时间：03/21/2026 03/22/2026
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
求福者遇佛得度
「我总是这么不如意！为何没一件事能顺我的心，满我的愿？」罗阅祇国中，有一个人常常如是抱怨着，无论是在家，抑或是在外办事，常遭遇阻隔、横难，终难圆满成就心中的理想，因此心中常充满怨怼与苦恼。
「曾经听闻祭拜火神可以获得保佑，我也许可以试试看。」于是求福之人一到黄昏，即聚起柴堆，燃起熊熊烈火，并对着柴火不断膜拜，直至半夜，大火灭尽方才停歇。如此持续三年，依然未能化解生活中的不如意。
「火神真是不灵！改求日月之神好了！」于是求福者从日出之时，即向太阳朝拜，直至日没；月出之后，又朝着月亮膜拜不停。如此日以继夜，须在天将明、月隐没之时，方有喘息的时候。就这样又过了三年，生活仍处处不顺心。
求福者心想：「怎么都不灵验呢？难道是我不够诚心吗？」于是，他准备许多美味的佳肴、酒酿，更宰杀猪、牛、羊等牲口以祭天，没想到最后散尽家财，贫困潦倒，仍不见天神降福护佑，身体也因不分昼夜的礼拜而不堪负荷，疾病缠身。
求福者心有不甘，听说舍卫国有一位佛陀，为诸天、众人所敬仰，于是抱着最后一丝希望前往，期盼能获得福佑，除去灾难、病恼。他来到舍卫国的祇园精舍，向里望去，正好看到佛陀在为大众说法，其身光明，面容庄严。一见佛的慈容相好，求福者满心欢喜，不由分说即顶礼佛陀，并且惭愧地表示：「有生以来，我竟如此地愚痴，不知世上有佛法僧三宝，而虚掷时间、钱财去祭祀火神、日月等诸天鬼神。在过去的九年当中，我虽然精勤不懈，却未能获得一丝一毫的福佑，不但散尽家财，身体也孱弱不堪，仿佛死期将至。今日我至诚顶礼佛陀，希望您能为弟子赐福消灾！」
佛陀慈悲地说道：「你从前所供奉的都是妖教或鬼神，即使所祭祀的物品累积如山，所造的罪过亦如大海般地深广。杀生和获福是背道而驰的两件事，就算你百千劫不断地杀猪、杀牛，残害生灵以祭祀天地，你所获得的也仅是如须弥山般高大、不见边际的罪业，毫无福报可言。如此徒费气力、虚耗钱财，却妄想获得福佑，这岂不是件令人疑惑的作为？」
「弟子明白杀生祭祀是错误的行为了，若不再犯，是不是就可从此消灾得福呢？」
「你还要再反省、检讨自己是否孝顺父母、敬重尊长？对于贤善之人，是否常怀轻蔑之心？骄傲、贡高、我慢这些种种不正的心念，将使贪、瞋、痴三毒如大火般炽盛，烧尽所有功德；如此不顺正道，罪障自是日日加深，又有何因缘可以得福？」
「弟子知道错了，请世尊再慈悲教示弟子。」
「从今以后，你若能从心念上彻底地忏悔，礼敬贤人、奉养长者，并且断恶修善，端正自己的品德，以仁慈为崇，自能获得四种福德，生生世世无忧无恼。四种福德分别为何？一者颜色端正，二者气力丰强，三者安隐无病，四者寿命增益，且终生不遭横难。如能再进一步，在正法上持续精进不懈，则不只获得福报而已，亦能成道证果，毕竟解脱种种忧愁苦恼。」于是，佛陀即说偈语：
「祭神以求福，从后观其报，
四分未望一，不如礼贤者。
能善行礼节，常敬长老者，
四福自然增，色力寿而安。」
其人听闻佛陀说此偈语，当场心开意解、欢喜无比，于是至诚顶礼并请求佛陀：「往昔陈积罪垢所蔽，如是无知造罪九年，今日幸蒙世尊慈悲教化，方得于尘劳烦恼中解脱。唯愿世尊慈悲，应允我随您出家修行。」佛闻此请，即说：「善来比丘！须发自落，即成沙门。」其人于后，于正法上精进不懈，最后证得阿罗汉果。
Date: 03/21/2026 03/22/2026
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
One Who Sought Blessings Encountered the Buddha and Attained Liberation
“I am always so unlucky! Why does nothing ever go as I wish or fulfill my desires?” In the kingdom of Rājagṛha, there was a man who often complained in this way. Whether at home or handling affairs outside, he constantly encountered obstacles and unexpected troubles, never able to realize the ideals in his heart. Thus he was filled with resentment and distress.
“I once heard that worshiping the fire god can bring protection. Perhaps I should try it.” So at dusk he gathered firewood, lit a blazing fire, and continuously worshiped the flames until midnight, stopping only when the fire burned out. He continued this practice for three years, yet his life’s misfortunes remained unresolved.
“The fire god is truly ineffective! I should instead pray to the sun and moon.” From sunrise he bowed toward the sun until sunset; after the moon rose, he worshiped the moon without ceasing. Day after day he persisted, resting only briefly before dawn when the moon disappeared. Another three years passed, yet his life still did not go as he wished.
He thought, “Why does nothing work? Am I not sincere enough?” So he prepared many fine foods and wine, and even slaughtered pigs, cattle, and sheep as sacrificial offerings to heaven. In the end, he exhausted all his wealth, fell into poverty, and still received no blessings or protection from the gods. His body also became frail from constant worship day and night, and he fell ill.
Unwilling to give up hope, he heard that in Sāvatthī there was a Buddha revered by gods and humans. Holding onto a final hope, he went there, wishing to obtain blessings and be freed from calamity and sickness. Arriving at Jetavana Monastery, he saw the Buddha teaching the assembly, radiant in body and dignified in appearance.
Upon seeing the Buddha’s compassionate countenance, he felt great joy, bowed immediately, and said with shame, “Since birth I have been so ignorant, unaware of the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. I wasted time and wealth worshiping fire gods, the sun, the moon, and other spirits. For nine years I practiced diligently but received no blessings at all. Not only have I lost all my wealth, my body is weak and near death. Today I sincerely bow before you, hoping you will grant me blessings and remove my misfortunes!”
The Buddha compassionately replied, “What you formerly worshiped were heterodox spirits or ghosts. Even if your offerings were piled like mountains, the offenses you created were as deep and vast as the ocean. Killing living beings and gaining blessings are opposite actions. Even if for hundreds of thousands of kalpas you slaughter pigs and cattle as sacrifices, what you obtain is only immeasurable karmic wrongdoing like Mount Sumeru, without any merit at all. To waste effort and wealth in this way while hoping for blessings—does this not seem misguided?”
The man said, “I understand that killing for sacrifice is wrong. If I no longer do this, can I then be free from misfortune and gain blessings?”
The Buddha replied, “You must also reflect on whether you are filial to your parents and respectful to elders. Do you look down upon virtuous people? Arrogance, pride, and conceit allow the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion to blaze like a great fire, burning away all merit. If you do not follow the right path, your karmic obstacles will deepen day by day. How then could you gain blessings?”
The man said, “I know my mistakes. Please, World-Honored One, compassionately instruct me further.”
“From now on, if you sincerely repent from the heart, respect the virtuous, care for elders, abandon evil, cultivate goodness, and rectify your conduct with kindness as your guide, you will naturally obtain four kinds of merit, free from worry and suffering life after life. What are these four merits? First, a dignified appearance; second, strong vitality; third, safety and freedom from illness; fourth, long life, free from untimely calamities. If you further cultivate diligently in the true Dharma, you will not only gain blessings but also attain realization and ultimate liberation from all sorrow and suffering.” Then the Buddha spoke this verse:
“Seeking blessings through worship of gods—observe the results thereafter;
Even a quarter of the hoped reward is not obtained—better to honor the virtuous.
One who practices proper respect and always honors the elders,
Will naturally increase in four blessings: beauty, strength, long life, and peace.”
Upon hearing this verse, the man immediately gained clarity and great joy. He bowed sincerely and requested the Buddha, “For nine years I created offenses through ignorance, blinded by accumulated defilements. Today, through the World-Honored One’s compassionate teaching, I am freed from worldly afflictions. I only wish to follow you and go forth into monastic life.” Hearing this request, the Buddha said, “Come, bhikkhu! Your hair will fall away, and you will become a renunciant.” Thereafter he practiced diligently in the true Dharma and eventually attained the fruit of Arhatship.
