时间：06/19/2027 06/20/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
优婆夷发愿并子成道缘
过去，佛陀在世间教化众生时，有一位优婆夷总是尽己所能，日日虔诚供养佛陀，无有懈怠。佛陀问她：“你如此虔诚地供养，是否有什么愿望呢？”优婆夷回答：“我希望布施供养的福报，让我能得四个儿子。”佛陀又问：“为什么想要四个儿子？”优婆夷说：“如果我有四个儿子，希望他们长大后，有一人从事商业买卖，获得财宝；一人从事农耕畜牧，积聚六畜及谷米；一人谋求官位俸禄，光耀门楣；还有一人出家修行成道证果，并且度化父母及一切人民。我想求四个儿子就是为了这些事。”佛陀听了，随即答应她的请求。
之后，优婆夷生了一名男孩，聪明灵巧、智慧过人，母亲疼爱有加。男孩长大后问他的母亲：“您疼爱我的程度，远超过世间母亲对待他的子女，这是为什么呢？”母亲告诉他：“本来我希望生四个儿子，但现在只有你这么一个孩子，所以我用疼爱四个儿子的心来爱护你。”接着，优婆夷也告诉男孩若有四个儿子时，希望他们成就的事业。男孩听了母亲的心愿后深受感动，决定要尽力达成。
首先，他经商贸易，不到一年就获得亿万资财。接着，他购置田产从事农作畜牧，得到无数的牛马牲畜及谷米粮食。然后他又研读学问，求取官位俸禄，并且娶妻生子，成为豪贵之家。此时他告诉母亲：“当初您希望得到四个儿子，让每个人都能成就一项事业，现在我已完成其中三件，如果能够出家就更好了。”母亲心想：“原本想交付四个儿子的事情，还担心他们无法完成，没想到这个儿子的成就，远超出我的期望。如果他出家，一定能成道证果。”于是答应他出家修行。
儿子辞别母亲后跟随佛陀出家，精进不懈，很快就证得阿罗汉果，并且度化父母及一切人民。受其度化者，或是成道、或是得福，皆大欢喜。
Date: 06/19/2027 06/20/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Laywoman’s Aspiration and Her Son’s Attainment of the Path
In the past, when the Buddha was teaching and transforming beings in the world, there was a laywoman who always did her utmost to make offerings to the Buddha with daily sincerity, without ever becoming lax. The Buddha asked her, “You make offerings so devoutly—do you have any wish?” The laywoman replied, “I wish that through the merit of giving and offerings, I may have four sons.” The Buddha then asked, “Why do you wish for four sons?” She said, “If I have four sons, I hope that when they grow up, one will engage in trade and obtain wealth; one will farm and raise livestock, accumulating animals and grain; one will seek official position and salary, bringing honor to the family; and one will leave home to cultivate the path, attain realization, and liberate his parents and all people. It is for these reasons that I seek four sons.” Hearing this, the Buddha agreed to her request.
Later, the laywoman gave birth to a boy who was intelligent and wise, and she cherished him greatly. When the boy grew up, he asked his mother, “The way you love me surpasses that of ordinary mothers toward their children—why is this so?” His mother told him, “Originally, I hoped to have four sons, but now I have only you. Therefore, I love you with the affection meant for four sons.” She then told him of her hopes for the four sons. Hearing his mother’s aspiration, the boy was deeply moved and resolved to fulfill it.
First, he engaged in commerce and within less than a year amassed vast wealth. Next, he acquired land and engaged in farming and animal husbandry, obtaining countless livestock and abundant grain. Then he pursued learning, obtained an official position and salary, married, and established a prosperous household. He then told his mother, “You once wished for four sons, each to accomplish a different undertaking. Now I have completed three of them. If I could leave home, it would be even better.” His mother thought, “I once intended to entrust these tasks to four sons, fearing they might not accomplish them. Yet this one son has exceeded all my expectations. If he leaves home, he will surely attain realization.” Thus, she permitted him to renounce the household life.
After bidding farewell to his mother, the son followed the Buddha and went forth into monastic life. Practicing diligently without rest, he soon attained the fruit of arhatship and went on to liberate his parents and all people. Those who were guided by him either attained the path or gained blessings, and all rejoiced greatly.
