时间：09/27/2025 09/28/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
鹦鹉王与恶受王
从前在印度的迦尸国，国王名叫恶受，不行善道，百般虐待子民，做了许许多多的坏事，乃至远从各地来的商人，所带着的珍奇宝物都被他夺取，也不付报酬。此事被大家相互传说着，以致恶名远播。那时，树林中有一只鹦鹉王，听到过路的人在谈论国王的恶行，心想：我虽是鸟，尚且知道这样做是不对的，何况是一国之王，反而被讥笑怒骂，岂不是比禽兽还不如？我应当去见国王，劝国王改恶行善。
于是鹦鹉王展翅高飞来到国王的花园，这时国王与夫人正在园里游玩。鹦鹉王发出声音说道：「国王暴虐无道，所有的人和鸟兽，都愤怒难平。你们是人民的父母，怎能如此？」夫人听了，瞋火大起，于是派人捕捉鹦鹉王。
夫人把捉到的鹦鹉，交给国王。国王问鹦鹉：「你为什么骂我？」鹦鹉回答：「我说国王做事不对，是想帮助国王，并不敢骂国王。」国王问：「我做了什么不对的事？」鹦鹉回答：「因为有七件事，会危害国王。」
国王问：「哪七件事？」鹦鹉答道：「一沉迷女色，不听受忠言；二嗜好饮酒，不理国政；三贪爱下棋，不敬贤者；四打猎杀生，没有慈心；五好出恶言，不说好话；六异常加重赋税和罚金，违反常规；七无故夺取人民的财产。这七件事，将会危害国王。另外还有三件事，会败坏国家：一是亲近谄媚邪恶的人；二是不接近忠臣良将；三好征伐他国，不体恤百姓。这三件事不除，国家早晚将有倾败的危难。」
鹦鹉王又道：「国王应如桥梁，济度万民；如天秤，对待亲疏一律公平；如大道，不背离圣贤的脚步；如太阳，普照世间；如月亮，带给万物清凉；如父母，关爱慈祥；如天空，覆盖一切；如大地，滋养万物；如明火，为百姓烧除恶患；如清水，润泽四方；如转轮圣王，以十善道，教化众生。如此天下人民自会归顺敬仰。」
恶受王听了如此至真至诚的话，深觉惭愧，说：「我为人王，所做无道，危害百姓伤及国家声誉，愿至诚忏悔前愆，遵从鹦鹉王的教导，修行正道。」于是国内良善风气逐渐转盛，全国上下都生起真诚崇敬之心，所有百姓无不欢喜。国王也因此洗刷了过去的恶名。
Date: 09/27/2025 09/28/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Parrot King and King Evil-Reception
Long ago, in the kingdom of Kāśi in India, there was a king named Evil-Reception. He did not follow the path of virtue, but instead abused and mistreated his people in every way, committing countless evil deeds. Even merchants who came from far-off lands with rare and precious goods had their treasures seized by him without any payment.
This matter became widely known as people spread the news from mouth to mouth, and his evil reputation spread far and wide. At that time, there was a Parrot King living in the forest. Hearing travelers speak of the king’s misdeeds, the Parrot King thought:
“Although I am a bird, even I know such actions are wrong. How much more should a ruler of a whole country understand this? Instead, he is mocked and cursed — is he not worse than beasts? I should go to see the king and persuade him to abandon evil and practice good.”
So the Parrot King spread his wings and flew swiftly to the royal garden, where the king and his queen happened to be strolling. The Parrot King cried out:
“The king is cruel and without virtue. All the people and the birds and beasts are filled with anger that cannot be calmed. You are the father and mother of the people — how can you act like this?”
When the queen heard this, anger blazed within her, and she ordered her attendants to capture the Parrot King.
When the parrot was caught, the queen handed it over to the king. The king asked the parrot: “Why did you scold me?”
The parrot replied: “I spoke of your wrongdoing because I wished to help you, not because I dared to insult you.”
The king asked: “What wrongdoing have I committed?”
The parrot replied: “Because there are seven things that will bring harm to a king.”
The king asked: “What are the seven?”
The parrot answered:
Being obsessed with women and refusing to heed loyal advice.
Loving to drink wine and neglecting state affairs.
Being addicted to playing chess and showing no respect for the virtuous.
Hunting and killing living beings without compassion.
Speaking harshly and never speaking kindly.
Excessively increasing taxes and fines, going against established norms.
Seizing the property of the people without cause.
“These seven things will bring harm to the king.
“In addition, there are three things that will ruin a nation:
Being close to flattering and wicked people.
Avoiding loyal ministers and capable generals.
Enjoying waging war on other countries without caring for the people.
“If these three are not removed, the country will sooner or later face the danger of collapse.”
The Parrot King continued:
“A king should be like a bridge, carrying the people across;
like a balance scale, treating the near and far with equal fairness;
like a great road, never straying from the footsteps of the sages;
like the sun, shining upon all under heaven;
like the moon, bringing coolness to all beings;
like parents, loving and compassionate;
like the sky, covering everything;
like the earth, nourishing all things;
like a bright flame, burning away the people’s evils;
like clear water, moistening the four directions;
like a Wheel-Turning Sage King, using the Ten Wholesome Paths to teach and transform all beings.
If this is so, then the people of the world will naturally submit and look upon you with reverence.”
When King Evil-Reception heard such sincere and heartfelt words, he felt deep shame and said:
“I am a human king, yet I have acted without the Way, harming the people and damaging the reputation of the nation. I am willing to sincerely repent of my past faults, follow the teachings of the Parrot King, and cultivate the right path.”
From then on, the good and wholesome customs of the land gradually flourished. The entire country, high and low, developed a genuine heart of respect and admiration, and all the people were joyful. The king thus cleansed himself of his former evil name.
