时间：03/01/2025 03/02/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
弗加沙王得道缘
佛陀时代，弗加沙王与摩揭陀国的瓶沙王非常友好。一天，弗加沙王将一朵由金、银、琉璃……等七宝装饰而成的花送给瓶沙王，瓶沙王知道弗加沙王未曾听闻佛法，于是将花转供养佛陀。
瓶沙王告诉佛陀：「弗加沙王是我的好友，他送给我这朵珍贵庄严的七宝花，现在我将它转供养佛陀，希望他能藉此功德，放下成见，心开意解，并且前来拜见佛陀，听经闻法，从此敬重三宝。
但是我现在有一个困惑，就是不知要准备什么东西来回报他的馈赠？」佛陀告诉瓶沙王：「你就书写《十二因缘经》送给弗加沙王，他得到此经，一定会开始信受佛法。」
瓶沙王听了之后，回去马上抄写经卷，另外又附上一段话给弗加沙王：「你送了这么珍贵的宝花给我，我也以佛法之花回赠，若能思惟其中义理，必能明了因缘果报的道理。希望你收到后，可以马上诵读，以便同尝法味。」
果然，弗加沙王读诵经典后反复思惟，当下便信解法义。他赞叹地说：「佛法实在是微妙精深，能够使人心神安定、国家兴荣，而昔日所追求的财、色、名、食、睡等五欲之乐，原来就是烦恼的根本。累劫以来我执迷不悟，今日才看清人生的真相，世间的一切并没有什么值得好贪恋享乐的。」于是弗加沙王召集群臣，宣布将王位交给太子后，便自行剃发出家。
出了家的弗加沙王，欲向佛陀求授教法及戒律，便着衣持钵一路行脚前往王舍城。到了城外，由于天色已晚，弗加沙王决定在制陶人家过夜，以便第二天一早入城托钵后，即可前去精舍向佛陀乞戒。
佛陀以神通力知道弗加沙王明日进城托钵时，将会意外身亡，不但无缘见佛，更遑论听经闻法。于是佛陀心生悲悯，化身为寻常比丘，前往制陶人家，欲求寄宿。主人说：「稍早也有一位沙门前来寄宿，现在正在窑窟里，你可以跟他同住一晚。」于是佛陀抱了一捆干草前往窑窟，找一个角落坐下。
佛陀问：「这位沙门，请问你从哪儿来啊？你的老师是谁呢？是什么样的因缘让你想要出家？你是否见过佛陀呢？」
弗加沙王回答：「我从未见过佛陀，只是看了《十二因缘经》后，便发心出家修行。我准备明天入城托钵后，就去求见佛陀！」佛陀听了，告诉他：「人的生命是非常危脆的，朝夕之间变化迅速，根本无法预知无常何时会降临身上。
我们平常就要观照身体是由地、水、火、风四大假合，一旦死亡败坏时，只是四大组合归还本位，毋需惊慌恐怖。同时，也要保持觉性，远离妄想，一心专念佛法僧三宝；平时也要多做布施、严持净戒，体会无常的真理，若能如此，则如同亲见佛陀一样殊胜。如果你只是想着明天要见佛陀，是没有什么益处的！」于是，佛陀又说了一首偈子：
「夫人得善利，乃来自归佛，是故当昼夜，
常念佛法众。己知自觉意，是为佛弟子，
常当昼夜念，佛与法及众。念身念非常，
念戒布施德，空不愿无想，昼夜当念是。」
接着，佛陀又为弗加沙王开示苦空无常之理，弗加沙王一心思惟，摄心入定，即证得阿那含果。佛陀知道弗加沙王已契悟真理，于是恢复本来光明庄严的佛身。弗加沙王看了惊喜万分，马上顶礼佛陀。佛陀再次叮咛他：「无常来临时，千万不要害怕！」弗加沙王则敬诺将依教奉行。
隔天一早，弗加沙王进城托钵，结果在城门附近，被一只刚生产完为了保护小牛的母牛，以牛角刺腹而亡，因为已证悟道果，死后往生至阿那含天。佛陀知道后，便派遣弟子为他火化，并且造塔。佛陀告诫弟子们：「罪业产生的根源，不可不谨慎小心啊！」
Date: 03/01/2025 03/02/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Attainment of Fruition by King Vagga
During the time of the Buddha, King Vagga was very close friends with King Bimbisāra of the Kingdom of Magadha. One day, King Vagga gifted King Bimbisāra a flower adorned with the seven precious materials, including gold, silver, and lapis lazuli.
Knowing that King Vagga had never heard the teachings of the Buddha, King Bimbisāra decided to offer the flower to the Buddha instead. King Bimbisāra told the Buddha, “King Vagga is my dear friend.
He gifted me this precious and magnificent seven-jewel flower, and now I offer it to you in the hope that through this merit, he may let go of his prejudices, open his mind, and come to pay homage to you, listen to the Dharma, and from then on, revere the Three Jewels. However, I have one concern—I do not know what I should prepare to reciprocate his generous gift.”
The Buddha told King Bimbisāra, “You should transcribe the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination Sūtra and send it to King Vagga. Once he receives this scripture, he will surely begin to have faith in the Dharma.”
Upon hearing this, King Bimbisāra immediately transcribed the scripture and included a message to King Vagga: “You have gifted me such a precious and magnificent jewel flower, and in return, I offer you the flower of the Dharma.
If you contemplate its meaning, you will surely understand the principles of cause, condition, and result. I hope that once you receive it, you will read and recite it at once so that you may taste the flavor of the Dharma.”
Indeed, after reading and reciting the scripture repeatedly, King Vagga deeply contemplated its meaning and immediately developed faith and understanding of the Dharma. He exclaimed in praise, “The Dharma is truly subtle and profound! It brings peace to the mind and prosperity to the nation.
The wealth, beauty, fame, food, and sleep I once pursued were, in fact, the very roots of affliction. For countless lifetimes, I have been deluded, but today I finally see the truth of life. There is nothing in this world truly worth greedily craving and indulging in.”
Thus, King Vagga gathered his ministers and announced that he would abdicate the throne to his prince and shave his head to become a monk.
After renouncing his royal status, King Vagga wished to seek the teachings and precepts from the Buddha. He put on monastic robes, took his alms bowl, and began his journey on foot toward Rājagṛha. As night fell before he reached the city, he decided to stay overnight at a potter’s house so that he could enter the city for alms in the morning and then visit the Buddha at the monastery to formally receive the precepts.
Using his divine insight, the Buddha foresaw that King Vagga would unexpectedly die while collecting alms the next day. Not only would he be unable to see the Buddha, but he would also miss the opportunity to listen to the Dharma.
Filled with compassion, the Buddha manifested as an ordinary monk and went to the potter’s house, seeking shelter for the night. The potter said, “Earlier, another monk also came to stay the night. He is currently resting inside the kiln. You may stay there with him.”
The Buddha took a bundle of dry grass and entered the kiln, sitting in a corner. He asked, “Venerable monk, where do you come from? Who is your teacher? What inspired you to renounce the world? Have you ever met the Buddha?”
King Vagga replied, “I have never seen the Buddha before. However, after reading the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination Sūtra, I resolved to become a monk and cultivate the path. I plan to enter the city for alms tomorrow and then go to see the Buddha!”
Hearing this, the Buddha said, “Human life is extremely fragile, changing rapidly from morning to evening. We cannot predict when impermanence will arrive. We must always contemplate that the body is merely a temporary combination of the four great elements—earth, water, fire, and wind. When we die and decay, these elements simply return to their original state.
There is no need for fear or distress. At the same time, one should maintain mindfulness, avoid delusions, and wholeheartedly take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha. One should also practice generosity, uphold pure precepts, and realize the truth of impermanence. If you do this, it is just as meritorious as personally seeing the Buddha. Simply thinking about meeting the Buddha tomorrow will not bring you any real benefit!”
Then, the Buddha spoke a verse:
”It is truly fortunate for one to take refuge in the Buddha.
Thus, one should day and night,
Always be mindful of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha.
Those who realize self-awareness,
Are truly disciples of the Buddha.
Day and night, they should constantly reflect on:
Impermanence of the body,
Precepts, generosity, and merit,
Emptiness, non-attachment, and cessation of thoughts.
These should be contemplated day and night.”
The Buddha then further expounded on the doctrines of suffering, emptiness, and impermanence. Deeply absorbed in these teachings, King Vagga concentrated his mind, entered meditative absorption, and attained Anāgāmi (the fruit of non-returner). The Buddha, seeing that King Vagga had realized the truth, restored his original, radiant, and magnificent Buddha form.
King Vagga was overjoyed upon seeing this and immediately prostrated to the Buddha. The Buddha once again reminded him, “When impermanence comes, do not be afraid!” King Vagga respectfully accepted the teaching and vowed to follow it faithfully.
The next morning, King Vagga entered the city for alms. Near the city gate, he was fatally gored in the abdomen by a mother cow who had just given birth and was protecting her calf. However, since he had attained the fruit of non-returner, he was reborn in the Anāgāmi Heaven upon his death.
Upon hearing this, the Buddha instructed his disciples to perform cremation rites for King Vagga and build a stupa in his honor. The Buddha then admonished his disciples, “The root of evil karma must be carefully guarded against!”
