时间：08/02/2025 08/03/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
笃信佛法渡苦轮
佛陀时代，在舍卫国的东南方，有一条大江，这条江水又深又广，在江河的岸边，住了五百户人家，他们从未听闻过道德的精神及佛法的真谛，人民个性刚强，难调难伏，横行无忌，以贪污欺诈为事业，违法犯纪，并以此为乐。
一日，世尊了知此五百户人家，因宿世累积的福报，如今得度因缘已到，于是世尊来到江边，坐在一棵大树下准备度化他们。村民经过此处，看到佛陀庄严的三十二相，无不为之摄受、欢喜赞叹，并前往佛陀身前礼拜问讯，殷勤问佛陀是否用过斋饭，希望能藉此殊胜因缘供养佛陀。
佛陀慈悲地引导大家席地而坐，并且为大众宣说佛法真理，但是这五百户村人，由于欺诈习气深重，对佛陀的教诲无法生起正信。于是佛陀便化作一位修行人，从江的另一岸踏着水面来到此岸。此人到岸边后，便走到佛陀面前，用虔诚恭敬的心向佛陀顶礼，并长跪合掌，希望能听闻佛陀说法。
大家看了，无不感到惊叹。其中有一个人向前问道：「行者，我们家族住在这江边，已经有好几代了，从未见过有人能够行在水面上的，您是什么人？竟然有如此神通，能在水面上行走，请您告诉我们好吗？」行者答：「我住在此岸对面的村落，因为深信佛法，一直殷切期望能求无上智慧，当一听到佛陀在此岸说法时，马上想搭船来见佛陀。
但是，当时并没有渡船，便急着问那岸边的一户人家：『这条河水有多深？』他答：『这水只不过到您的脚踝，您可以直接涉水而过。』听完他的话，自己并没有怀疑的念头，就从那边走了过来，我根本没有什么神通啊！」
佛陀便赞叹道：「善哉！善哉！人若能够坚持信受佛法，便可以渡过生死苦海。能踏水面渡过这条数里宽的江面，又有什么好惊奇的呢？」于是世尊，即说偈道：「信能渡苦海，摄持为船师，精进除苦恼，智慧到彼岸；士有诚信行，为圣所称誉，爱乐无为者，一切缚皆解；信乃得道行，奉法致灭度，从闻得智慧，所到皆光明；诚信与戒律，慧能行世道，健夫度因慧，从此脱苦海。」
村里的人听完佛陀的偈子，并亲眼看到对佛法信心的证明，便一同在佛陀的座下，受持三皈五戒，从此对佛法更加深信不疑，不再退转，并依佛陀的教诲，欢喜奉行。因此佛法在此村落普遍传扬，人们也改恶向善，勤修善法，整个村庄到处呈现富乐欢喜的景象。
Date: 08/02/2025 08/03/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
Deep Faith in the Dharma Leads One Across the Sea of Suffering
During the time of the Buddha, in the southeastern region of the Kingdom of Śrāvastī, there was a great river—deep and wide. Along the banks of this river lived five hundred households. These people had never heard of moral values or the true principles of the Buddha’s teachings. Their natures were harsh and difficult to tame, unruly and lawless. They took pleasure in corruption and deceit, made a living through fraud, and found joy in violating rules and laws.
One day, the World-Honored One perceived that these five hundred households had, due to past karmic merit, ripened conditions and were now ready to be liberated. So the Buddha came to the riverside and sat beneath a large tree, preparing to guide them.
As the villagers passed by and saw the Buddha’s dignified appearance—adorned with the Thirty-Two Marks of a Great Man—they were awestruck, filled with admiration and joy. Many approached him with reverence, bowed, and respectfully inquired whether the Buddha had already taken his meal. Wishing to create a meritorious connection, they offered to provide alms.
The Buddha, with great compassion, invited everyone to sit on the ground, and then he began to expound the true Dharma. However, the people of the village, deeply rooted in their deceitful habits, were unable to give rise to right faith in the Buddha’s words.
At that moment, the Buddha manifested a miracle. He transformed into the appearance of a mendicant who, from the far bank of the river, walked calmly across the water to reach the near side. Upon reaching the shore, this ascetic approached the Buddha with sincere reverence, knelt down with palms joined, and requested to hear the Dharma.
Everyone was astonished. One man stepped forward and asked, “Practitioner, our family has lived by this river for many generations, and never have we seen anyone walk upon the water like you. Who are you? How do you have such powers? Please tell us.”
The mendicant replied, “I live in a village on the opposite bank. Because I deeply believe in the Dharma, I have long yearned to seek supreme wisdom. When I heard that the Buddha was teaching the Dharma on this side of the river, I immediately wished to cross over.
But at that time, there was no ferry. So I asked someone on the riverbank, ‘How deep is this river?’ He replied, ‘The water only comes up to your ankles—you can walk right through.’ I did not doubt his words and simply walked across. I don’t have any special powers at all.”
The Buddha then praised him, saying, “Excellent! Excellent! When one can uphold faith in the Dharma, one can cross the sea of birth and death. What is so surprising about crossing a few miles of water when one has faith?” The World-Honored One then spoke this verse:
“Faith can carry one across the sea of suffering;
Discipline is the boatman that steers the way.
Diligence removes all afflictions,
And wisdom leads to the other shore.
One who has faith and practices truth
Is praised by the noble ones.
Loving the unconditioned,
They are freed from all fetters.
Through faith, one begins the path;
Through Dharma, one reaches Nirvana.
Hearing the teachings brings forth wisdom,
Illuminating all places it touches.
Faith and precepts enable wisdom’s path;
The valiant cross through the strength of insight,
And from that, they escape the ocean of suffering.”
Hearing this verse and witnessing with their own eyes the power of faith in the Dharma, the villagers all took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and received the Five Precepts. From that day forward, their faith deepened and never wavered. They joyfully practiced according to the Buddha’s teachings.
Thus, the Dharma spread throughout the village, transforming its people. They abandoned evil, embraced virtue, diligently cultivated good deeds, and the entire village was filled with prosperity, happiness, and joy.
