时间：07/12/2025 07/13/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
沙弥虽小不可轻
阿育王朝在印度历史上，是一个全盛的黄金时代，而阿育王更是崇信佛教，每看到出家人就至诚礼拜。
有一次，与大臣们出巡，途中遇见一位小沙弥，阿育王很想向他礼拜，可是一想到自己堂堂一个帝王，又有众多的大臣跟随，在众人面前向一位小沙弥顶礼，有失威严。于是就把小沙弥请到无人的地方，向他礼拜，并叮咛小沙弥说：「请你不要向别人说，我阿育王今天向你顶礼的事啊！」
此时，小沙弥看到路边有一个小瓶子，就以神通力将自己变进小瓶子里去，过一会儿，又变现出来。然后，小沙弥也拉着阿育王的手说：「请大王也不要向别人说，我小沙弥能从小瓶子进进出出的事啊！」
阿育王看得目瞪口呆，当下豁然顿悟：即使是小沙弥，也是不容轻视的。
从此以后，对于出家人，更加礼遇不敢怠慢。
Date: 07/12/2025 07/13/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
A Novice Monk, Though Young, Must Not Be Disrespected
During the Maurya Dynasty, known as a golden era in Indian history, King Ashoka was a devout follower of Buddhism. Whenever he encountered a monastic, he would sincerely offer his respects.
Once, while out on an inspection tour with his ministers, King Ashoka came across a young novice monk (śrāmaṇera). The king wished to bow to him, but hesitated—he was, after all, a mighty emperor surrounded by many officials. To publicly bow before a small novice might undermine his royal dignity.
So he had the novice taken to a secluded place and offered him prostration there. He then earnestly instructed the novice: “Please do not tell anyone that I, King Ashoka, bowed to you today.”
At that moment, the novice noticed a small bottle by the roadside. Using his spiritual power, he transformed himself and entered the bottle, then reappeared after a while.
The novice then pulled King Ashoka’s hand and said: “Great King, please also do not tell others that I, a small novice, was able to enter and exit this bottle.”
King Ashoka stood stunned. He suddenly awakened to the truth: even a small novice is not to be looked down upon.
From that day forward, he treated all monks and novices with even greater reverence, never daring to be negligent.
