时间：12/28/2024 12/29/2024
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：Otto Huang
佛法修行
念佛等六念法门的开示
有一年夏天雨季，佛陀在憍萨罗国首都舍卫城南郊的祇树给孤独园安居。
三个月的雨季过去了，比丘们都集中在饭厅里缝补衣服，同时也为佛陀缝衣。
那时，梨师达多与富兰那兄弟两人，正好到舍卫城办事，一听说佛陀就要离开王舍城到其它地方去游化了，就央人到佛陀的住处去打听实况。结果，那人正好看到佛陀与比丘众们，从祇树给孤独园出发离开，就赶快早一步回来告诉他们兄弟说：
「佛陀一行人，已经离开住所，正朝这边过来了。」
于是，兄弟俩就在路旁恭候佛陀。
佛陀来了，兄弟俩赶紧顶礼，然后对佛陀说：
「世尊！您要离开王舍城，前往憍萨罗、迦尸、摩罗、摩揭陀、央迦、修摩、分陀罗、迦陵伽等离我们那么远的地方去，让我难过得犹如身体就要被支解了，头昏眼花，心乱如麻，所学的法都忘了。您这一离开，我们不知什么时候才能再见到世尊，以及善知识比丘们呢？」
佛陀告诉他们兄弟说：
「不管你见得到、见不到世尊，见得到、见不到善知识比丘们，你们都应当要随时修学着六念。哪六念呢？
应当忆念着如来的功德：如来确实是应受供养者、圆满的觉悟者、真理与正行的实践者、完善幸福的终结生死者、彻底了知世间者、受调教人的无上领导者、天界人间的老师、觉他的自觉者、世间最尊贵者。应当忆念着法：正法是世尊所清晰教导的，是当生可见证，是可以直接领受，是水到渠成，不待资历、节气就能成就的，是劝引大家来修证的，是学了以后就用得上的，是智者内心所体验的。
应当忆念着圣僧：世尊的四双八辈圣弟子，修学善好的、直捷的、正理的、中规中矩的正法，是值得我们赠礼的，值得我们殷勤服务的，值得我们供养的，值得我们诚敬问候的，为世间无与伦比的福田。
应当忆念着自己持戒的清净德行：持戒的德行是无裂痕的、无间断的、无玷污的、无瑕疵的、自在而不勉强的、智者所赞光泽纯净无损的、导向禅定的。
应当忆念着自己的布施：布施带给我利益，让我脱离普遍存在于众生习性中的悭吝惯性，以远离悭吝垢秽的非家之心而居家，常常布施，亲手布施，乐于舍心布施，欢喜平等布施。
应当忆念着天界之事：有四大天王天、三十三天、焰摩天、兜率天、化乐天、他化自在天、梵众天等等天界，从此处往生诸天界所需具足的信、戒、施、闻、慧我也有。
当这样忆念着如来；忆念着法、圣僧、布施、守戒、天界之事时，依着所念，心得正直，远离贪、瞋、痴，清楚修学的目标，清楚修学的法而得法喜，因得法喜而欢悦，因欢悦而得身轻安，因身轻安而生起踊动之喜，因踊动之喜而得安止，因安止而得定。能够这样修学，就可以这样说：圣弟子在众人皆乱中独醒，在众人皆邪中独正，入于法界之流而修学念佛，念法，念僧，念施，念戒，念天。
居士们！在家生活多所干扰与染着，是尘垢之处，我们居无定所，四处游化的出家之路，则像海阔晴空，但如果你们居家也能用心修学，那也就足够了。」
「世尊！在家生活多所干扰与染着，真的是这样啊！我是波斯匿王的内宫侍从，当波斯匿王出游时，我们就得骑大象载着妃子随从。两位妃子一前一后地紧挨着我坐在大象背上，我就夹在她们中间。当遇到下坡路段时，前面的那位妃子紧抱着我的脖子，后面那位攀着我的肩膀；
当遇到上坡路段时，换成后面那位紧抱着我的脖子，前面那位紧抓着我的衣襟，这些妃子为了讨好波斯匿王，伴游时都打扮得很漂亮，而且体香四溢，我虽然与他们肌肤多所接触，但，那时我们只能专心注意三件事：一、好好控制着大象，才不会走错路。二、守护着自己的心念，以免对妃子生起欲念，惹来杀身之祸。三、要注意自己坐好，才不会摔下去。世尊！那时，我对妃子无一刻有不正思惟的心念生起。」
「善哉！善哉！你们能这样地善于守护自己的心念。」佛陀赞美道。
Date: 12/28/2024 12/29/2024
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
Instructions on the Six Mindfulnesses Practice,Including Buddha Mindfulness
One summer during the rainy season, the Buddha resided at the Jetavana Monastery in the southern suburbs of Shravasti, the capital of Kosala.
After three months of the rainy season, the monks gathered in the dining hall to mend clothes and to sew robes for the Buddha.
At that time, two brothers, Reshita and Purana, happened to be in Shravasti for business. Upon hearing that the Buddha was about to leave the city and travel to other regions, they sent someone to inquire about the Buddha’s movements. The person saw the Buddha and the monks departing from Jetavana and quickly returned to inform the brothers:
“The Buddha and his followers have left their residence and are heading this way.”
The brothers immediately waited by the roadside. When the Buddha arrived, they bowed and said to him:
“World-Honored One! You are leaving Shravasti and traveling to distant places like Kosala, Kashi, Malla, Magadha, Anga, Surasena, Gandhara, and Kalinga. This makes us feel as if our bodies are being torn apart, dizzy and distressed, forgetting the teachings we’ve learned. With your departure, we don’t know when we will see you and the virtuous monks again.”
The Buddha said to them:
“Whether you see the World-Honored One and the virtuous monks or not, you should always practice the Six Remembrances. What are the Six Remembrances?
You should recall the virtues of the Tathagata: the Tathagata is truly worthy of offerings, fully enlightened, a true and righteous practitioner, a complete ender of suffering and death, a knower of the world, an unsurpassed leader of those to be trained, a teacher of gods and humans, a self-enlightened one who enlightens others, and the most revered in the world.
You should recall the Dharma: the true Dharma is clearly taught by the World-Honored One, can be experienced here and now, is open for direct reception, naturally beneficial, available to everyone, can be achieved without dependence on seasons, invites everyone to come and practice, is immediately applicable, and is realized by the wise within.
You should recall the Sangha: the World-Honored One’s disciples, consisting of four pairs and eight ranks, who practice righteous and straightforward, well-principled, and disciplined teachings. They are worthy of respect, worthy of diligent service, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverence, and are the supreme field of blessings in the world.
You should recall the purity of your own morality: this morality is unblemished, unbroken, stainless, flawless, free from forced discipline, praised by the wise, radiant, and conducive to meditation.
You should recall your own generosity: generosity benefits me, helping me escape from the stingy tendencies common in all beings, allowing me to live with a household that is free from the stain of stinginess. I give freely, with my own hands, happily, and with an equal heart.
You should recall the celestial realms: there are the Four Great Kings’ heavens, the Thirty-Three heavens, the Yama heavens, the Tusita heavens, the Nimanarati heavens, the Paranirmitavasavatti heavens, the realms of the Brahma community, and so forth. For rebirth in these heavens, one needs faith, morality, generosity, knowledge, and wisdom, all of which I possess.
By remembering the Tathagata, the Dharma, the Sangha, generosity, morality, and the celestial realms, the mind becomes upright, free from greed, hatred, and delusion. By understanding the path of practice and the teachings, one attains joy in the Dharma, and because of joy, one finds peace, ease, bliss, and concentration.
Practicing this way, it is said that the disciple remains awake amid confusion, is righteous amid the misguided, and enters the stream of the Dharma to practice mindfulness of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, generosity, morality, and the heavens.
Lay followers, household life is full of distractions and defilements. Our wandering, renunciate life, on the other hand, is like a vast, clear sky. Yet, if you can practice diligently at home, it is more than enough.”
“World-Honored One, household life truly is filled with distractions and attachments. I serve as an attendant to King Prasenajit. When the king goes on outings, we have to ride elephants carrying the consorts and attendants.
Two consorts sit close on either side of me on the elephant’s back, and I am sandwiched between them. When we go downhill, the one in front holds onto my neck, and the one behind holds my shoulder; when we go uphill, it’s the opposite.
These consorts, adorned and fragrant to please the king, are in close contact with me. Yet, at that time, I only focus on three things: first, to control the elephant well, so as not to stray; second, to guard my thoughts, to avoid desires for the consorts, which could lead to disaster; and third, to keep my balance, so I don’t fall. World-Honored One, during those times, no unwholesome thoughts ever arise toward the consorts.”
“Well done! Well done! You are indeed good at guarding your mind,” praised the Buddha.
