时间：10/31/2026 11/01/2026
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
婆罗门寻子记
佛陀时代，有位婆罗门，年迈得子。对于这位独生子，婆罗门甚是爱怜，照顾得无微不至，一心希望聪慧的儿子继承家业，光宗耀祖。可惜好景不常，这孩子在七岁时因病骤逝。老婆罗门伤心欲绝，连续数日都伏在孩子的尸身上痛哭，最后因难以承受而晕厥，当苏醒时，亲友们都劝他要将独子安葬，但老婆罗门万般不舍，亲友们只好不顾他的阻止，合力将往生的独子埋于城外。
昼夜思念爱子的婆罗门，一日突然心生一计──
「我这样哭泣流泪也无法唤回孩子的生命呀！不如趁现在前往阎罗王所，向阎罗王乞回儿子的性命吧！」心意已决的婆罗门不顾亲人的劝阻，斋戒沐浴后就动身前往狱所。
婆罗门一路上马不停蹄，拚命赶路，逢人便问如何才能到达狱所。行经数千里路之后，来到一座深山中，好不容易遇到一群梵志，婆罗门赶忙趋前问道：「各位耆德啊！您们可知如何到达狱所吗？我的儿子聪明伶俐，不幸却在几天前被病魔夺走了生命。我希望能赶到阎王所，向阎王乞回儿命。」梵志们听到他的要求，悲愍地回答：「大德呀！阎王狱所不是活着的人所能到达的地方。不过，如果您执意要去，向此西行四百里有一条大河，河中的城是诸天仙行经人间停宿的地方。再过几天阎王将经过那座城，您只要严守净戒，必能如愿见到阎王！」老婆罗门谢过他们的指点，又开始千里迢迢的路程。
历经千辛万苦后，老婆罗门终于如愿抵达目的地。阎王被老婆罗门的诚心所感动，便要守门人带婆罗门入城。一见到阎王，婆罗门立即跪下，叩头如捣，涕泪悲泣地哀求阎王：「阎王！我年迈得子，本来希望此孩儿能继承家业，无奈他才年满七岁便因病往生。恳求大王，发慈悲心，把儿子还给我吧！」阎王听了婆罗门的要求，含笑指着东边说：「你的儿子现在在东园玩耍，如果他愿意，你就可以带他回去！」婆罗门听后欣喜至极，立刻直朝东园奔去。
东园里花果茂盛，流泉潺潺，孩童的嬉笑声此起彼落。婆罗门抵达东园，一眼就看见昔日的独子，正在林间与玩伴们嬉戏。于是马上冲过去，抱住男孩说道：「我因为思念你的缘故，每天吃也吃不好，睡也睡不着，你难道不想念父母吗？」不料这男孩用力推开老婆罗门，并正色说：「你这不明世理的愚痴老翁，我只是暂时寄住在你家，所以被称为你的儿子。现在我在这里已另有父母，你还是打消妄想，早点回去吧！」说完就转身离开，留下老婆罗门满脸惊愕，怅然离去。
满怀悲痛的老婆罗门，心想：曾听人说佛陀有大智慧，无事不知晓，相信他必能解答我心中的疑惑。于是他继续动身前往舍卫城的祇园精舍，到了精舍，婆罗门恭敬地顶礼佛陀后问说：「世尊！我在阎王的狱所见到我已死去的儿子。我原本满心欢喜地希望带孩子回家，没想到儿子恩断义绝，非但说他自己只是寄住我家，还诃斥我为愚痴老翁。佛陀啊！究竟是什么原因，竟使我儿子不顾父子之情呢？」
佛陀听完老婆罗门的陈述后，开示道：「你真的是愚迷无知啊！一个人来到世上，只是暂时的因缘聚合，故有夫妻、父子之名。这样的关系就如同寄居一处的旅人们般，不久便会离散，展开各自的旅程。众生因为迷惑，将非我当做我，将非我拥有，妄认为我所拥有，因而沉沦于永无止尽的生死轮回当中，始终无法认清真实的自己！而有智慧的人能够灭除恩爱的欲求，精进修行，达到生死永脱的境界，这才是真正的自在。」婆罗门听了佛陀的开示，顿时心开意解，即请求佛陀允许他出家修行。佛陀慈悲答应，才说完「善来比丘」，婆罗门的须发立刻自然落下，身上的衣服也化成袈裟，成为一位威仪具足的比丘。这位比丘专注思惟佛陀的开示，不一会儿即断除所有烦恼，成就阿罗汉的果位。
Date: 10/31/2026 11/01/2026
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Brahmin’s Search for His Son
During the time of the Buddha, there was an elderly Brahmin who was blessed with a son late in life. He dearly loved this only child and cared for him with the utmost devotion, hoping that his intelligent son would one day inherit the family estate and bring honor to the family. Unfortunately, this happiness did not last long. When the boy was seven years old, he suddenly died from illness. The old Brahmin was heartbroken. For several days, he lay over his son’s body, weeping bitterly. At last, unable to bear the grief, he fainted. When he regained consciousness, his relatives urged him to bury his only son. However, the old Brahmin could not bear to part with the child. Left with no choice, his relatives ignored his objections and together buried the boy outside the city.
Day and night, the Brahmin thought constantly of his beloved son. One day, an idea suddenly came to him.
”Crying and shedding tears cannot bring my son back to life. Rather than grieving here, I should go to the realm of King Yama and beg him to return my son’s life.”
Having made up his mind, the Brahmin ignored the pleas of his family. After observing purification rites, fasting, and bathing, he set out on his journey to the realm of Yama.
The Brahmin traveled tirelessly, hurrying forward without rest. Along the way, he asked everyone he met how he might reach the realm of Yama. After traveling thousands of miles, he finally arrived in a deep mountain, where he was fortunate enough to meet a group of Brahmin ascetics. He hurried forward and asked, “Venerable elders, do you know how to reach the realm of Yama? My son was bright and intelligent, but only a few days ago illness took his life. I wish to go before King Yama and beg him to return my son’s life.”
The ascetics, moved with compassion, replied, “Good sir, the realm of King Yama is not a place that living people can reach. However, if you insist on going, travel four hundred li west from here. There you will find a great river. In the middle of the river is a city where heavenly immortals rest whenever they pass through the human world. In a few days, King Yama will pass through that city. If you strictly observe pure precepts, you will surely be able to meet him.”
After thanking them for their guidance, the old Brahmin once again set out on his long journey.
After enduring countless hardships, the old Brahmin finally reached his destination. King Yama was moved by the Brahmin’s sincerity and instructed the gatekeeper to bring him into the city. As soon as he saw King Yama, the Brahmin immediately knelt down, repeatedly bowed his head to the ground, and tearfully pleaded, “Great King Yama! I was blessed with a son only in my old age. I had hoped that this child would inherit my family estate, yet he died of illness when he was only seven years old. I beg Your Majesty, out of compassion, please return my son to me.”
After hearing the Brahmin’s request, King Yama smiled and pointed toward the east, saying, “Your son is now playing in the Eastern Garden. If he is willing, you may bring him back with you.”
The Brahmin was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately ran toward the Eastern Garden.
The Eastern Garden was filled with flourishing flowers and fruit trees, with clear streams flowing gently, while the laughter of children echoed everywhere. As soon as the Brahmin arrived, he immediately recognized his former son playing happily with other children among the trees. He rushed forward, embraced the boy, and said, “Because I miss you so deeply, I can neither eat nor sleep in peace every day. Do you not miss your father and mother?”
Unexpectedly, the boy forcefully pushed the old Brahmin away and said sternly, “You foolish old man who does not understand the truth of the world! I merely stayed temporarily in your household, and thus I was called your son. Now I have different parents here. You should give up your delusion and return home as soon as possible.”
Having said this, the boy turned around and walked away, leaving the old Brahmin standing there in astonishment before departing in sorrow.
Filled with grief, the old Brahmin thought to himself, “I have heard that the Buddha possesses great wisdom and knows all things. Surely He will be able to resolve the doubts in my heart.”
Therefore, he continued his journey to Jetavana Monastery in Śrāvastī. Upon arriving, the Brahmin respectfully paid homage to the Buddha and asked, “World-Honored One! I saw my deceased son in the realm of King Yama. I was filled with joy, hoping to bring him home, but instead he completely severed our father-son relationship. Not only did he say that he had merely stayed temporarily in my household, but he even rebuked me as a foolish old man. O Buddha, what is the reason that my son no longer acknowledges the bond between father and son?”
After listening to the old Brahmin’s account, the Buddha taught him, saying, “You are truly deluded and ignorant. A person comes into this world only through the temporary gathering of causes and conditions. Therefore, there arise the names of husband and wife, father and son. Such relationships are like travelers staying temporarily in the same lodging. Before long, they part ways and continue their separate journeys. Because sentient beings are deluded, they mistake what is not the self for the self, and what does not belong to the self as belonging to the self. They falsely cling to these things as ‘mine,’ and thus continue sinking endlessly in the cycle of birth and death, never recognizing their true nature. A wise person, however, is able to extinguish attachment born of affection, practice diligently, and attain the state of complete liberation from birth and death. Only then does one obtain true freedom.”
After hearing the Buddha’s teaching, the Brahmin’s mind immediately opened to understanding. He requested permission from the Buddha to leave the household life and become a monk. The Buddha compassionately agreed. As soon as He said, “Come, bhikkhu,” the Brahmin’s hair and beard naturally fell away, and his ordinary clothing was instantly transformed into monastic robes. He became a bhikkhu of perfect deportment. Concentrating wholeheartedly on the Buddha’s teaching, he contemplated it deeply. Before long, he completely eliminated all afflictions and attained the fruit of Arhatship.
