时间：11/28/2026 11/29/2026
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
沙曷比丘度化因缘
过去，佛陀在舍卫国祇树给孤独园弘化时，有一千二百五十位比丘、上万名诸大菩萨常跟随在一旁。
当时，在须耶越国有个穷人，受人雇用替小孩剃头，他和被剃头的小孩父母约定：「当麦子成熟，就给一斛麦作为佣金。」后来，他远游回来，在路上遇到一位旧识，这位老友邀他一同回到家里。穷人就向那些积欠他麦子的人家索求麦子，想要卖了麦子买酒与朋友共饮。可是他遍求所有的人家，却没有一户人家肯归还麦子。
穷人十分气愤，便起大瞋心发誓：「愿我寿终后，化作大神龙，来祸害这个国家。」当他命终后，果然投胎做了一条大龙。从此，须耶国年年风雨不调，五谷欠收。佛陀愍念须耶国百姓们遭受饥馑之苦，就派遣已证阿罗汉的沙曷比丘前往须耶国度化恶龙。
当沙曷比丘来到须耶越国，恶龙看见来了一位比丘，心中顿生恶意，要彻底毁灭须耶越国并杀害沙曷比丘。沙曷比丘运用神力，变化他的钵覆盖住全国，不知情的恶龙从空中降下豪雨，牠以为如此一来必能将全国百姓淹没，比丘以佛的威神力，令恶龙看见百姓丝毫无伤，一如平常安稳地生活。恶龙一看到这种情形，心中更为愤怒，牠马上兴起下暴风雪覆盖全国的念头，空中随即降下大风雪。沙曷比丘就举起自己的钵，将所有的雪都收进了钵内，等下完雪后，用手扫掉钵内的雪，放到地上，堆起来如一座山。
恶龙见沙曷比丘神通如此广大，就逃回自己的住处，沙曷比丘也紧随着恶龙进入牠的洞穴，恶龙一见他追进来，马上逃出去，他跟着追出来，恶龙再逃回洞中，他还是紧追着进入，就这样来来回回许多次。最后，恶龙筋疲力尽，停了下来，长跪问道：「您到底是何方神圣？有这么大的神通，能如此恼乱我。」比丘回答：「我是佛的弟子。」恶龙向他说：「我想要归顺您。」沙曷比丘就劝牠：「我的师父，佛陀，是三界最尊最贵的人，你应当皈依佛。」恶龙就问：「请问佛陀在何处？」比丘回答：「在舍卫国。」恶龙就说：「我要去见佛。」沙曷比丘赞叹道：「你愿意前往皈依佛，真是善根深厚！」然后将恶龙装进一个竹制的方形箱子。
须耶越国的百姓们看到沙曷比丘展现神通降伏恶龙，都十分欢喜，请教他：「你是何方的大神，能为我们国家除去这一大祸害？」沙曷比丘回答：「我是佛陀的弟子。」百姓们好奇地问他：「我们能见到佛陀吗？」他告诉百姓们：「如果你们想要见佛，请先等我回去向佛禀告。」这时正是中午，沙曷比丘沿路托钵乞食，人民有的热情地供养斋饭、也有的殷勤送酒……他都慈悲地纳受而食用，以致酒醉，醉卧在一棵树下，袈裟、钵、装置恶龙的竹箱放在一旁。
此时，在给孤独园的佛陀遥知此事，就面露微笑，放出五色光芒，侍者阿难尊者见到这情形，连忙端整衣服，恭敬合掌问佛：「世尊，您从不会无缘无故微笑，微笑必有什么特殊的用意！」佛问阿难：「你有见到沙曷比丘吗？」阿难回答：「没有。」佛说道：「他现在醉卧在一棵树下。」在一旁的一千二百五十位比丘、上万名诸菩萨，都很疑惑：「沙曷比丘已证得阿罗汉，怎么还会酒醉而卧树下？」
佛陀知道众人有此疑问，因此宣说阿罗汉有四件事不及佛：「一者，阿罗汉若未入三昧，无法通晓一切；二者，无法随意现神足通；三者，不懂善巧方便开导众人布施；四者，身中尚有虫、有障碍。」上万名菩萨听闻佛的开示，不再怀疑沙曷比丘已证阿罗汉却醉卧之事，并将功德回向证阿罗汉者，都能更精进用功修行，成就佛道。
佛陀派遣目犍连尊者前往沙曷比丘醉卧之处，令他带恶龙回到给孤独园。恶龙见到佛，虔敬地顶礼，佛便为牠说宿世本末因缘，恶龙因而化解心中对须耶国人民的冤结，并受持三皈五戒，奉行十善，不久，即证得须陀洹果，顶礼感恩佛陀后离去。
佛即向大众赞叹沙曷比丘功德甚深微妙，阿难合掌请问：「沙曷比丘因饮酒以致醉卧树下，为何世尊还赞叹他功德微妙？」佛告诉阿难：「阿罗汉不再如一般人有饥渴，但在三种情况下，现醉卧之相：一者，佛欲藉此开导菩萨；二者，不忍违逆布施供养者的心意；三者，唯恐尚未得道的佛弟子，因饮酒而患过失。以此至诚谆谆告诫大众的心意来看，沙曷比丘虽饮酒，却是不醉。」诸菩萨、四众弟子，听闻佛陀的开示，都起身严整衣服，至诚向佛顶礼。
这时，沙曷比丘向前长跪，禀白佛陀：「须耶越的国王、全国人民都希望能见到世尊。」佛陀默然答应。沙曷比丘承佛的教敕，一弹指的时间，就回到须耶越国。国王与百姓看见他，都十分欢喜，有的人顶礼、有的长跪、也有的人合掌。他告诉大众：「佛陀明日将抵达须耶越国。」国王听到佛即将到来，立即喜悦地令人洒扫全国街道，处处悬挂帐幔。
隔天，佛与一千二百五十位比丘同行，游行空中，一朵朵清净的莲花开敷在佛的足下，国王与百官大臣、人民都手持上妙香花到城外恭迎佛陀，并五体投地顶礼佛。佛陀及比丘们到了王宫，自然而有师子座，并悬挂着五种颜色交织而成的七宝伞盖。国王设斋供养佛及比丘们，并亲自在旁侍奉。佛与比丘们食毕，佛即为国王及百姓们广说恶龙的本末因缘，国王及百姓们听闻后，心开意解，欢喜皈依并受持五戒，行十善，其中有的人证须陀洹果、有的证斯陀含、阿那含、阿罗汉，人数多到无法计数。
后来，佛陀为大众宣说沙曷比丘的度化因缘，四众弟子、天龙鬼神，都欢喜奉行。
Date: 11/28/2026 11/29/2026
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Karmic Conditions of Venerable Śāha’s Conversion
In the past, when the Buddha was teaching at Jetavana in Śrāvastī, one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus and tens of thousands of great bodhisattvas constantly followed him.
At that time, in the country of Suyue, there was a poor man who made a living shaving children’s heads. He had agreed with the parents that when the wheat ripened, he would receive one hu of wheat as payment. Later, after returning from a journey, he met an old acquaintance who invited him home. The poor man went to collect the wheat owed to him, intending to sell it and buy wine to share with his friend. However, none of the households were willing to repay him.
Filled with anger, he made a vow: “After I die, may I become a great dragon and bring calamity upon this country.” After his death, he was indeed reborn as a great dragon. From then on, the country suffered irregular weather and poor harvests. Out of compassion for the people, the Buddha sent the arhat Śāha to subdue and transform the evil dragon.
When Śāha arrived, the dragon, seeing a bhikṣu, became enraged and sought to destroy the country. Śāha used his powers to cover the land with his alms bowl. The dragon sent torrential rain, but the people remained unharmed. Enraged further, the dragon summoned a great snowstorm. Śāha collected all the snow into his bowl and later piled it on the ground like a mountain.
Seeing such power, the dragon fled to its cave. Śāha pursued it repeatedly until the dragon, exhausted, knelt and asked who he was. Upon hearing he was a disciple of the Buddha, the dragon expressed a wish to submit. Śāha advised it to take refuge in the Buddha, and the dragon agreed to go. Śāha then placed it in a bamboo chest.
The people rejoiced and asked about the Buddha. Śāha told them to wait while he reported back. While on alms round, he accepted offerings, including wine, and became intoxicated, lying beneath a tree.
At Jetavana, the Buddha perceived this and smiled, emitting radiant light. Ānanda inquired, and the Buddha explained that Śāha was lying drunk. The assembly wondered how an arhat could be intoxicated.
The Buddha explained that arhats are inferior to Buddhas in four ways: they do not know all things without samādhi, cannot freely manifest powers, lack skillful means in teaching generosity, and still have physical limitations.
The Buddha then sent Maudgalyāyana to bring Śāha and the dragon back. The dragon, upon seeing the Buddha, repented, resolved its resentment, took refuge, upheld precepts, and attained Stream-entry.
The Buddha praised Śāha’s profound merit. When asked about his drunkenness, the Buddha explained it was for instructive purposes, to honor offerings, and to warn others. Thus, though he drank, he was not truly intoxicated.
Śāha then invited the Buddha to Suyue. The Buddha agreed, and the next day arrived with the Saṅgha, welcomed by the king and people. After receiving offerings, the Buddha taught the Dharma, and countless people attained various fruits of realization.
Later, the Buddha explained Śāha’s conversion story, and all beings rejoiced and practiced accordingly.
