佛法修行:无常力最大

时间:07/31/2027   08/01/2027

地点:星海禅修中心

主讲:净诚

佛法修行

无常力最大

  一日,拘尸那竭国五百多位力士聚集在一处,彼此讨论著:「我们一起来创造一件丰功伟业,让我们死后名声远播,子孙们将会传述:『昔日拘尸那竭国的力士们,势力无人能及!』」过了一会儿,他们又想:「应当建立什么功业呢?」当时,在距离拘尸那竭国不远处,有一块长一百二十步、宽六十步的方形巨石,这些力士们就决定合力把巨石竖立起来。然而,纵使他们竭尽其力,还是没办法让巨石移动半分。

  这时,世尊便来到众力士聚集之处,对他们说:「诸位童子,你们想做什么呢?」

  力士们对佛说:「我们想立起这块巨石,让将来世世代代的人称扬我们的美名。但是,我们已经努力了七天,却还是不能让巨石移动。」

  佛说:「你们想不想让如来把这块石头立起来?」

  力士们回答:「现在正是时候!请世尊安立这块石头。」

  于是,世尊用右手轻触这块巨石,把它举起来、放到左手中,接着又掷向虚空,巨石就被放到了梵天上。拘尸那竭国的力士们看不见这块巨石,便向世尊问道:「这块石头到哪里去了?我们现在都不见石头的踪影。」佛告诉他们:「这块石头现在在梵天上。」力士们又问:「这块巨石何时会再回到阎浮提呢?」世尊回答:「我举一个譬喻,有智慧的人透过譬喻便能了解。假使有人到梵天上,把这块石头投向阎浮提,要经过十二年才能到达地面。但现在因如来威神所感,这个石头马上就会回到阎浮提。」如来说完话,这块巨石随即从天而降,虚空中还飘落千百种天花。

  五百力士遥见石头从天上掉下来,各各四散奔逃,不安本处。佛对他们说:「你们别害怕,如来会适时地接住它。」于是世尊便伸出左手遥遥地接住那块巨石,放到右手中,然后将它竖立在地面上。这时,三千大千世界现六种震动,虚空之中,诸神妙天散下各种忧钵莲花。五百力士都叹未曾有,说道:「太奇特了!如来威神之力实在无可企及!这块石头长有一百二十步、宽有六十步,如来竟用一只手就能安置它!」

  于是,五百力士便请问佛:「如来是用什么力量来移动这块巨石呢?是神通之力,还是智慧之力?」佛说:「我不是用神通之力,也不是用智慧之力;我是用父母生身之力来安置这块石头的。」

  力士们问道:「如何是如来父母生身之力?」

  世尊回答:「我现在为你们举一个譬喻,有智慧的人透过譬喻便能了解。你们要知道,十只骆驼的力量,不如一只凡象的力量;十只骆驼加上一只凡象的力量,不如一只迦罗勒象的力量;十只骆驼、一只凡象、再加上迦罗勒象的力量,不如一只鸠陀延象的力量;十只骆驼、一只凡象、乃至前述诸象之力总合起来,还不如一只婆摩那象的力量;再把婆摩那象的力量加入计算,还不如一只迦泥留象的力量;再把迦泥留象的力量加入计算,还不如一只优钵象的力量;再把优钵象的力量加入计算,还不如一只钵头摩象的力量;再把钵头摩象的力量加入计算,还不如一只拘牟陀象的力量;再把拘牟陀象的力量加入计算,还不如一只分陀利象的力量;再把分陀利象的力量加入计算,还不如一只香象的力量;再把香象的力量加入计算,还不如一摩呵那极(大 王)之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如一那罗延(天上力士)之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如一位转轮圣王之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如一位已得阿鞞跋致菩萨之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如一生补处菩萨之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如一位安坐菩提树下、将取正觉之菩萨之力;再将此力加入计算,还不如如来的父母生身之力。我现在即是以父母生身之力来安置这块石头。」

  五百力士又问世尊:「如何是如来的神通力呢?」

  世尊回答:「我有一位弟子名叫目犍连,神通最为第一。过去我们曾游化至毗罗若竹园村,那时正值饥荒,人民互相食啖,白骨盈路;出家的修行人难以乞得食物,诸圣贤弟子身体羸瘦,气力衰竭;村中的百姓都面怀饥色,无以维生。于是目犍连来到我面前,跟我说:『现今毗罗若饥荒严重,无处可以乞得食物,百姓穷困,了无生路。我曾听如来说,这片土地之下有自然可食的地肥,味道极为香美。恳请世尊听许弟子运用神通力,把地肥翻转至地面上,让人民可以食用,也让圣贤比丘们得以充实气力。』当时我问目犍连:『土地中有蠕动的虫类,你要把它们安置在哪里呢?』目犍连回答:『我会将一手化成与此地形相似之地,再用另一手将地肥翻转到地面上,让蠕动的虫类各安其所。』我又问目犍连:『你有何心识力足以翻转此地?』目犍连说:『我以神通翻转此地,就如同力士反转一片树叶一样,没有任何困难。』我说:『止!止!目犍连!不要把地肥翻转到地面上,因为众生看到这样的情形将会心生恐怖,吓得衣毛直竖,诸佛寺宇也将会因此毁坏。』

  目犍连又跟我说:『请求世尊听许圣贤比丘众到北俱卢洲去乞食。』我问:『大众之中,那些没有神通的比丘,要如何到那里乞食呢?』目犍连回答:『我会接送他们到那里。』我说:『止!止!目犍连!比丘们不能到那里去乞食。因为未来世还是会有像现在一样的饥荒,很难乞得食物,大众面容枯槁。如果现在听许大众到北俱卢洲乞食,到那个时候,长者、婆罗门就会对比丘们说:「你们何不到北俱卢州去乞食呢?过去释迦佛的弟子有大神通,遇到饥荒时,他们就到北俱卢州乞食,以自存济。而现在的释迦弟子却没有神通,也没有沙门的威神行仪了。」这些长者、居士便会因此怀憍慢之心、轻慢比丘,受无量罪。因为这个缘故,比丘众不宜到那里去乞食。』

  诸童子当知,目犍连有这样的神通之力。然而,若以目连的神通力遍满三千大千国土,无空缺处,还不如世尊的神通之力;就算是百倍、千倍、巨亿万倍,也无法比拟。如来的神通力是不可称量的!」

  力士们又问:「如何是如来的智慧力?」

  世尊回答:「我还有一位弟子名叫舍利弗,智慧最为第一。举个譬如来说:围绕须弥山的四大海,纵广八万四千由旬,水满其中;须弥山高出水面八万四千由旬,在水面之下也深达八万四千由旬;而阎浮提地,南北计有二万一千由旬,东西共七千由旬。如果以四大海水为墨,以须弥山为树皮,以阎浮提的草木为笔,三千大千国土所有的人民,都共同来书写舍利弗比丘的智慧;即便四大海水之墨、阎浮提草木之笔皆已用尽,乃至这些人民不断书写直至命终,还是不能写尽舍利弗比丘的智慧。童子们!我弟子之中,没有人能及得上舍利弗的智慧。然而,即便舍利弗比丘遍满三千大千国土,无空缺处,计此智慧,还是无法与如来的智慧相比;就算是百倍、千倍、巨亿万倍,也无法比拟。这就是如来的智慧之力。」

  力士们又问:「是否还有什么力量超越此力呢?」

  世尊回答:「有一种力,超出诸力之上,就是无常力。今日夜半,如来将为无常之力所牵,于娑罗双树间入于涅槃。」

  这时,童子们都泪流满面地说:「如来怎么这么快就要入涅槃呢?这个世间如同丧失了眼目!」



Date: 07/31/2027   08/01/2027

Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center

Teacher: Jason

Dharma Talk

The Supreme Power of Impermanence

  One day, more than five hundred strongmen of Kuśinagara gathered together and discussed, “Let us accomplish a great feat so that after our deaths our fame will spread far and wide, and future generations will say: ‘The strongmen of Kuśinagara were unmatched in power!’” After some time, they wondered what achievement to undertake. Nearby lay a विशाल square stone measuring one hundred and twenty paces in length and sixty in width. They decided to raise it upright together. Yet, despite exhausting all their strength, they could not move it in the slightest.

  At that time, the World-Honored One came to them and asked, “What are you intending to do?”

  They replied, “We wish to erect this great stone so that future generations will praise our name. But even after seven days of effort, we cannot move it.”

  The Buddha said, “Would you like the Tathāgata to raise it?”

  They answered, “Now is the right time! Please, World-Honored One, set it upright.”

  The Buddha lightly touched the stone with his right hand, lifted it, placed it upon his left hand, and then cast it into the sky, where it was set in the Brahma Heaven. The strongmen could no longer see it and asked where it had gone. The Buddha said it was now in Brahma Heaven. When they asked when it would return, the Buddha explained that ordinarily it would take twelve years to fall back, but through the Tathāgata’s power it would return immediately. As he spoke, the stone descended from the sky, accompanied by celestial flowers.

  Seeing the stone fall, the strongmen fled in panic. The Buddha reassured them and caught the stone with his hand, placing it firmly upon the ground. The universe trembled in six ways, and heavenly flowers rained down. The strongmen marveled at the Buddha’s power.

  They asked whether this was due to supernatural power or wisdom. The Buddha replied that it was accomplished by the physical strength born of his parents.

  He then illustrated through comparisons of strength, progressing from animals to celestial beings and bodhisattvas, concluding that all such力量 combined still do not equal the physical strength of the Tathāgata.

  They further asked about supernatural power. The Buddha spoke of Maudgalyāyana’s great powers, yet stated that even his abilities, multiplied countless times, could not equal the Tathāgata’s.

  They then asked about wisdom. The Buddha described Śāriputra’s wisdom as immeasurable, yet even that could not compare to the Tathāgata’s wisdom.

  Finally, they asked if there was any power surpassing these. The Buddha said, “There is one power above all—impermanence. At midnight today, the Tathāgata will enter Nirvāṇa between the twin sāla trees.”

  Hearing this, the youths wept, saying, “Why must the Tathāgata enter Nirvāṇa so soon? The world will be as if it has lost its eyes.”

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