时间：09/20/2025 09/21/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
佛说论乐四比丘前缘
昔日，佛陀于舍卫国的祇园精舍弘法度众。一天，有四位出家不久的比丘相约在奈树下坐禅修道。当时正值奈花绽放的季节，美丽的奈花散发出阵阵怡人的清香，不禁让人想起在世间享乐的愉快情景。四人互相闲聊，讨论着世间万物何者最为可爱，能让人获得满足？其中一位比丘，欣赏着眼前的美景，微笑说道：「春暖花开的时节，在青翠的山林原野间郊游嬉戏，是最令人愉快的事情了。」
一位比丘回忆起和亲朋好友聚会的情景，便说：「和亲人相聚酌饮，并一边观赏曼妙的歌舞音声，是多么快乐的事呀！」在旁的比丘则说：「若有富足的金银财宝，华贵的车马服饰，一出门即人人称羡，那不知该有多好呢！」另一位比丘附和着：「要是再有娇妻美妾，身着精致衣裳，香气馥郁，如此恣意享受情爱的欢愉，更是令人快乐。」这四位比丘，就这样你一言、我一句，雀跃地谈论着人间的乐事。
佛陀知道这四人应可度化，只是被世间的欲望牵引，而未能深入思惟无常的道理。于是将这四位比丘唤到面前，询问刚才在树下谈论些什么，显得如此开心？比丘们只好具实禀告。佛陀听了以后，藉此因缘告诉他们：「你们的那些想法都相当危险，只会引导大众走向忧愁、畏惧、危险及死亡，并非长久而真实的快乐。
草木随着时节的更替而成长、雕落；亲人的欢聚总有别离的时刻；财富车马终难逃水、火、官、盗、败家子所劫的命运；而妻妾的美色更是爱憎烦恼的祸首。所以世间的享乐，表面看似美好，其实往往使自己陷入一波又一波的烦恼，招致怨恨灾祸，堕入八难三途，苦痛万分。所以比丘们要看清这个事实，舍弃世间的财色名利，出家精进行道，走向不生不灭的涅盘之路，才是人生最大的乐事。」世尊进一步以偈语劝导：
「爱喜生忧，爱喜生畏，无所爱喜，何忧何畏？
好乐生忧，好乐生畏，无所好乐，何忧何畏？
贪欲生忧，贪欲生畏，解无贪欲，何忧何畏？
贪法戒成，至诚知惭，行身近道，为众所爱。
欲态不出，思正乃语，心无贪爱，必截流度。」
佛陀告诉四位比丘：「过去有一位国王名叫普安，与邻边的四位国王互为亲友。有一次，普安王邀请四位国王到自己的国家作客，连续宴会一个月，饮酒作乐，极尽狂欢。到了临别的那一天，普安王问四位国王：『什么是世间最快乐的事情呢? 』第一位国王说：『当然是我们一起聚会游戏最乐。』另一位国王则说：『我认为亲属欢宴时，一边听着美妙的音乐最令人快乐。』
一位国王接着说道：『有众多的财宝可以恣意取用最令人快乐。』最后一位国王则说：『男欢女爱，恣情贪欢是世间最快乐的事。』普安王告诉他们：『你们所说的，其实都是苦恼、忧畏的根源呀！享乐的当下虽然很快乐，却种下了贪、瞋、痴的种子，将来因缘成熟必定会面临苦果。不如淡泊修道，无求无欲，守住这一念真心，这才是真正的快乐。』四位国王听了齐声赞叹，并且信受奉行。」
佛陀告诉这四位新学比丘：「当时的普安王，就是我的前身，而那四位国王，就是你们四人。过去生你们即已听闻这个道理，今世却又迷失忘却，不解世间苦乐之义，如此生死轮回，何时才有出离的一天？」四位比丘听了佛陀的教诲，心生惭愧，至诚忏悔，精进修行，灭除妄念，断尽贪欲，不久皆证得阿罗汉果。
Date: 09/20/2025 09/21/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Buddha Speaks on the Former Lives of the Four Monks Who Discussed Pleasure
In the past, the Buddha was dwelling at Jetavana Monastery in the kingdom of Śrāvastī, teaching and guiding sentient beings. One day, four monks who had not long ago gone forth into homelessness agreed to sit in meditation under a jujube tree to cultivate the path.
It happened to be the season when the jujube blossoms were in full bloom, and their delightful fragrance drifted gently in the air, naturally bringing to mind the pleasures of worldly enjoyment. The four began to chat idly, discussing what in the world could be considered the most delightful thing that brings people satisfaction.
One monk, gazing at the scenery before him, smiled and said: “The season of warm spring and blossoming flowers, going on an outing in verdant mountains and open fields — that is the most pleasurable thing.”
Another monk, recalling gatherings with relatives and friends, said: “Being together with loved ones, drinking, while enjoying graceful singing and dancing — that is such joy!”
The third monk said: “If one had abundant gold and silver treasures, fine carriages, horses, and clothing, and whenever one went out, everyone admired them — how wonderful that would be!”
The fourth monk added: “And if one had a lovely wife and beautiful concubines, wearing exquisite garments and fragrant with perfume, indulging freely in the pleasures of love — that would be even greater happiness.”
Thus, the four monks, one after another, enthusiastically spoke of the pleasures of the human world.
The Buddha knew that these four could be liberated, but they were still pulled by worldly desires and had yet to deeply contemplate the truth of impermanence. He summoned them and asked: “What were you discussing so happily just now under the tree?”
The monks honestly reported the conversation.
The Buddha, hearing this, took the opportunity to teach:
“What you were thinking is in fact quite dangerous. It only leads people toward sorrow, fear, peril, and death — it is not a lasting or genuine happiness.
Plants and trees grow and wither as the seasons change; the gatherings of relatives inevitably face times of parting; wealth and fine carriages cannot escape the fate of being lost to flood, fire, government seizure, thieves, or the ruinous behavior of heirs; the beauty of wives and concubines is the very source of the afflictions of love and hate.
Thus, worldly pleasures, though they may appear beautiful, often cause one to fall into wave after wave of affliction, attracting resentment and disaster, and plunging one into the eight difficulties and the three lower realms, with immeasurable suffering.
Therefore, monks, see this truth clearly. Abandon the worldly pursuits of wealth, sensuality, fame, and gain. Go forth and diligently cultivate the path, walking toward the unconditioned peace of Nirvāṇa — that is the greatest joy in life.”
The World-Honored One further encouraged them with these verses:
Affection gives rise to sorrow,
Affection gives rise to fear;
Without affection,
What sorrow? What fear?
Delight gives rise to sorrow,
Delight gives rise to fear;
Without delight,
What sorrow? What fear?
Desire gives rise to sorrow,
Desire gives rise to fear;
Free from desire,
What sorrow? What fear?
Through restraint from desire, virtue is fulfilled,
With sincerity and a sense of shame;
One’s conduct is close to the Path,
And one is loved by all.
With lust not manifest,
With right thought and right speech,
With a mind free of craving and clinging,
One will surely cross the flood to the other shore.
The Buddha then told the four monks:
“In the past there was a king named Pu’an, who was close friends with four neighboring kings. On one occasion, King Pu’an invited these four kings to visit his country. They feasted and enjoyed themselves together for an entire month, drinking wine and indulging in merriment.
On the day of parting, King Pu’an asked the four kings: ‘What is the greatest pleasure in the human world?’
The first king said: ‘It is, of course, our gathering together to play and enjoy ourselves.’
The second king said: ‘I think that during a family banquet, listening to beautiful music is the most delightful.’
The third king said: ‘To have abundant treasures and use them freely is the greatest joy.’
The fourth king said: ‘The pleasures of love between men and women, indulging in sensual passion — that is the most enjoyable thing in the world.’
King Pu’an told them: ‘What you have described are all in fact the roots of suffering, worry, and fear. While pleasures bring joy in the moment, they plant the seeds of greed, anger, and delusion. When the conditions ripen, they will surely bear the fruit of suffering.
It is better to live in simplicity and cultivate the Way, with no craving or desire, guarding this one true mind — this is genuine happiness.’
Hearing this, the four kings all praised his words and accepted them with faith, putting them into practice.”
The Buddha then said to the four newly ordained monks:
“At that time, I was King Pu’an, and those four kings were you four. In a past life, you had already heard this principle, yet in this life you have again fallen into delusion and forgotten it, failing to understand the meaning of worldly suffering and joy.
In this way, turning endlessly in birth and death, when will you have the day of liberation?”
The four monks, hearing the Buddha’s teaching, felt deep shame, sincerely repented, and diligently cultivated. They eradicated false thoughts, cut off all craving, and before long, each attained the fruit of Arhatship.
