时间：12/04/2027 12/05/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
须阇哆持戒得宝珠
佛陀灭度后百年，印度出现一位转轮圣王，名为“阿育王”。阿育王统一全印度，建立了一个前所未有的伟大王朝——孔雀王朝。
深奉佛教的阿育王，为令佛法广传流布，在南阎浮提建造了八万四千座佛塔，以纪念佛陀出世的胜缘；并于塔中供养佛陀舍利，令众生礼拜广植善根。当时师子国（今锡兰）国王听闻阿育王兴隆佛法，便遣使献上五颗如意宝珠，不仅光彩夺目，亦世间罕见。阿育王接受后，将四颗宝珠依序供养在佛陀诞生塔、成道塔、转法轮塔，以及入涅槃塔中，剩下的最后一颗宝珠，则想赏赐给后宫夫人。国王心想：若只赏赐给其中一人，其他人必生嫉恨。为了试探夫人们的智慧和性情，阿育王派人至后宫宣告：“请诸夫人各着上妙的衣服与璎珞，最胜庄严者，国王当赐宝珠。”
王令一下，婇女们纷纷翻箱倒柜，忙着为自己的夫人挑选最美丽的衣裳，并为其佩戴价值连城的璎珞珠宝，抹上五颜六色的胭脂水粉；夫人们满心期待自己能获得国王的青睐，成为万中选一的幸运儿。在这人人忙乱的当头，惟独国王的最小夫人须阇哆平静地看待一切，不仅不随之起舞，更于心中忆念着世尊的法语——“戒，如璎珞妙服，受持八关斋戒者如身着最清净洁白的衣服，仪容端正，令人自然心生恭敬。”须阇哆与世不争的态度和其他人形成强烈的对比。
阿育王来到后宫，只见夫人们个个浓妆艳抹、珠光宝气，令人目不暇给；唯有最小的夫人素服淡妆，别于众人。国王感到奇怪，于是问道：“诸大夫人皆穿着上服，为何只有你不遵从我的命令？”须阇哆回答：“佛陀曾说‘惭愧是世上最上等的衣服，持戒则是最庄严的璎珞，法音是最美妙的音乐。’我今受持八关斋戒以为璎珞，着惭愧之服，并读诵经典以为音乐，以此等恭迎大王。”
阿育王听了这些话，心生欢喜，深深赞叹须阇哆的智慧和德性，便向所有人宣布：“我先前有承诺，谁能着最好的衣饰，当赏赐其宝珠。须阇哆所著者为众人之冠，此如意珠非她莫属！”
其他夫人见须阇哆因持戒而得宝珠，皆竞相求受八关斋戒。
Date: 12/04/2027 12/05/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
Sujiaduo Attains the Jewel Through Upholding Precepts
One hundred years after the Buddha’s nirvāṇa, a wheel-turning king appeared in India named Aśoka. King Aśoka unified the entire Indian subcontinent and established an unprecedented great dynasty—the Maurya Empire.
A deeply devout follower of Buddhism, King Aśoka, in order to widely propagate the Dharma, built eighty-four thousand stupas throughout Jambudvīpa to commemorate the auspicious conditions of the Buddha’s appearance in the world. Within these stupas, he enshrined the Buddha’s relics so that beings could pay respect and plant wholesome roots. At that time, the king of Siṃhala (present-day Sri Lanka), having heard of Aśoka’s flourishing support of the Dharma, sent envoys offering five wish-fulfilling jewels—radiant, rare, and unmatched in the world. After receiving them, Aśoka offered four of the jewels respectively to the stupa of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, turning of the Dharma wheel, and parinirvāṇa. The remaining jewel he intended to bestow upon one of his queens.
The king thought: if it is given to only one, the others will surely give rise to jealousy. To test the wisdom and character of his consorts, Aśoka issued a decree to the harem: “Let all the queens adorn themselves with the finest garments and ornaments. The one most exquisitely adorned shall be granted the jewel by the king.”
Upon the royal decree, the maidservants hurriedly opened chests and boxes, selecting the most beautiful garments, adorning their mistresses with priceless jeweled ornaments, and applying various perfumes and cosmetics. The queens eagerly hoped to gain the king’s favor and become the chosen one among thousands. Amid this bustle, only the youngest queen, Sujiaduo, remained calm and unmoved. She did not compete with others, but instead recollected the Buddha’s teaching in her mind: “Morality is the finest garment; for those who uphold the Eight Precepts, it is like wearing the purest white robe, dignified and naturally inspiring respect.” Her non-contentious demeanor stood in stark contrast to the others.
When King Aśoka entered the harem, he saw the queens lavishly adorned with jewels and cosmetics, dazzling the eyes. Only the youngest queen was simply dressed and understated. The king was surprised and asked, “All the great queens are richly adorned. Why do you alone not follow my command?”
Sujiaduo replied, “The Buddha taught: ‘Shame and conscience are the finest garments; moral discipline is the most splendid ornament; the sound of the Dharma is the most beautiful music.’ I now uphold the Eight Precepts as my ornament, wear the garment of shame and conscience, and recite the scriptures as my music. With these I respectfully welcome the Great King.”
Hearing this, King Aśoka was delighted and deeply praised Sujiaduo’s wisdom and virtue. He declared before all: “I previously made a vow that the one most exquisitely adorned shall receive the jewel. Sujiaduo’s adornment is supreme among all—this wish-fulfilling jewel belongs to her alone!”
Upon seeing Sujiaduo receive the jewel through her observance of precepts, the other queens all vied to receive and uphold the Eight Precepts.
