时间：05/16/2026 05/17/2026
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
如愿临行求佛出家
过去，佛陀在舍卫国祇树给孤独园弘法时，城中有一位名叫如愿的愚人，到处为非作歹，无恶不作。一日，如愿因恶行被人控告，遭官府逮捕，结果被判处死刑。送往刑场受刑之际，巧遇世尊，如愿虔诚地顶礼佛陀，并向佛忏悔所犯下的种种罪行。如愿祈求佛陀能怜愍救拔，替他向国王求情，赦免死罪，并且跟随佛陀出家修行。
佛陀答应如愿的请求后，马上派阿难至宫中向波斯匿王陈情。阿难尊者向国王说：「佛陀今日想请大王开释一位罪人，并成就他出家修行。」波斯匿王二话不说，立即派人释放如愿，并且将他交给世尊。跟随佛陀出家修行的如愿，日日精进用功，没多久就解脱烦恼，证阿罗汉果。
大众比丘见如愿不仅在临死前能值遇世尊，免受刑罚；随佛修行未久，又得道证果，不禁欢喜赞叹。众人好奇地请示佛陀：「过去世尊是如何培养福德，如今所说之语皆能令人信受，不仅让如愿免离死刑，最后又能修行成就，了脱生死？」于是，佛陀为大众慈悲开示当中的因缘。
无量世以前，波罗奈国城中有帝幢佛出世，时常率领诸大比丘游化各地，弘扬佛法，教化众生。一日，帝幢佛一行于半路巧遇一位仙人，此仙人见佛相好庄严，光明遍照，不禁心怀欢喜。于是仙人至诚向佛礼拜，并以最美味的佳肴供养佛陀。供养完毕，仙人在佛前至诚发愿：「愿我生生世世所说的话，皆能令人生信、受用。」佛立即为仙人祝愿：「你所求所愿必得成就，如佛一样真实不虚。」仙人闻佛所说后，当下发起无上菩提心，愿广行菩萨道，自利利人、广度有情。帝幢佛也当场为仙人授记：「你于来世，当得作佛，号『释迦牟尼』，度化无量无边的众生，无有穷尽。」
佛陀告诉大众：「当时那位仙人就是我的前身，因为以至诚恭敬心礼敬三宝的缘故，感得今日出言令人信受的善报，不仅让如愿免离死刑，并令其出家修行、得证道果。」此时，大众比丘闻佛所说后，皆发欢喜心，依教奉行。
Date: 05/16/2026 05/17/2026
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
Ruyuan Seeks Ordination Before Execution
In the past, when the Buddha was teaching the Dharma at Jetavana Monastery in Śrāvastī, there was a foolish man in the city named Ruyuan who committed all kinds of evil deeds. One day, because of his wrongdoing, he was reported and arrested by the authorities, and eventually sentenced to death. While being escorted to the execution ground, he happened to encounter the World-Honored One. Ruyuan sincerely bowed to the Buddha and repented for all the crimes he had committed. He then pleaded with the Buddha to have compassion and save him by interceding with the king to pardon his death sentence, and allow him to renounce the world and practice under the Buddha.
After agreeing to Ruyuan’s request, the Buddha immediately sent Ānanda to the palace to speak to King Pasenadi. Venerable Ānanda said to the king, “Today the Buddha wishes to ask Your Majesty to release a prisoner and allow him to become a monk.” Without hesitation, King Pasenadi ordered Ruyuan to be released and entrusted him to the Buddha. After following the Buddha and entering monastic life, Ruyuan practiced diligently every day. Before long, he freed himself from afflictions and attained the fruit of an arahant.
The assembly of monks, seeing that Ruyuan not only encountered the Buddha at the moment before death and escaped punishment, but also quickly attained enlightenment after practicing, felt great joy and admiration. They curiously asked the Buddha, “In past lives, how did the World-Honored One cultivate such merit that your words today inspire faith and acceptance in others, allowing Ruyuan to escape death and ultimately attain liberation?”
The Buddha then compassionately explained the cause and conditions:
Countless eons ago, in the city of Bārāṇasī, a Buddha named Dipankara appeared in the world. He often led great assemblies of monks, traveling to various places to teach the Dharma and guide sentient beings. One day, while on the road, Dipankara Buddha encountered an ascetic. Seeing the Buddha’s majestic appearance and radiant light, the ascetic felt great joy. He respectfully bowed to the Buddha and offered the finest food.
After making the offering, the ascetic made a sincere vow before the Buddha: “May all the words I speak in every future life inspire faith and benefit in others.” The Buddha immediately blessed him, saying, “What you have wished will certainly be fulfilled, just as the truth of a Buddha is never false.” Upon hearing this, the ascetic generated the supreme aspiration for enlightenment and vowed to practice the bodhisattva path, benefiting both himself and others and liberating countless beings. Dipankara Buddha then gave him a prediction, saying, “In a future life, you will become a Buddha named Śākyamuni, who will liberate immeasurable beings without end.”
The Buddha told the assembly, “That ascetic was my former self. Because of the sincere and respectful mind with which I honored the Three Jewels, I now receive the karmic result that my words inspire faith and acceptance. Thus, not only was Ruyuan spared from death, but he was also able to renounce the world, practice, and attain realization.”
Upon hearing the Buddha’s explanation, all the monks rejoiced and practiced according to the teaching.
