时间：02/14/2026 02/15/2026
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
犍陀王与牛的始末因缘
昔日，佛在舍卫国祇树给孤独园弘化，与一千二百五十位比丘一起。当时，有位国王名犍陀，奉事一位婆罗门。这位婆罗门住在山中，种植很多果树。一天，有一个樵夫上山砍柴，毁坏了果树，婆罗门看见了非常气愤，便拉着樵夫来到国王面前，向国王控告：「此人行为不当，毁坏我的果树，国王应当治他的罪，杀了他。」国王因敬事婆罗门，不敢违背他的话，便下令杀了樵夫。
过后不久，有一只牛吃了农人的稻子，农人用棍杖追打，打断牛的一只角。这只牛血流满面，疼痛难忍，直奔到国王面前说：「我实是行为不当，但只不过是偷吃了一点稻子、被主人发现，他就打断我一只角。」随后，农人也追到国王面前，这时通晓鸟兽语言的犍陀王对牛说：「我会为你将此人治罪，杀了他。」牛却回答国王：「即使杀了此人，也无法令我不痛，但是应当告诫他，以后切莫轻易伤害他人如伤我一般。」
犍陀王听了有所感悟，心想：「我所奉事的婆罗门，只因樵夫毁坏了他的果树，就要我杀人，他实在不如这只牛。」于是国王便召请婆罗门来，问他：「我奉事婆罗门之道，能得到什么福报？」婆罗门回答：「可以消灾得福、富贵长寿。」犍陀王再问：「可以免于轮回生死吗？」婆罗门答言：「无法免于轮回生死。」
犍陀王听了，心想：「既然如此，我何必再奉事其道呢？」于是命令群臣严整车驾，前往祇树给孤独园，来到佛前五体投地，恭敬地向佛顶礼，禀白说：「世尊，我听说佛法的道理至尊无上，教化巍巍盛行，度化天下无数的众生；我愿信受佛的教法，皈投佛教。」佛于是为犍陀王传授五戒、十善，并为他宣说天地间一切人与万物悉皆无常、没有生而不死的道理。
犍陀王至诚顶礼佛，恳切地请问：「我今遵奉五戒、十善，能得到什么福德？」佛告诉犍陀王：「布施、持戒，现世就可以获福；修行忍辱、精进、禅定、智慧所获功德无量，将来得生天上，也可作转轮圣王，乃至证得无为度世之道。」佛说完后，随即为犍陀王现庄严相好，威神光耀，犍陀王见而欢喜，心开意解，当下证得须陀洹果。
这时，阿难尊者严整衣服，向佛顶礼请示：「犍陀王与牛过去是何因缘？为什么国王听了牛说的话，就能觉悟而舍婆罗门道、改求佛道，并在见到佛、听闻佛法后，即得证果？」
佛说道：「往昔，在拘那含牟尼佛住世时，犍陀王与牛原本是一对兄弟，两人受持五戒为优婆塞，并发愿受持一日一夜的八关斋戒。犍陀王因为持守斋法，精进不懈怠，寿终生天，天寿尽后下生人间为国王；而牛因夜食、犯了斋法，未能圆满持戒功德。后来因为种种罪业受报，投生为牛，历经百世都还识得过去生的因缘，所以前来使犍陀王醒悟。七天后，这只牛将寿终，投生于天上。」
佛告诫大众：「四众弟子！受持斋戒，不可违犯。」诸比丘、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷、天、龙、鬼神，听闻佛的开示后，皆大欢喜，向佛顶礼而离去。
Date: 02/14/2026 02/15/2026
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Causes and Conditions of King Jiantuo and the Ox
Formerly, when the Buddha was dwelling in the Jetavana Monastery in the country of Śrāvastī, he was teaching and transforming beings together with one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus.
At that time there was a king named Jiantuo who served and revered a Brahmin. This Brahmin lived in the mountains and cultivated many fruit trees. One day a woodcutter went up the mountain to collect firewood and damaged the fruit trees. When the Brahmin saw this, he became extremely angry. He seized the woodcutter and brought him before the king, accusing him and saying:
“This man has behaved improperly and has destroyed my fruit trees. The king should punish his crime and execute him.”
Because King Jiantuo revered and served the Brahmin, he did not dare to oppose his words, and thus he ordered the execution of the woodcutter.
Not long afterward, an ox ate some rice belonging to a farmer. The farmer chased and beat the ox with a stick, breaking one of its horns. With blood streaming down its face and suffering unbearable pain, the ox ran directly before the king and said:
“I indeed behaved improperly, but I merely stole a little rice. When my owner discovered this, he broke one of my horns.”
Soon the farmer also arrived before the king. At that time King Jiantuo, who understood the languages of birds and animals, said to the ox:
“I will punish this man for you and have him executed.”
The ox replied to the king:
“Even if this man were killed, it would not remove my pain. However, he should be admonished not to harm others lightly in the future as he has harmed me.”
Hearing these words, King Jiantuo gained an insight and thought to himself:
“The Brahmin whom I serve wished to have a man killed merely because a woodcutter damaged his fruit trees. He is truly inferior to this ox.”
Therefore the king summoned the Brahmin and asked him:
“If I follow and serve the path taught by the Brahmins, what blessings will I obtain?”
The Brahmin answered:
“You will be able to eliminate misfortune, obtain blessings, and enjoy wealth, honor, and longevity.”
The king then asked:
“Can it free one from the cycle of birth and death?”
The Brahmin replied:
“It cannot free one from the cycle of birth and death.”
Upon hearing this, King Jiantuo thought:
“If this is the case, why should I continue to follow such a path?”
Thus he ordered his ministers to prepare the royal carriage and proceeded to Jetavana. Arriving before the Buddha, he prostrated with his five limbs touching the ground and respectfully paid homage. He then addressed the Buddha, saying:
“World-Honored One, I have heard that the principles of the Buddha’s Dharma are supreme and unsurpassed. Its teaching spreads magnificently and liberates countless beings throughout the world. I now wish to accept the Buddha’s teaching in faith and take refuge in the Buddha.”
The Buddha then transmitted to King Jiantuo the Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Actions. He also explained that all people and all things between heaven and earth are impermanent, and that nothing which is born can avoid death.
King Jiantuo sincerely bowed to the Buddha and earnestly asked:
“If I now uphold the Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Actions, what merits and blessings will I obtain?”
The Buddha told King Jiantuo:
“Through generosity and the observance of precepts, one can obtain blessings even in the present life. By cultivating patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom, one gains immeasurable merit. In the future one may be reborn in the heavens, become a Wheel-Turning Sage King, and ultimately realize the path of liberation that transcends the world.”
After speaking these words, the Buddha manifested his majestic and adorned physical marks. His spiritual radiance shone brilliantly. Seeing this, King Jiantuo rejoiced greatly, his mind opened in understanding, and he immediately attained the fruit of Sotāpanna.
At that time the Venerable Ānanda arranged his robes properly, bowed to the Buddha, and asked:
“What past causes and conditions connect King Jiantuo and the ox? Why was it that when the king heard the ox speak, he awakened, abandoned the Brahmin path, and sought the Buddha’s path, and after seeing the Buddha and hearing the Dharma he immediately attained realization?”
The Buddha said:
“In the past, when Kanakamuni Buddha was in the world, King Jiantuo and the ox had originally been two brothers. Both upheld the Five Precepts as lay followers and vowed to observe the Eight Precepts for one day and one night.
Because King Jiantuo upheld the fasting precepts diligently without negligence, when his life ended he was reborn in the heavens. After the end of his heavenly lifespan, he descended to the human world and became a king.
However, the other brother violated the fasting precepts by eating at night and thus failed to complete the merit of pure observance. Later, due to various karmic retributions, he was reborn as an ox. For a hundred lifetimes he still remembered the causes and conditions of his past lives, and therefore came to awaken King Jiantuo. After seven days, this ox would reach the end of its life and be reborn in the heavens.”
The Buddha then admonished the assembly:
“Disciples of the fourfold community, when you undertake the observance of the fasting precepts, you must not violate them.”
The bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, upāsikās, as well as the devas, nāgas, and spirits, having heard the Buddha’s teaching, all rejoiced greatly. They bowed respectfully to the Buddha and then departed.
