earth.
”You know,” the cobbler said, gazing seriously at King Chami, “that day when we drank together, I was so drunk that I just woke up the day before yesterday. I had such a long dream! I dreamed that I had become a king…”
”Look at this stitching—does it hold well? Oh, let me sew a few more stitches—being a king, oh, it’s tough! Going up to court, coming down from court, being scrutinized by historians, questioned by ministers—every single word and action had to be flawless. I was so tense all day that my body ached like I had been beaten.”
”Ah, here, have some vegetarian food. No need to be formal—we are brothers, after all.”
”The pain was unbearable; it almost killed this old man. Good thing it was just a dream! But if even a dream was so tormenting, what if it had been real…? Oh, here, have some more food, try this.”
”Last time, I told you that the king was the happiest man in the world. That was probably just my imagination…”
Life is but a dream. The endless cycles of rebirth are the same. The mind that is clear, aware, and in control is like a king, ruling with wisdom, while the mind that is confused, deluded, and lost is like the cobbler, endlessly drifting through suffering.
A single thought creates joy and suffering alike. Which identity is real? If one truly understands, one will find complete peace and equality in all things.
