时间：08/29/2026 08/30/2026
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
妙色王求法因缘
过去，世尊在室罗伐城逝多林给孤独园弘化时。一日，世尊出定后，为四众弟子演说无上甘露微妙法音，无量百千大众前后围绕世尊，六根不动、专注听闻法要。此时，有众多比丘见大众身心寂静，殷勤聆听世尊说法，都感到疑惑、不可思议，于是请示佛陀：「唯愿世尊慈悲为我等断除疑网；如来大师无上法王，今日在座听法大众，为何如此恳切、身心不动，恭闻妙法如饮甘露呢？」
世尊告诉大众：比丘们！过去如来为求妙法，恭敬殷重，你们当一心谛听，善自思惟，我将为大众宣说个中因缘。
往昔，在波罗奈大城中，有位国王名为妙色，以正法化世，国土丰乐，百姓众多；国境没有战乱与虚伪诈骗、夺财害命的怨贼，也没有疾病困苦、灾祸横行等事。稻蔗、谷物丰收，牛羊牲畜不可胜数，更没有充满瓦砾、荆棘芒刺的荒凉闭塞之地。仁慈的妙色王以恩泽化育百姓，看待人民如同自己的孩子。同时，待人虔敬诚信，性喜贤明良善，发坚固誓愿，自利利人，具慈悲心、仰慕大法，体恤子民、爱护群臣，常行大布施舍除悭贪，救济贫困。
妙色王的夫人名为妙容，颜貌端正，举止威仪安详庄重，众德圆满，为人民所爱戴。妙色王只有一位太子，名为端正子；年纪虽小，但言行忠孝仁慈，妙色王疼爱有加，时时不离左右。
一日，妙色王因为渴仰殊胜妙法，召集文武百官对他们说：「我对微妙大法非常仰慕，希望你们能够为我寻访。」大臣们禀白国王：「大王，您是知道的，唯有大觉世尊出现于世，世间才有无上妙法。」妙色王对群臣说：「现今虽然无佛出世，请试着为我寻求无上大法。」此时，妙色王便以箱子放置妙金宝，高挂于幢上，命人鸣鼓宣布诏令，普告四方：「假如有人能为我宣说殊胜妙法，我将以这只金箱回报他的恩德，并且演奏种种微妙乐音来表达庆赞。」诏告后经过许久，竟没有任何人能够为大王宣说胜法，妙色王因渴仰妙法不得而心怀忧恼。
当时，帝释天遍观人间，有哪些人为善？哪些人为恶？有哪些人对于出世胜因，心无懈怠？观察到妙色王因为求法不得而生忧恼，心想：「妙色王如此仰慕胜法，我应当来试探他，究竟他的愿心是真还是假？」于是帝释天变化成大药叉，身体手脚异于常人，面目狰狞可怕，从天界来到王宫，在大众面前对妙色王说：「我可以为你宣说，你所渴求的殊胜妙法。」妙色王听到能亲闻大法，踊跃欢喜，对药叉说：「密迹主既有微妙大法，希望能为我宣说，我当一心谛听！」
药叉回答：「大王，我看你有轻法之心，以为妙法轻易可得，随便就想命令我马上为你宣说。事实上，我现在已经饿到全身虚弱，怎么可能为你说法？」妙色王听了这番话，立即命令王宫御厨，迅速奉上宫内所有最美味的佳肴。药叉告诉妙色王：「王宫御厨所烹煮的食物，不是我所吃的食物，唯有新鲜的活人血肉，才是我平日所吃的食物。」妙色王回答：「我哪里有办法立刻取得活人的血肉呢？」药叉说：「大王可以把爱子奉献给我。」
妙色王听闻此语，心想：「长久以来，我辛苦地寻求无上大法，今天如果能听闻法音，一定如同获得世间的无价之宝。」此时，孝顺的太子端正子站在妙色王身边，听到药叉所说的话，便跪在妙色王面前说：「请父王不必忧恼，我理当满足父王渴求妙法的心愿，请把我的身体奉献给密迹主，做为他的食物。」妙色王说：「你见我求法心切，为了成就我，宁愿舍弃所爱的色身。善哉！真是大丈夫！就如你所愿。」太子随即奉上自己的身体，药叉便当着妙色王和群臣的面前，撕裂太子的身体，吃着太子的肉、喝着太子的鲜血。妙色王看着这令人惊心动魄的景象，但因仰慕胜法心切，内心毫无惊惧。
吃完太子的血肉之后，药叉又对妙色王说：「我还没有吃饱，再把你的皇后送给我。」随侍在旁的妙容夫人，听到药叉的话，也像太子一样，毫不考虑地将身体奉献给药叉。然而药叉吞食妙容夫人的血肉后，却又告诉妙色王：「我还是感到饥饿虚弱，尚未吃饱。」妙色王对药叉言：「密迹主！我已经布施了太子，也将皇后奉献给您食用，您却说还感到饥饿；既然如此，就随您的心意取用，我愿意供给一切，绝无退转之心。」药叉告诉妙色王：「请大王把自己的身体，也送给我食用吧！」妙色王说：「善哉！我实在不敢吝惜自己的身体，但是我身死之后，又如何能听闻胜法？如今我希望先听闻您宣说妙法，待受持了大法，便即刻布施身体给您。」
于是，药叉与妙色王立下誓约，并且立即在无量百千万亿大众中，宣说殊胜微妙的偈颂：
「由爱故生忧，由爱故生怖，若离于爱者，无忧亦无怖。」
妙色王听完如此胜妙大法，心生庆幸，欢悦无量，告诉药叉：「我已听闻妙法，如说奉持。现在就依誓约，您可以随意食用我的身体！」
此时，帝释天见妙色王一心为法，身心寂然不动，犹如妙高山，知道妙色王必当证得无上正等正觉，便恢复原来帝释天的相貌，一手牵着太子端正子，一手牵着妙容夫人，充满喜悦，容色和悦地走向妙色王前，赞叹妙色王：「善哉，善哉！大王真是善根深厚的大丈夫，能以坚固的甲胄摧破烦恼军，济度愚迷出离生死大海。我观察大王心志勇猛，不久必能成就无上正等正觉。我现在将皇后、太子交还给你。」妙色王对帝释天说：「善哉，善哉！帝释天主，降大慈悲，做我的善知识，满足我爱乐妙法的心。」就在此刻，帝释天于大众中忽然消失，不见踪影。
世尊对比丘们说：「你们不要心生异念、不要有所怀疑，当时的妙色王就是我的前世；而太子端正子，是今日的罗怙罗；妙容夫人就是现在的耶输陀罗。你们应当知道，过去我为了求法，布施妻子、儿子以及自己的性命，都无所吝惜，更何况是其他的财物。由于这样的因缘，今日大众跟随我听闻法要，一心专注也无有疲厌；由于往昔求法不惧劳苦，所以现在于长夜中为大众说法，也没有疲倦。比丘们，你们应当学习，像我一样以恭敬尊重的心，精勤求法；对于听闻的法要，要去落实、如法修行，慎勿懈怠放逸。」
当时，比丘们及天人大众，闻佛所说，皆大欢喜，信受奉行。
Date: 08/29/2026 08/30/2026
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Karmic Conditions of King Miaose Seeking the Dharma
In the past, when the World-Honored One was teaching at Jetavana in Śrāvastī, one day after emerging from meditation, he expounded the supreme nectar-like subtle Dharma to the fourfold assembly. Countless hundreds of thousands surrounded him, their six faculties unmoving, attentively listening to the teaching. At that time, many bhikṣus, seeing the deep stillness of body and mind among the assembly, felt it inconceivable and asked the Buddha to dispel their doubts.
The Buddha told the assembly: “Bhikṣus, in the past, the Tathāgata sought the subtle Dharma with utmost reverence and diligence. Listen attentively and reflect well, and I shall explain the causes and conditions.”
In the past, in the great city of Vārāṇasī, there was a king named Miaose. He governed with the true Dharma, and his land was prosperous, free from war, deceit, robbery, illness, and calamity. Crops flourished, livestock were abundant, and there were no barren lands. The king treated his people like his own children, practiced generosity, upheld virtue, and aspired for the supreme Dharma.
His queen, Miaorong, was dignified and virtuous, beloved by the people. He had one son, Prince Duanzheng, who, though young, was filial and kind, and dearly loved by the king.
One day, yearning for the supreme Dharma, the king ordered his ministers to search for it. They replied that only when a Buddha appears can such Dharma be found. Nevertheless, the king proclaimed throughout the land that whoever could teach the supreme Dharma would be rewarded with great treasure. Yet, no one came, and the king became deeply distressed.
At that time, Śakra observed the human world and saw the king’s sincere longing. Wishing to test him, he transformed into a fierce yakṣa and appeared before the king, saying he could teach the Dharma. The king rejoiced and asked to hear it.
The yakṣa replied that the king treated the Dharma lightly and demanded food, declaring he only ate fresh human flesh. The king was troubled, and the yakṣa requested the king’s beloved son.
The prince, hearing this, willingly offered himself for the sake of the Dharma. The king consented, and the yakṣa devoured the prince before all. The king, though witnessing this horrifying scene, remained fearless due to his devotion to the Dharma.
The yakṣa then demanded the queen, who likewise offered herself without hesitation and was consumed. Yet the yakṣa still claimed hunger and demanded the king himself. The king agreed but requested first to hear the Dharma.
The yakṣa then recited a verse before the assembly:
“From attachment arises sorrow; from attachment arises fear.
If one is free from attachment, there is neither sorrow nor fear.”
Hearing this profound Dharma, the king rejoiced and declared he would uphold it, offering his body as promised.
At that moment, Śakra revealed his true form, restoring the prince and queen, and praised the king’s steadfast resolve, predicting his future attainment of supreme enlightenment. Then he vanished.
The Buddha told the bhikṣus that the king was his past life, the prince was Rāhula, and the queen was Yaśodharā. Through such causes, beings now listen with unwavering attention, and the Buddha tirelessly teaches.
The assembly of bhikṣus and devas, hearing the teaching, rejoiced and faithfully practiced.
