时间：02/22/2025 02/23/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
提违遇比丘得救
久远以前，在裴扇阇国中，有一婆罗门女名叫提违，提违家中虽然非常富有，但却早年守寡，并且上无父母、膝下又无子女可依怙，总是孤伶伶的一人，终日闷闷不乐的。
当时婆罗门中有一习俗，若是生活中总是不顺遂、不如意的人，可以先设大会斋供养一百位婆罗门后，再以家中所有的财产供养五百位婆罗门，而后到恒河水边，用木材堆架成床，自己躺在上面，点火烧掉这个色身，此时婆罗门会为此人祝愿，如此便可灭除过往的一切过罪，往后生生世世所生之处，六亲眷属众多，寿命无量，快乐无穷。
因此，婆罗门中的一些长老们，在商量过后，一大群人满心欢喜地往提违的家出发，准备去告诉提违这个解脱的方法。提违听完之后，想想自己一生命运乖舛，希望能早日脱离此种生活，于是同意了这个方法，便马上命仆人，上山砍材及清点家中的所有钱财。这样的举动，使得裴扇阇国的人们议论纷纷，大街小巷中都在讨论着这件事情。
有一位名叫钵底婆的比丘，正好路经此国。钵底婆比丘精进持戒，博学多闻，智慧聪颖，辩才无碍，总以大慈悲心教化天下，使人们因得法受益，而能改邪就正、舍恶修善。钵底婆比丘听见了人人议论的话题，心生怜愍，便迅速地赶往提违的家中。
钵底婆比丘问：「夫人为什么准备了那么多的柴火呢？」提违回答：「我是要烧掉这个不幸的身体，除灭罪殃呀！」钵底婆比丘说：「罪业并不是随着身体的毁灭，就可以消逝的，人们的祸福是随心而起。夫人这样的做法就像有病的人，已经是痛苦不堪，又遇到可恶的人，来到病人床前胡乱骂之后，又打了病人一巴掌，这时病人会有什么样的反应呢？」
提违回答：「这个病人的忿恨、痛苦，一定是更增百千倍吧！」钵底婆比丘答：「正是如此！夫人要知道，当大猛火烧起的时候，气息还未断绝，神识还未离开身体，此时身心被火烧烤，这样的苦毒如何能让人得解脱？甚至命终时，因为最后一念瞋恨心起，而堕入地狱，所受的苦又更增百千万倍。一失人身万劫不复，想要离开地狱之苦都已经是遥遥无期了，怎么有可能得到真正的解脱？」
提违听完钵底婆比丘的话后，心开意解，想要自杀的念头因此而息灭，并且请钵底婆开示真正灭罪的方法。钵底婆比丘说：「前心作恶，如云覆月。后心起善，如炬消暗。罪恶之源，都是由身、口、意业而来。今当至心恳切的忏悔，发愿从今以后，改恶修善，守持十善，如此生生世世直至成就佛道。」钵底婆比丘说完，便为提违授十善法。
提违欢喜踊跃，即准备种种上好斋食及珍贵宝物，要供养钵底婆比丘作为报答，并恳请比丘能留在此地教化。钵底婆比丘说：「夫人受了十善法，就是三宝弟子，今后要以十善法教人，这就是对我的最好报答。如今你已能信受正法，已经得度，我不宜在此处久留，因为还有更多的人须要度化。」说完后，钵底婆比丘不带走任何一物，便离去了。
提违自从听了钵底婆比丘的开示之后，对钵底婆比丘的开示、教诲没有任何的怀疑，一心一意的精进用功，信受三宝，广行布施，始终如一。运用各种的方便，使身旁的人受持十善，大众还能再以十善辗转地教人。提违知道是三宝让她的生命得到重生，让她的人生找到了真正的光明大路，所以对三宝的信心坚固不移。命终之后更生天为天人，受福无量。
Date: 02/22/2025 02/23/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Rescue of Lady Tiwei by a Monk
Long ago, in the kingdom of Paishanja, there lived a Brahmin woman named Tiwei. Although she was born into a wealthy family, she had become a widow at an early age. With no parents above her and no children to rely on, she lived a lonely life, filled with sadness and sorrow.
At that time, there was a custom among the Brahmins: if someone found their life filled with endless misfortunes and suffering, they could perform a great almsgiving ceremony by offering food to one hundred Brahmins. Then, they would donate all their wealth to five hundred Brahmins.
Finally, they would go to the Ganges River, build a wooden pyre, lie upon it, and set it aflame, burning their body to ashes. The Brahmins would then offer blessings, believing that by doing so, all past sins would be extinguished. In their future rebirths, they would be surrounded by many loving relatives, enjoy limitless lifespan, and live in eternal happiness.
One day, a group of elder Brahmins gathered to discuss this practice and happily set off to Tiwei’s residence to inform her of this “path to liberation.”
After listening to their explanation, Tiwei, reflecting on the suffering and misfortune in her life, longed to escape from it as soon as possible. She agreed to follow their instructions. Without hesitation, she ordered her servants to gather firewood from the mountains and calculate all the wealth in her household.
News of her decision quickly spread across the kingdom of Paishanja, and soon, people in every street and alley were discussing the event.
At that time, a Buddhist monk named Bhaddipā happened to be passing through the kingdom. Bhaddipā was a monk of great virtue, known for his strict discipline, vast knowledge, and eloquent wisdom. He traveled the land, teaching with great compassion, guiding people away from evil and towards goodness, and helping them attain the true benefits of the Dharma.
When he overheard the discussions among the people, his heart was filled with compassion. Without delay, he hurried to Tiwei’s home.
Upon arriving, he asked, “Lady, why have you gathered so much firewood?”
Tiwei replied, “I intend to burn this unfortunate body of mine to eliminate my past sins and sufferings!”
Hearing this, Bhaddipā gently advised,
”Sins are not erased simply by destroying the body. One’s fortune and misfortune arise from the mind itself. What you are about to do is like a sick person, already in great pain, being approached by a wicked man who insults and then slaps them. Tell me, how would such a patient react?”
Tiwei thought for a moment and replied, “Their anger and suffering would surely multiply a thousandfold!”
Bhaddipā nodded and continued,
”Precisely! Lady, you must understand—when the raging flames engulf your body, your breath will not yet have ceased, and your consciousness will not yet have departed. At that moment, both your body and mind will be tortured by fire. How could such agony possibly lead to liberation?
Worse still, at the moment of death, overwhelmed by extreme pain, you may give rise to great hatred, which will cause you to fall into the hell realms. There, the suffering will be a million times worse than anything you have known! Once you lose this precious human body, you may never regain it for countless eons. Escaping from the torments of hell will be nearly impossible—how, then, could you ever hope for true liberation?”
Upon hearing Bhaddipā’s words, Tiwei’s mind suddenly became clear. Her desire to end her life instantly vanished, and she humbly asked the monk to teach her the true path to eradicating sin.
Bhaddipā then instructed her:
”The evil of past thoughts is like clouds obscuring the moon.
The goodness of future thoughts is like a torch dispelling darkness.
All sin arises from the actions of the body, speech, and mind.
Now, sincerely repent with deep devotion.
From this day forth, resolve to abandon evil and cultivate virtue.
Uphold the Ten Virtuous Deeds,
And in lifetime after lifetime,
You shall walk steadily toward the attainment of Buddhahood.”
After speaking, Bhaddipā formally bestowed upon Tiwei the Ten Virtuous Precepts.
Filled with immense joy and gratitude, Tiwei immediately prepared a great offering of fine food and precious treasures, hoping to repay the monk and persuade him to remain and continue teaching.
However, Bhaddipā gently declined, saying,
”Lady, having accepted the Ten Virtuous Precepts, you are now a disciple of the Three Jewels. Your best way of repaying me is to teach others the Ten Virtuous Deeds, so that they too may benefit.
Now that you have awakened to the right path, you have already been saved. But many others still need guidance. I cannot stay here any longer, for my duty is to continue helping those who are still lost in suffering.”
After saying this, Bhaddipā departed, taking nothing with him.
From that day on, Tiwei wholeheartedly followed the Dharma, never doubting Bhaddipā’s teachings. She diligently practiced, devotedly upheld the Three Jewels, and generously gave to others. Through various skillful means, she inspired those around her to follow the Ten Virtuous Deeds. The people she helped continued to spread the teachings, ensuring that the righteous Dharma flourished.
Tiwei deeply understood that it was the Three Jewels that had given her a new life and led her to find the true path of light. Her faith in the Three Jewels remained unshakable.
At the end of her life, she was reborn in the heavenly realms, where she enjoyed boundless blessings as a celestial being.
