时间：01/10/2026 01/11/2026
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
长者夫妇造塔生天
佛陀时代，在舍卫国中有一长者，非常恭敬三宝，平日不仅广建塔寺，且常供养三宝。一日，长者突然生病，数日后便安详舍报，往生忉利天享受天福。其妻由于思念长者，每日忧愁苦恼，为排解相思之苦，决定承继长者生前的心愿，继续修建塔寺。
有一天，长者从天上观察自己为何能够升天、享如此幸运的果报？原来是因着前世兴建塔寺的功德，为此，长者心中十分感恩三宝。同时长者又思惟：现在的塔寺由谁来负责维护呢？用天眼一看，原来是过去的妻子。毕竟曾受妻子照顾甚多，虽然天上福乐无比，但眼见妻子由于思念自己而忧愁苦恼，便到人间安慰妻子，使其放心。
当妇人见到长者时，心中非常喜悦，且期待能再续夫妻缘。长者很有正念地表示，现在自己是一位天人，不再是凡人了，毕竟人天有别。因为在世时，以清净心、恭敬心兴建塔寺，往生后才能升天，享受天福。除了要妻子释怀外，亦希望妻子将心依靠在三宝上，勤修塔寺，且供养三宝等。为了让妻子心无挂碍及策励妻子用功，长者并告诉妻子，若按照自己的建议如实修行，将来必能升到天上，那时再续夫妻缘。
长者的妻子听到这些话后，一改过去的忧愁，积极地供养三宝、勤修福德，且将所有功德回向升天，果然命终后，升到天界，与长者见面。长者夫妇感念三宝的恩德，便前往佛陀所居住的处所，向佛陀请法，佛陀为长者夫妇开示因缘果报、苦空无常的道理，两人即于当下证得初果罗汉。
此时在一旁的比丘们，非常讶异地请示佛陀，二人为何有此福报？佛陀回答，因为长者夫妇在世时，勤修塔寺及盖寺庙，且供养三宝，所以今日得生天上。比丘们为此皆对佛法真理生起无上信心。
Date: 01/10/2026 01/11/2026
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
The Elder and His Wife Build Stupas and Are Reborn in Heaven
During the time of the Buddha, there was an elder in Śrāvastī who deeply revered the Three Jewels. In his daily life, he not only extensively built stupas and monasteries but also constantly made offerings to the Three Jewels.
One day, the elder suddenly fell ill, and a few days later he passed away peacefully, being reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven to enjoy heavenly blessings. His wife, out of longing for the elder, grieved and suffered every day. In order to relieve her sorrow, she decided to carry on her husband’s wishes from his lifetime and continue building stupas and monasteries.
One day, the elder observed from heaven the reason why he had been able to be reborn there and enjoy such fortunate results. He realized that it was due to the merit of building stupas and monasteries in past lives. For this, the elder felt deeply grateful to the Three Jewels.
At the same time, he reflected on who was now responsible for maintaining the stupas and monasteries. With his heavenly vision, he saw that it was his former wife. Having received much care from her in the past, although heavenly bliss was incomparable, seeing that his wife was grieving because of longing for him, he went to the human world to comfort her and put her mind at ease.
When the woman saw the elder, her heart was filled with joy, and she hoped to continue their marital bond. With right mindfulness, the elder stated that he was now a heavenly being and no longer a human, and that humans and devas are different. Because in his lifetime he had built stupas and monasteries with a pure and respectful mind, he was able after death to be reborn in heaven and enjoy heavenly blessings.
Besides encouraging his wife to let go of her grief, he also hoped that she would rely on the Three Jewels, diligently build stupas and monasteries, and make offerings to the Three Jewels. In order to free his wife from attachment and encourage her diligence, the elder also told her that if she practiced according to his advice, she would surely be reborn in heaven in the future, and at that time they could renew their marital bond.
After hearing these words, the elder’s wife abandoned her former sorrow, actively made offerings to the Three Jewels, diligently cultivated merit, and dedicated all her merit toward rebirth in heaven. As expected, at the end of her life she was reborn in the heavenly realm and reunited with the elder.
The elder and his wife, grateful for the kindness of the Three Jewels, went to the place where the Buddha resided to request teachings. The Buddha taught the elder and his wife about causes and effects, suffering, emptiness, and impermanence, and both immediately attained the first fruition of arhatship.
At that time, the bhikṣus present were greatly astonished and asked the Buddha why the two had such blessings. The Buddha replied that because the elder and his wife, while alive, diligently built stupas and monasteries and made offerings to the Three Jewels, they were reborn in heaven today. Upon hearing this, the bhikṣus all gave rise to unsurpassed faith in the truth of the Buddha’s teachings.
