时间：11/22/2025 11/23/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
祭树神的老翁
从前，有一个家财万贯的老翁，生性贪婪，但非常吝啬，喜爱优渥的享受，却舍不得花钱。
一日黄昏，彩霞隐隐泛着红光，微风轻轻地吹着，庭园中的老柏树，也挲挲地喝着；老翁伫立在园中，遐想自己大快朵颐地吃着羊肉。突然，心中暗生一个既能免费吃肉又不失尊严的计谋。
老翁命仆人前去叫唤自己的儿子来，然后佯装虔诚地站在老树前，双手合十，喃喃地祷告：「树神啊！望您庇佑我代代富贵，世世吉祥。」随后，老翁对儿子说：「儿啊！我们之所以巨富，都是蒙老柏树的庇荫，你们每年要以羊做为牲品，隆重的祭祀树神。」儿子们便依父亲之意，屠杀羊群，并盖了一座祠堂来祭祀树神。就这样，老翁总有吃不完的羊肉，很是得意。
年复一年，老翁逐渐衰老，并生了一场大病，临终前，梦见羊群来索命，结果，往生后竟投生到自家的羊群中。
这一天，又到了祭祀的日子，老翁的儿子正巧选中了老翁所转世的这一头羊，这时，老翁才心生后悔：「儿啊！这老柏树并非树神，只是我贪图口腹之欲罢了！儿子，别再一错再错，否则果报难逃啊！」当老翁的儿子拿起屠刀正宰向这头羊时，恰好有一个罗汉到这里来乞食，阻止了这场杀戮。
罗汉指着羊，对老翁的儿子说：「别杀！这头羊是你父亲！」并以神力，使他见到这头羊的前生，老翁的儿子看了，不禁恸然泪下，悔过万分，并誓言：「从此之后，不再杀生！愿尽形寿能广植褔田、广修供养」。
Date: 11/22/2025 11/23/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Old Man Who Worshipped the Tree Spirit
Long ago, there was an old man who was extremely wealthy but also greedy and miserly. He loved luxurious living, yet could not bear to spend his money.
One evening at dusk, as the sky glowed faintly red and the wind gently blew through his garden, the old cypress tree rustled softly in the breeze. Standing in the garden, the old man began to imagine himself feasting on delicious lamb meat. Suddenly, a cunning plan arose in his mind—a way to enjoy free meat while keeping his dignity.
He ordered a servant to summon his sons, then stood solemnly before the old tree, pressed his palms together, and prayed aloud:
“O Tree Spirit, may you bless my family with wealth and prosperity for generations to come.”
Then he said to his sons, “My children, our riches are thanks to the protection of this old cypress. Each year, you must offer a sheep as a sacrifice to the Tree Spirit.”
Following their father’s instructions, the sons slaughtered sheep and even built a small shrine to “worship” the tree. In this way, the old man always had plenty of lamb to eat and was very pleased with himself.
As years passed, the old man grew frail and eventually fell gravely ill. On his deathbed, he dreamt that a flock of sheep came to claim his life. After death, he was reborn as a sheep—ironically, among his own household’s flock.
When the annual sacrifice day came again, his son happened to choose the very sheep that the old man had become. Realizing his fate, the old man’s spirit within the sheep cried out in regret:
“My son! This old cypress was never a tree spirit—it was only my own greed for meat! Do not continue this mistake, or you too will suffer retribution!”
Just as his son raised the knife to slaughter the sheep, a venerable Arhat arrived at the house seeking alms. Seeing what was about to happen, he stopped the killing and said, “Do not harm this sheep—it is your father!”
Using his divine power, the Arhat revealed the sheep’s past life to the son. Witnessing the truth, the son burst into tears of remorse and vowed:
“From this day forward, I will never kill again. I will use my life to plant blessings, make offerings, and cultivate virtue for all beings.”
