时间：10/09/2027 10/10/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
船师请佛渡水缘
佛陀于舍卫国祇树给孤独园弘法时，在伊罗拔河边住着一群以摆渡为业的船师。一日，世尊带领弟子们来到船师们所居住的聚落，想要藉由渡河的因缘，来度化这些船师。船师们见到清净庄严的佛陀，个个满怀欢喜，虔诚顶礼，并且请示佛陀：“不知世尊明日能否乘船渡水到我们的村子，接受大众的供养？”佛陀慈悲应允后，村民们便开始整治崎岖不平的道路，将路面的碎石除去，并且将环境打扫干净。接着，又竖立幢幡，以香水洒地，散种种妙花，并将船舫装饰得非常庄严，以接待佛陀及众比丘。
隔日，世尊带领众比丘来到河边，乘船渡河到他们所居住的聚落。船师们等世尊及众比丘坐定，便亲自供养美味的饮食。供养完毕，船师们齐聚佛前，渴望能聆听佛陀的开示；佛陀了然于心，于是为其宣说四谛法门。大众闻已心开意解，有证得须陀洹、斯陀含、阿那含果者，亦有发无上菩提心者。
众比丘见此供养及渡河因缘深感奇特，于是上前请示佛陀：“如来先世曾修何福，今日感得如此殊胜供养及渡水因缘？”佛陀慈悲地为大众开示：“无量世以前，波罗奈国有佛名为毗阎婆。一日，毗阎婆佛带领众比丘游行他国，教化众生。行脚至河边时，正巧一群带着珍宝的商人也从他国来到这里。商人们见佛相好庄严、六万二千阿罗汉威仪庠序，为之摄受，发欢喜、敬信心，于是上前询问佛陀：‘请问佛陀是否要渡水呢？’佛即应允。于是，商人们欢喜地准备佳肴美食，供养佛陀及众僧。在渡船的过程中，毗阎婆佛即为商人开示种种妙法，大众闻已满怀法喜，发菩提心。毗阎婆佛更为商主授记：‘你于来世，当得作佛，号释迦牟尼，广度众生，无可限量。’”
世尊告诉比丘们：“当时的商主就是我，商人们即是今日的六万二千阿罗汉。由于当时供养毗阎婆佛的功德，所以感得无量世中不堕恶趣，天上人中常受快乐，乃至于今日得成佛道，受人天的供养。”诸大比丘闻佛所说，皆信守教诲，欢喜奉行。
Date: 10/09/2027 10/10/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Boatmen Inviting the Buddha to Cross the River
When the Buddha was teaching at Jetavana in Śrāvastī, there lived a group of boatmen by the river Iravā. One day, the World-Honored One led his disciples to the settlement where the boatmen resided, intending to use the occasion of crossing the river to transform them. Seeing the pure and dignified Buddha, the boatmen were filled with joy, bowed with reverence, and asked, “World-Honored One, would you be willing to take a boat tomorrow to cross the river to our village and accept our offerings?” The Buddha compassionately agreed. The villagers then repaired the uneven roads, cleared away stones, cleaned the surroundings, erected banners, sprinkled fragrant water, scattered flowers, and adorned the boats magnificently to receive the Buddha and the bhikṣus.
The next day, the World-Honored One led the monks to the riverbank and crossed by boat to their settlement. After the Buddha and the monks were seated, the boatmen personally offered delicious food. When the offering was completed, they gathered before the Buddha, wishing to hear his teaching. Knowing their minds, the Buddha expounded the Four Noble Truths. Upon hearing the Dharma, their minds opened in understanding: some attained the fruit of Stream-entry, Once-returning, and Non-returning, while others aroused the supreme aspiration for enlightenment.
The monks, seeing this offering and the conditions of crossing the river, found it remarkable and asked the Buddha, “What merits did the Tathāgata cultivate in past lives to receive such excellent offerings and this condition of crossing the water?” The Buddha compassionately explained, “Countless kalpas ago, in the land of Vārāṇasī, there was a Buddha named Vipaśyin. One day, he led monks traveling to teach beings. When they reached a river, a group of merchants carrying treasures arrived there as well. Seeing the Buddha’s majestic marks and the orderly bearing of sixty-two thousand arhats, they were deeply moved and filled with joy and faith. They asked whether the Buddha wished to cross the river, and he agreed. The merchants then joyfully prepared fine food to offer to the Buddha and the Saṅgha. During the crossing, the Buddha expounded profound teachings, and the merchants, filled with Dharma joy, aroused the mind of enlightenment. The Buddha then predicted to the merchant leader, ‘In a future life, you shall become a Buddha named Śākyamuni, liberating countless beings.’”
The World-Honored One told the monks, “The merchant leader at that time was myself, and those merchants are now the sixty-two thousand arhats. Because of the merit of making offerings to that Buddha, they have, throughout countless lives, avoided evil destinies, enjoyed happiness among gods and humans, and ultimately attained Buddhahood and receive offerings from both humans and devas.” Hearing the Buddha’s words, the monks faithfully accepted the teaching and joyfully practiced accordingly.
