时间：08/22/2026 08/23/2026
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
佛度毘舍离人民本末因缘
佛陀时代，在毘舍离国有一位深具善根的长者，听闻佛陀来到国内行化，就来到佛陀的面前，顶礼佛足，向佛禀白：「世尊，我想恭请您接受我三个月的供养。」佛默然应允，就着衣持钵来到长者家中应供。国内其他人因而无法供养佛，生起极大的瞠心，意图加害长者，即日就发动兵马，将长者的家重重包围。长者虽然非常惶怖畏惧，但是因为一心想着要供养无上至尊的佛陀，就不再惶恐不安，把心安定下来。世尊为他说法，演畅诸多微妙的义理，长者和眷属们都因而证得无生法忍。
接着，世尊从座而起，走到长者家门外，开导那些包围长者家的人群，为他们说明瞠恚与伤害他人的苦果，宣扬赞叹柔和慈悲将会得到的福报，说了种种的道理后，众人心开意解，八万四千人同时发了成就无上正等正觉的菩提心。一旁的比丘们请示佛陀：「世尊，今日大会中，众人见到世尊，闻佛开示而心开意解，是刚巧遭逢因缘才会发生的事，还是宿世的因缘呢？」世尊回答：「今日与会大众得度者，都是因为宿世与佛有甚深因缘！」比丘们就禀白佛陀：「愿世尊慈悲为我们说明其中的缘由，令听闻者增益功德。」
世尊就告诉大众：「过去，有一个临近大海的国家，国王名叫萨和达，以仁慈治理国家，爱民如子。后来，国家遭遇到大旱灾，连续三年不曾下雨，人民遭逢饥饿困乏之苦。萨和达王便召来梵志与道士们，问他们何时才会下雨？占卜者回答：『国王，旱灾必须满十年后，才会有雨！』萨和达王听到此话，唯恐百姓等不到旱灾结束，就因饥饿而死亡殆尽，内心愁忧不乐，思惟着：『我该用什么方法才能拯济国人呢？』左思右想，最后他下定决心：『唯有布施我的身体才能救拔百姓！』
于是，萨和达王沐浴斋戒后，双手合掌向十方祝祷：『我所作的一切善行，如果有福报的话，我愿意将所有的福报功德回向，让我命终投生大海当中，化做一条大鱼，以我身上的肉供养一切人民活命食用。』发愿后，萨和达王就不再进食。七天后命终，萨和达王依愿投胎为大鱼，身长四千里，而且通晓宿命，知道自己生前所发的大愿，便游至岸边，搁浅在沙滩上，就好像一座大黑山。人民远远看见，心中纳闷着怎么会有一座大山呢？就前往观看，发现原来是一条大鱼，于是全国人民都去割取鱼肉来吃，得以免除饥荒困乏，存活了下来，国家也逐渐恢复国力，生活富裕安乐。」
世尊向大众说：「当时，那条大鱼就是我的前身；而那些食我身肉的百姓，就是现今的毘舍离人民。我往昔无数劫来以身肉救济众生，这只是其中的一世而已。如今更以圣道的智慧救护众生的法身慧命，启发众生返本还原，回复清净无为之心，远离三界轮回，永断烦恼痛苦。菩萨勤苦修行具足三种布施，这三种布施包括外施、内施、大施。布施衣服、饮食、金银珍宝、国土、妻子儿女，这些属于外施；布施自己的身体骨肉、头目脑髓，则属于内施；为众生演说四无量心、六波罗蜜、四圣谛、无常、十二部经典，这是大施。修行学佛求道，若能具足这三种布施，就能够早日圆成佛道。」
世尊为大众开示后，当下无数众生都发了成就无上正等正觉的菩提心。
Date: 08/22/2026 08/23/2026
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Causes and Conditions of the Buddha Delivering the People of Vaiśālī
In the time of the Buddha, in the country of Vaiśālī, there was an elder endowed with deep wholesome roots. Upon hearing that the Buddha had come to teach in the land, he approached him, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and said, “World-Honored One, I wish to invite you to accept my offerings for three months.” The Buddha silently consented and, putting on his robe and taking his bowl, went to the elder’s house to receive alms. Others in the country, being unable to make offerings, gave rise to great anger and intended to harm the elder. That very day, they mobilized troops and surrounded his house. Though the elder was greatly frightened, because he single-mindedly wished to make offerings to the supremely honored Buddha, he calmed his mind. The World-Honored One taught him the Dharma, expounding many subtle and profound principles, and the elder together with his family attained the forbearance of the unborn.
Then the World-Honored One rose from his seat, went outside the elder’s house, and instructed those surrounding it. He explained the painful consequences of anger and harming others, and praised the blessings that come from gentleness and compassion. After teaching various principles, the people opened their minds, and eighty-four thousand of them simultaneously gave rise to the aspiration for unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. The bhikṣus present asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, today the assembly, upon seeing you and hearing the Dharma, immediately opened their minds. Is this due to present conditions or past causes?” The Buddha replied, “Those who were liberated today all have deep karmic connections with the Buddha from past lives.” The bhikṣus then requested, “May the World-Honored One compassionately explain these causes and conditions so that listeners may increase their merit.”
The World-Honored One told them, “In the past, there was a country near the ocean. Its king was named Sahada, who governed with benevolence and loved his people as his own children. Later, the country suffered a great drought, and for three consecutive years no rain fell. The people endured hunger and hardship. King Sahada summoned brahmins and ascetics to ask when rain would come. The diviners replied, ‘Great King, the drought will only end after ten years.’ Hearing this, the king feared that the people would die of hunger before the drought ended. Filled with sorrow, he thought, ‘What method can I use to save my people?’ After much contemplation, he resolved, ‘Only by giving my own body can I rescue them!’
Thus, after bathing and observing fasting, King Sahada joined his palms and prayed to the ten directions, saying, ‘If there is merit in all the good deeds I have done, I dedicate all of it so that after my death I may be reborn in the ocean as a great fish, offering my flesh to sustain all people.’ After making this vow, he ceased eating. After seven days, he died and was reborn as a great fish four thousand li in length. Retaining knowledge of his past life, he swam to the shore and lay upon the sand like a great black mountain. The people, seeing it from afar, wondered at this mountain and came to look, discovering it was a great fish. Thus, all the people cut its flesh to eat, surviving the famine. The country gradually recovered and returned to prosperity.”
The World-Honored One said, “At that time, that great fish was my former body, and those who ate my flesh are the present people of Vaiśālī. For countless eons, I have saved beings by offering my body; this was but one such life. Now, I use the wisdom of the noble path to protect beings’ Dharma-body and wisdom-life, guiding them to return to their original purity, free from the cycles of the three realms and forever ending suffering. Bodhisattvas diligently cultivate three kinds of giving: external giving, internal giving, and great giving. Giving clothing, food, gold, treasures, lands, spouses, and children is external giving. Giving one’s own body, flesh, and life is internal giving. Teaching beings the four immeasurables, the six pāramitās, the Four Noble Truths, impermanence, and the scriptures is great giving. If one can perfect these three, one will quickly attain Buddhahood.”
After the World-Honored One gave this teaching, countless beings immediately gave rise to the aspiration for unsurpassed, complete enlightenment.
