时间：09/19/2026 09/20/2026
地点：星湖禅修中心
主讲：龙示林
佛法修行
离众修行
昔日，佛陀在罗阅祇国的灵鹫山中，为天人、国王及大臣宣说微妙法意。众人中，有一位比丘的个性非常刚强勇猛，佛陀观察其因缘后，便派他至有鬼神的山谷中修行。佛陀教导他于树下打坐，修数息观，借着观察气息的长短使心念专一，以断除欲求，灭去烦恼之苦，达到涅盘的境界。
比丘来到山谷，正想要打坐定心时，忽然听见山中鬼神说话的声音；因为只听得见声音，却看不到他们的形影，比丘感到万分恐惧，于是生起退悔之心。他心想：「我生于富贵人家，社会地位又高，今日出家修行竟要待在这杳无人烟的深山中，既无人陪伴，又没有行人路过，只有鬼神的声音经常出没吓唬人……」当他正准备离开时，世尊来到他的身边，并坐于树下。佛陀问比丘：「你独自一人在此，是否会感到害怕呢？」比丘向佛陀顶礼回答：「世尊，我不曾独处深山，所以在这里修行，实在感到担忧恐惧！」
这时，有一只野象王来到附近，倚靠着大树躺卧下来，象王心想：「能够远离其他大象，是多么快乐的事啊！」佛陀知道象王的心意，于是问比丘：「你知道这只象为什么会来这里吗？」比丘回答：「不明白。」佛陀告诉比丘：「这只象的大小眷属多达五百多只，因为家眷众多，事情繁杂琐碎，感到厌烦，所以它才离开象群，来到这里休息。大象心想：『能够脱离眷属之间的恩爱牢狱，是何等清凉欢喜的事呀！』大象只是畜生，都知道追求清闲幽静的生活，何况你是出家人，舍弃了家庭，不就是为了求道度人，怎么才刚刚独自修行，就想要找寻伴侣？愚痴昏昧的伴侣，只会对你造成损害，还不如独自修道，没人与你谈天议论，才容易契证道果！」于是世尊说了一首偈语：
「学无朋类，不得善友，宁独守善，
不与愚偕。乐戒学行，奚用伴为，
独善无忧，如空野象。」
佛陀说完偈语后，比丘心开意解，并且专心思惟佛陀的教诲，当下即证阿罗汉果。山中的鬼神听了佛陀的开示后亦有所领悟，不但皈依佛陀座下，并且遵从教诫，不再侵扰人民。
Date: 09/19/2026 09/20/2026
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
Practicing in Solitude
In the past, when the Buddha was staying on Vulture Peak in the Kingdom of Rājagṛha, He expounded the profound and wondrous Dharma to devas, kings, and ministers. Among the assembly was a bhikkhu whose character was exceptionally resolute and courageous. After observing his causes and conditions, the Buddha instructed him to practice in a mountain valley inhabited by spirits and deities. The Buddha taught him to sit in meditation beneath a tree and cultivate mindfulness of breathing, using the observation of the length and shortness of each breath to concentrate the mind, eliminate desire, extinguish the suffering of afflictions, and attain the state of Nirvāṇa.
The bhikkhu arrived at the mountain valley. Just as he was about to sit down and settle his mind in meditation, he suddenly heard the voices of spirits speaking in the mountains. Because he could hear their voices but could not see their forms, he became extremely frightened and gave rise to thoughts of regret and retreat. He thought to himself, “I was born into a wealthy and noble family and enjoyed a high social status. Now that I have left home to cultivate the Way, I must remain alone in this remote mountain wilderness where no one lives. There is no companion, no traveler ever passes by, and only the voices of spirits constantly appear to frighten people…” Just as he was preparing to leave, the World-Honored One came to his side and sat beneath a tree. The Buddha asked the bhikkhu, “Now that you are here alone, do you feel afraid?” The bhikkhu bowed to the Buddha and replied, “World-Honored One, I have never before lived alone in the deep mountains. Therefore, practicing here truly fills me with anxiety and fear.”
At that moment, a wild elephant king came nearby and lay down while leaning against a large tree. The elephant king thought to himself, “How wonderful it is to be far away from the other elephants!” Knowing the elephant king’s thoughts, the Buddha asked the bhikkhu, “Do you know why this elephant has come here?” The bhikkhu replied, “I do not know.”
The Buddha told the bhikkhu, “This elephant has a large herd of more than five hundred elephants. Because it has so many family members and companions, its affairs are numerous and complicated, and it has grown weary of them. Therefore, it left the herd and came here to rest. The elephant is thinking, ‘How cool and joyful it is to be free from the prison of attachment and affection among one’s family and companions!’ Even an elephant, which is merely an animal, knows to seek a peaceful and secluded life. How much more should you, who have left the household life? You abandoned your family in order to seek the Way and liberate others. Why, after only a short time of practicing alone, do you already wish to find companions? Foolish and ignorant companions will only bring you harm. It is far better to cultivate the Way alone. When there is no one to engage you in idle conversation and debate, it is much easier to realize the fruit of the Path.”
Then the World-Honored One spoke this verse:
”If, in learning, there are no companions of the same kind, and no good friend can be found, it is better to guard goodness alone than to associate with the foolish.
Delight in moral discipline, learning, and practice. What need is there for companions? Cultivate goodness alone without worry, like the elephant wandering in the empty wilderness.” After the Buddha had spoken this verse, the bhikkhu’s mind was opened to understanding. He wholeheartedly contemplated the Buddha’s teaching and immediately attained the fruit of Arhatship. After hearing the Buddha’s instruction, the spirits in the mountains also gained understanding. They not only took refuge in the Buddha but also followed His teachings and no longer disturbed the people.
