时间：11/29/2025 11/30/2025
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
五百商人入海采宝缘
佛陀在舍卫国给孤独园时，城中有一商主带领五百位商人一起入海采宝。中途因商船破损，商人们只好赶紧返航，并且祈求诸神护佑，让他们能安然到岸。平安归来的商人们仍不死心，几天后又再度出航，没想到接连两次的航程，商船都受到损坏，所以一行人只好中途折返，保命要紧。
这位商主因为福德深厚，所以经历了几次海难，都安然无事。一日，诸事不顺的商主在愁忧苦恼之际，突然想到：「听说佛陀具足一切智慧，而且心怀慈悲，哀愍众生。我若再度出海寻宝，应当称佛名号，以求护佑。若能平安归来，我愿将所获得的珍宝半数供养佛陀。」于是商主又招集了一批商人入海寻宝，并且在旅途中不断诵持佛陀的圣号。没想到，此次入海真的满载而归。
回家后，商主欢喜地把玩这些宝物，愈看愈舍不得将其中的一半供养佛陀。心想：「如果将一半珍宝供养佛陀，自己所剩无几，还不如将所有宝物送给心爱的妻子，然后再跟她要些钱，去市集买些熏香供养佛。」决定后，商主就跟妻子要了两钱去市集买香，并且送至精舍燃香供佛。
佛陀知道商主得度因缘已经成熟，于是以神通力将他所供养的香烟变如烟雾，遍覆整个精舍。商主见此景象，不禁忏悔自责：「我怎吝惜将宝物供养给佛陀呢？如来有大功德力，能令此微弱的香烟遍满精舍，实在希有难得。我应当准备珍馐佳肴，供养佛陀。」于是商主至诚长跪，祈请佛陀至家中应供，佛陀默然应允。
隔天，商主准备好饮食后，即派人至精舍恭请佛陀，佛陀便与诸比丘前往商主家接受供养。斋僧完毕，佛陀为其开示悭贪的过恶，商主听了心开意解，于是将入海采集来的宝珠供养佛陀。没想到，宝珠腾于虚空之中，变成宝盖，佛陀走到哪儿，便移动到哪儿。
商主见此殊胜景象，不仅五体投地至诚礼拜，更发大誓愿：「愿以此供养功德，回向于未来世，作盲冥众生之眼目；无归依者，为作归依；无救护者，为作救护；无解脱者，为作解脱；无安隐者，为作安隐；未涅盘者，使令涅盘。」佛陀听其誓愿后即默然微笑，从口中散发出五色光芒，光芒绕佛三匝后，还从顶入。
阿难见佛微笑，于是向前请示：「世尊，诸佛如来威仪庄重，没有因缘不会破颜微笑，今日世尊以何因缘微笑？希望世尊能慈悲为我们开示。」佛陀告诉阿难：「这位商主以惭愧心来供养我，因此功德，所以他将不会堕入三恶道中，且会受生天上人中，常享快乐；三大阿僧祇劫后，当得作佛，名为『宝盛』，能广度众生，不可称量。」众比丘听闻开示后，皆依循佛陀教诲，精进修行。
Date: 11/29/2025 11/30/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Story of the Five Hundred Merchants Who Went to Sea in Search of Treasure
When the Buddha was residing at Jetavana Monastery in Śrāvastī, there was a merchant leader in the city who led five hundred merchants to sea in search of treasures. During the voyage, their ship was damaged, and the merchants were forced to turn back, praying to the gods for protection so that they might safely reach the shore.
Having returned unharmed, they were still unwilling to give up and set out again after a few days. Unexpectedly, on both voyages, their ships were again damaged, and so they once more had to return midway, realizing that saving their lives was most important.
Because the merchant leader had great accumulated merit, he remained safe through several shipwrecks. One day, when things were not going well and he was filled with worry, he suddenly thought:
“It is said that the Buddha possesses perfect wisdom and great compassion, pitying all living beings. If I go to sea again in search of treasures, I should chant the Buddha’s name for protection. If I return safely, I vow to offer half of my treasures to the Buddha.”
So the merchant gathered another group of merchants and set sail once more. Throughout the journey, he continuously recited the Buddha’s holy name. To his astonishment, this time they returned fully loaded with treasures.
When he returned home, the merchant joyfully examined the jewels, but the more he looked at them, the less willing he was to give half to the Buddha. He thought,
“If I give half of these treasures to the Buddha, I will have almost nothing left. It would be better to give all the jewels to my beloved wife, then ask her for a little money to buy incense to offer to the Buddha.”
Having made up his mind, the merchant asked his wife for two coins, went to the market to buy incense, and brought it to the monastery to make offerings to the Buddha.
The Buddha, knowing that the merchant’s time for spiritual liberation had come, used his supernatural power to make the incense smoke spread like a cloud, covering the entire monastery. Seeing this miraculous sight, the merchant felt deep remorse and self-blame:
“How could I have been so stingy as to withhold treasures from the Buddha? The Tathāgata’s great virtue has made even this faint incense smoke fill the entire monastery—how rare and wondrous this is! I should now prepare fine food and delicacies to offer to the Buddha.”
So the merchant knelt sincerely and invited the Buddha to his home for a meal. The Buddha silently accepted.
The next day, after preparing the food, the merchant sent messengers to invite the Buddha. The Buddha, accompanied by the monks, went to the merchant’s house to receive the offering. After the meal, the Buddha expounded on the faults of greed and stinginess. Hearing this, the merchant’s heart opened with understanding, and he offered all the jewels he had collected from the sea to the Buddha.
Unexpectedly, the jewels rose into the air and transformed into a jeweled canopy that followed the Buddha wherever he went. Witnessing this marvelous sight, the merchant prostrated himself on the ground in deep reverence and made a great vow:
“By the merit of this offering, may I, in future lives, become the eyes for the blind and ignorant; a refuge for those without refuge; a protector for those without protection; a liberator for those without liberation; a source of peace for those without peace; and may I guide all beings to nirvana.”
Hearing this vow, the Buddha smiled silently. From his mouth radiated five-colored light, which circled the Buddha three times before entering the crown of his head.
Venerable Ānanda, seeing the Buddha smile, stepped forward and asked,
“World-Honored One, the Tathāgatas are always composed and dignified—they do not smile without reason. What is the cause for your smile today? May the World-Honored One kindly explain it to us.”
The Buddha said to Ānanda,
“This merchant, because of his remorseful and humble heart in making this offering, has gained great merit. He will never again fall into the three evil realms but will be reborn among gods and humans, always enjoying happiness. After three great kalpas, he will become a Buddha named Ratnabhadra (‘Treasure Abundance’), who will widely deliver countless beings.”
Upon hearing this teaching, the monks were filled with joy and diligently practiced according to the Buddha’s instruction.
