时间：02/07/2026 02/08/2026
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
佛度龙王与金翅鸟王
过去，有四龙王，一名噏气，二名大噏气，三名熊罴，四名无量色。一日，这四龙王一起去敬谒佛，禀白：「此海中有无数种的龙族众生，因为过去生所造作的业行而投生为龙，或为大龙、或为小龙、或是身形羸劣，常被欺侮。有四种金翅鸟常以这些龙及龙妻、龙子为食，造成海中龙族众生的惊恐怖畏。愿佛慈悲救护，让海中龙族众生能得安稳，无有恐怖。」
佛于是脱下身上所著之袈裟，告诉海龙王：「拿着这件佛的袈裟，分给所有的龙族。只要持有佛的袈裟一缕，金翅鸟便不能触犯你们。为什么可以如此？因为佛持守清净戒，所发之愿，必能满愿。」
闻佛所说，龙王们还是感到惊恐焦虑，心想：「此件佛的袈裟实在太小，如何能分给所有的海中诸龙，让大家都能持有？」
佛知道龙王们心中的疑虑和担忧，说道：「假使三千大千世界所有众生都来分取佛的袈裟，佛的袈裟始终不会减少。这是佛不可思议的巍巍功德！」
于是海龙王恭敬地接下佛的袈裟，分成无数百千小段，然后分给诸龙王，龙王们再分给各自龙宫内的所有龙族众生，而佛的袈裟依然如故，未有减少。海龙王于是告诉诸龙王：「此袈裟是佛所披着，应当恭敬此袈裟如同恭敬佛、恭敬塔寺一样。恭敬此袈裟的功德，与用一切珍稀之物供养佛的功德，等无差别。」
佛言：「如是，如是！如仁者所言！恭敬此袈裟即等同供养佛。汝等且查看所有大小诸龙及龙妻、龙子是否都已分得佛的袈裟？」
海龙王回答：「是的。」
佛接着说道：「我授记你们都将脱离龙身，在贤劫中，除志求大乘者外，其余诸龙皆得证阿罗汉果，得入涅槃。佛住世时，凡众生发一念善心，终必成佛。」
得佛授记，海中诸龙及龙妻、龙子皆欣然大喜，纷纷来到佛前，同声说：「佛所言真实不虚，今为我等授记将来皆当成就阿罗汉果，我等以虔敬心皈依佛、皈依法、皈依诸圣众，愿奉持佛净戒，遵循佛的教导。现今佛住世，我们当经常前往敬谒、顶礼佛，听闻佛开示法义，铭记于心；将来佛入涅槃后，必当以一切庄严之具恭敬供养佛舍利。」
四金翅鸟王听闻此事，皆惶恐不安，迅速来到佛前，顶礼佛后，同声问道：「佛为何要阻挠我们猎取食物？」
佛言：「用四种方式取得食物，将会堕入三恶道。哪四种？一是用网猎捕禽兽、残害群畜、杀生害命，取用为自己的食物；二是手执兵器、刀矛斫刺，强行捕捉射杀、劫夺他人财物以为己用；三是为人悭贪、阿谀谄媚，违犯规矩、巧诈欺骗而得到饮食；四是非师称师、非佛称佛、堕邪称正、非寂志称寂志、非清净称清净、非梵行自称梵行，以种种讹诈言行得到饮食供养。用这四种方式取得饮食，将会堕入地狱、饿鬼、畜生三恶道。不应当用这些伤生害命的方式滋养己身。一切众生都爱惜自己的生命，所以应该像护念己身一样护念众生的生命，使众生得安稳。有智者不会以不当的作为迫害众生。不当做的事慎勿为也！」
闻佛此言，四金翅鸟王与随行的百千眷属们同时禀白佛：「今日我等皈依佛、皈依法、皈依众僧，忏悔过去所犯的罪殃，愿奉持佛净戒。从今日开始，愿以无畏施护念一切龙族；只要佛的教法住世，我们必当拥护正法；尽形寿，遵循佛的教法，不违背佛的教敕。」
佛告诉四金翅鸟王：「金仁佛住世时，你们身为比丘，名为欣乐、大欣乐、上胜、上友，却违犯戒律、贪图供养、迷失心志，随同亲族追逐豪贵生活、生邪见、轻慢其他比丘，使比丘们生恼，且不守护自身身、口、意三业，作恶甚多，是因为供养金仁佛的福德因缘，所以命终后不堕入地狱，而堕入畜生道。你们投生为金翅鸟王，前前后后所杀害的众生，难以计量，果报实为可怖，怎能不赶紧悔过改正。」
佛随即以神通力，令四金翅鸟王识知自己的宿命因果，过去所做诸行，一切罪福之业皆历历在目。四金翅鸟王禀白佛：「过去的自己心性刚强，难调难伏，放任一己的贪心、嫉妒心，危害众生，违背金仁佛的教导。从今以后，我们宁可失去身命，也绝不敢再造恶。」
佛接着为金翅鸟开示法义，并为他们授记：「弥勒佛下生人间度众，在龙华三会的第一会时，你们都将得度！」
Date: 02/07/2026 02/08/2026
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Buddha Saves the Dragon Kings and the Garuḍa Kings
In the past, there were four dragon kings. The first was named Xi Qi, the second Great Xi Qi, the third Xiongpi, and the fourth Immeasurable Color. One day, these four dragon kings went together to pay homage to the Buddha and reported:
“In this ocean there are innumerable dragon beings. Because of the karmic actions they created in previous lives, they were reborn as dragons—some as great dragons, some as small dragons, and some weak and frail, often subject to oppression. There are four kinds of garuḍa birds that constantly prey upon these dragons, as well as their wives and children, causing great fear and terror among the dragon beings in the ocean. We pray that the Buddha, out of compassion, will protect them so that the dragon beings in the ocean may obtain peace and be free from fear.”
The Buddha then removed the kāṣāya robe he was wearing and said to the Sea Dragon King:
“Take this robe of the Buddha and distribute it among all the dragon beings. As long as they possess even a single thread of the Buddha’s robe, the garuḍas will not be able to harm them. Why is this so? Because the Buddha upholds pure precepts, and the vows he has made will certainly be fulfilled.”
After hearing the Buddha’s words, the dragon kings still felt anxious and afraid. They thought to themselves:
“This robe of the Buddha is truly very small. How could it possibly be divided among all the dragons in the ocean so that everyone may possess a portion?”
Knowing the doubts and concerns in their minds, the Buddha said:
“Even if all the beings in the three thousand great thousand worlds were to come and divide the Buddha’s robe, the robe would never be diminished. This is the inconceivable and magnificent merit of the Buddha.”
The Sea Dragon King then respectfully received the Buddha’s robe and divided it into countless hundreds of thousands of small pieces. These were distributed to the dragon kings, who in turn gave them to all the dragon beings within their respective dragon palaces. Yet the Buddha’s robe remained exactly the same and did not diminish in the least.
The Sea Dragon King then said to the other dragon kings:
“This robe was worn by the Buddha. One should revere this robe just as one reveres the Buddha and the stūpas and monasteries. The merit obtained from revering this robe is no different from the merit of making offerings to the Buddha with all rare and precious objects.”
The Buddha said:
“Indeed, indeed! Just as you have said. Revering this robe is equivalent to making offerings to the Buddha. Now examine whether all the dragons, great and small, together with their wives and children, have all received a portion of the Buddha’s robe.”
The Sea Dragon King replied:
“Yes, they have.”
The Buddha then said:
“I now give you a prediction of future attainment. You will all be freed from your dragon bodies. In the Bhadrakalpa (the Auspicious Kalpa), except for those who aspire to the Great Vehicle, the rest of the dragons will attain the fruit of Arhatship and enter nirvāṇa. When the Buddha abides in the world, any being who arouses even a single thought of goodness will ultimately become a Buddha.”
Upon receiving the Buddha’s prediction, all the dragons in the ocean, together with their wives and children, were filled with joy. They came before the Buddha and spoke with one voice:
“The words of the Buddha are true and without deception. Today you have predicted that we shall all attain the fruit of Arhatship in the future. With reverent hearts we take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, and take refuge in the noble Saṅgha. We vow to uphold the Buddha’s pure precepts and follow the Buddha’s teachings. While the Buddha abides in the world, we will frequently come to pay homage, bow before the Buddha, listen to the Dharma teachings, and keep them firmly in mind. After the Buddha enters nirvāṇa, we will respectfully make offerings to the Buddha’s relics with all kinds of adornments.”
When the four garuḍa kings heard of this matter, they became frightened and uneasy. They quickly came before the Buddha, bowed at his feet, and asked together:
“Why does the Buddha prevent us from obtaining our food?”
The Buddha said:
“There are four ways of obtaining food that lead beings to fall into the three evil destinies. What are these four?
First, using nets to hunt birds and beasts, harming and killing living creatures, taking their lives in order to use them as one’s food.
Second, holding weapons such as swords and spears, violently capturing or shooting others, and seizing the property of others for one’s own use.
Third, being miserly and greedy, flattering others, violating rules, and using deceit and trickery in order to obtain food and drink.
Fourth, claiming to be a teacher when one is not a teacher, claiming to be a Buddha when one is not a Buddha, calling what is wrong right, calling what is impure pure, calling what is not the life of purity the life of purity, and through such false speech and conduct obtaining food offerings.
Obtaining food through these four methods leads one to fall into hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the realm of animals. One should not nourish oneself through such acts that harm and kill living beings.
All beings cherish their own lives. Therefore one should protect the lives of other beings just as one protects one’s own life, allowing them to live in peace. A wise person does not oppress or harm living beings through improper conduct. What ought not to be done must absolutely not be done.”
After hearing these words of the Buddha, the four garuḍa kings and the hundreds of thousands of their attendants said to the Buddha:
“From this day forward, we take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, and take refuge in the Saṅgha. We repent the offenses we committed in the past and vow to uphold the Buddha’s pure precepts. From today onward, we vow to give the gift of fearlessness and protect all dragon beings. As long as the Buddha’s teaching remains in the world, we will uphold the true Dharma. Throughout our lives we will follow the Buddha’s teachings and never disobey the Buddha’s instructions.”
The Buddha then told the four garuḍa kings:
“In the time when Buddha Jīnréntathāgata appeared in the world, you were monks named Xinle, Great Xinle, Supreme Victory, and Supreme Friend. However, you violated the precepts, became greedy for offerings, lost the proper direction of your minds, and together with your relatives pursued luxurious lives. You developed wrong views and treated other monks with arrogance and contempt, causing them distress. Moreover, you failed to guard your actions of body, speech, and mind, committing many evil deeds.
Because of the merit you accumulated from making offerings to Buddha Jīnren, after death you did not fall into hell, but instead were reborn in the animal realm. Now you have been born as garuḍa kings. The number of beings you have killed throughout this time is beyond calculation. The karmic retribution is truly terrifying—how could you not hasten to repent and correct yourselves?”
The Buddha then used his supernatural powers to allow the four garuḍa kings to know their past lives and karmic causes and conditions. All the deeds they had done in the past, whether good or evil, appeared before them clearly.
The four garuḍa kings said to the Buddha:
“In the past, our minds were stubborn and difficult to tame. We indulged our greed and jealousy, harmed living beings, and violated the teachings of Buddha Jīnren. From this day onward, we would rather lose our lives than commit evil again.”
The Buddha then expounded the Dharma to the garuḍas and gave them a prediction:
“When Maitreya Buddha descends into the human world to liberate beings, during the first assembly of the three assemblies under the Dragon Flower Tree, you will all be delivered.”
