时间：09/20/2025 09/21/2025
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：Otto Huang
佛法修行
愚笨的盘特比丘
世尊在舍卫国的时候，有个老比丘名叫盘特，他总是很用功地学习，可是却一点进展也没有，所以大家经常嘲笑他的愚笨。
佛陀怜悯他，于是亲自教他一偈，并且详细解释偈语的意义和内涵。
佛陀对盘特比丘说：「虽然只是一句话，只要你好好记牢，用心体会，一样可以求得佛道的。」
盘特比丘感恩佛陀的慈悲，每天都苦念这句偈语，用心思考和记忆，终于理解其中隐含的妙法，心中豁然开朗，证得阿罗汉，成为佛陀的罗汉弟子之一。
有一次，佛陀派盘特罗汉到一座精舍为尼众僧团讲诵经文。消息传来，比丘尼们笑翻了，七嘴八舌地说：
「哈哈！那个一字半偈都不会的傻瓜居然来给我们上课讲经。」
「我们来想办法嘲笑他，看他出糗！」
「好啊！明天我们等着看笑话吧！」
比丘尼们边说边想象盘特的狼狈模样，开心地笑成一团。
第二天，盘特罗汉来到比丘尼们的精舍，众比丘尼忍住笑，请盘特罗汉开讲经文。只见盘特往那高位上一坐，双目正视，说道：
「说来惭愧，我年纪大了，学的东西却不多，今天来为大家讲经，不过尽力为大家讲解一偈罢了，希望各位静下心来听我说。」
盘特罗汉说这些话时，底下仍然窃窃私语。盘特罗汉也不管底下的反应，便开讲佛陀亲自教他的那一偈：「守口摄意身莫犯，如是行者得度世。」然后将偈语所说的道理仔细说明、解释。
盘特罗汉认认真真地讲解，本来想捉弄他的比丘尼们听了这样高深的法理，知道他的道行远远超过自己，心里万分懊悔，纷纷跪在盘特罗汉的脚下叩头自责。听完法后，五百比丘尼杂念顿除，纷纷证得阿罗汉道。
还有一次，波斯匿王邀请佛陀到宫中应供，佛陀带着两百位比丘众到宫中赴宴。佛陀将自己的钵递给盘特罗汉，要他拿着跟在身后，盘特罗汉于是毕恭毕敬地跟着佛陀向宫门走去。
大家来到宫殿门口，不料盘特罗汉被门前的侍卫挡住了。
「你不是盘特老比丘吗？停下！」侍卫们早已听说过他的愚蠢了。
「像你这样的笨人凭什么享受国王的恩施！你就不必进去了。」
佛陀对盘特罗汉说：「你就拿着我的钵在这里等吧！」
于是盘特罗汉只好在宫门外等着。
到了大殿，佛陀与二百比丘端坐下来，与波斯匿王、王后和文武百官见过礼，准备享用餐点。
这时佛陀喊了一声：「盘特啊！把我的钵拿来。」
站在宫门外的盘特罗汉就运用神通，伸手将钵从宫门外递进去。殿内国王和众臣忽然看见一条长长的手臂把钵递到佛陀手中，全都吓呆了，纷纷开口问：
「这是谁的手臂呀！怎么这么长？」
「是我弟子盘特罗汉的手臂。」佛陀笑着回答。
波斯匿王一听，大声称赞说：「好个佛弟子，居然有如此神通！怎么不见他的人呢？」
「他被守门侍卫挡在宫门外，不让他进来。」一个大臣连忙禀告国王。
「胡闹！怎么可以这样呢？快把他请进来！」波斯匿王生气地命令大臣，转面又向佛问道：「世尊，听说这比丘原本生性愚钝，为什么能够得道呢？」
佛陀回答：「学问不在多，能够确实实行才是最重要的。盘特虽然只学得一偈，但是他能深入领会，融会贯通，身体力行，不像有的人贪多图快，结果没有一样专精的，又有什么用呢？」
「是啊！是啊！」国王、王后和文武百官听了都不断点头。
这时，盘特罗汉从容不迫地走进来，坐于佛陀身后，佛陀与他会心一笑。所有人心中都对盘特罗汉充满敬佩之意，再也不敢随便取笑、刁难他了。
Date: 09/20/2025 09/21/2025
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
The Bhikkhu Pantha Who Was Thought to Be Dull-witted
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Śrāvastī, in the country of Kosala.
Now there was an aged bhikkhu named Pantha. Though he applied himself diligently to learning, he made no progress, and the monks often mocked him as being dull-witted.
The Blessed One, moved with compassion, personally taught him a single verse, and carefully explained its meaning and profound intent.
The Blessed One said to Bhikkhu Pantha:
“Though it is but a single line, if you hold it firmly in memory, contemplate it with your heart, and practice accordingly, you too shall attain the path of Buddhahood.”
Grateful for the Buddha’s great compassion, Bhikkhu Pantha recited the verse day by day, reflecting deeply upon it. At length, his mind opened, wisdom arose, and he attained the fruit of Arahantship, becoming one among the Enlightened Ones in the Sangha.
On one occasion, the Blessed One sent Arahant Pantha to a convent to recite the Teaching before the assembly of nuns. When the nuns heard of it, they laughed among themselves, saying:
“Ha! That fool who once could not even remember half a verse is now coming to preach to us!”
“Let us find a way to mock him and watch him be disgraced!”
And so they eagerly awaited the next day.
When Arahant Pantha came, the nuns received him and requested that he speak. Seated upon the high seat, he looked upon them calmly and said:
“Shameful it is that in old age I have learned so little. Today, I shall expound but a single verse. I pray that you listen with a still mind.”
The nuns whispered and laughed among themselves, but Arahant Pantha paid no heed. He recited the verse taught him by the Buddha:
“Guard the mouth, restrain the mind,
Transgress not with the body.
Whoso walks thus with vigilance,
Shall cross beyond this world.”
He then explained in detail the meaning of the verse. Hearing the profound Dharma, the nuns who had come to ridicule him were filled with shame, prostrated themselves at his feet, and confessed their fault. When the teaching ended, five hundred bhikkhunīs abandoned delusion, and all attained the fruit of Arahantship.
Again, on another occasion, King Prasenajit invited the Blessed One to a royal feast. The Buddha, accompanied by two hundred monks, went to the palace. Handing his alms-bowl to Arahant Pantha, the Buddha said:
“Bear this, and follow after me.”
When they reached the palace gate, the guards stopped Pantha, saying:
“Are you not the dull-witted old monk Pantha? Such as you have no right to the king’s offerings. You shall not enter.”
The Buddha said to him:
“Wait here with my bowl.”
Thus Arahant Pantha remained outside.
Within the hall, the Buddha and the monks sat with the king, the queen, and the ministers. The Buddha then called out:
“Pantha, bring me my bowl!”
From outside the gate, Pantha, by his spiritual power, extended his arm through the air. In the midst of the great assembly, they beheld a wondrously long arm reaching forth, and placing the bowl into the hands of the Buddha.
The king and ministers were astonished, asking:
“Whose arm is this, so wondrously long?”
The Blessed One smiled and said:
“It is the arm of my disciple, Arahant Pantha.”
The king marveled:
“Excellent indeed is this disciple of the Buddha, possessed of such great spiritual power! Yet why is he not within?”
A minister replied:
“He was barred by the guards at the gate.”
The king, angered, said:
“Foolish men! How could you act thus? Bring him in at once!”
Then he turned to the Buddha and asked:
“World-honored One, we have long heard that this monk was dull of nature. How has he attained such realization?”
The Blessed One replied:
“Learning is not in multitude of words, but in true practice. Though Pantha learned but a single verse, he penetrated its meaning, embodied it in conduct, and was steadfast in the path. Unlike those who covet much and gain nothing in depth, his attainment is complete.”
The king, the queen, and all ministers bowed their heads, saying:
“Indeed, it is so! Indeed, it is so!”
At that time, Arahant Pantha entered calmly, and sat behind the Buddha. The Blessed One looked upon him with a smile. All present were filled with reverence, and from that day none dared mock him again.
