时间：02/27/2027 02/28/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
微妙比丘尼缘
佛陀时代，有五百位贵族女子因不满琉璃王的暴政虐行，舍弃了俗世，剃发为尼。出家后的五百位比丘尼虽然脱离了以往富裕享乐的环境，仍然习气难调，无法放下情爱等种种烦恼。于是，他们一同前往微妙比丘尼的住处，希望能聆听开示，解除疑惑。
微妙比丘尼知道他们的来意后，开示大众：“诸位大姐，过去我也出身于尊贵的梵志之家，结婚不久即怀胎生子；后来公婆相继辞世，小儿子又即将出生，于是决定回娘家待产，没想到在回家途中，肚子已阵痛得非常厉害，只好先在路旁树下歇息。到了深夜，孩子即将临盆，痛苦不堪的我虽然高声求助，都没有得到丈夫的回应；等到天亮，才发现他已被恶露吸引来的毒蛇所咬死。看到这番景象，我伤心得昏厥过去，直到被大儿子的啼哭声所唤醒。为了生存下去，我只好带着二个孩子继续赶路。”
“接着，我们来到一处荒无人烟的地方，前方有一条大河阻挡了去路，又找不到人可以帮忙，我只好先抱着小儿子渡河。好不容易把小儿子带到对岸安置好，大儿子等不及我回去接他，便急着下水，一下子就被河水冲走，根本来不及救他。伤心的我走回对岸，却发现地上只剩一滩血水，原来我那可怜的小儿子已被狼咬走。一连失去丈夫与儿子的我，心痛地再度昏倒。”
“后来我好不容易地才走回故乡，遇到父亲的友人，便向他询问父母的近况。他叹口气说：‘前阵子你家发生大火，他们都已葬身火窟。’听到这个消息，当下我又昏了过去，他见我如此孤苦，便收留我暂住他家。”
“几天后，有位梵志见我容貌庄严，便向我求婚，无依无靠的我只好答应了他。后来我又怀了身孕，生产时为了怕外人进来，便将大门深锁。没想到喝得酩酊大醉的丈夫回家后，因敲门无人回应，一气之下破门而入。失去理智的他，一进屋来便动手打我，连孩子的性命也没了。我见这人如此残暴，便逃离了第二个家。”
“逃到城外后，我遇到一位刚丧妻的长者子，因思念妻子，所以每天都到她的坟前哭泣。他问我可否陪他去墓园，我见他情深义重，便与他一同前去，最后，又嫁给了他。没想到结婚才没几天，他就因病往生；依照习俗，男子往生，他所心爱的人、物品都要陪葬，于是我成了丈夫的陪葬品，一起被埋入墓中。三天后，有贼盗墓，将我救了出来。这群盗贼的首领见我漂亮，又强占我为妻；不久，他为官兵所捕，斩首示众，于是我又成了陪葬品。没想到过了三天，竟有狼狗因饥饿欲食尸身，而将墓穴掘开，我才得重见天日。”
“在这么短的时间内，遭逢如此恶报，又死而复生，真是痛苦不堪；突然想到曾听闻有佛出世，依止佛陀能得解脱，便走到祇园精舍。佛陀知道我得度因缘已经成熟，于是请大爱道比丘尼为我授戒，讲说四谛苦空、无常、无我之理。由于一心精进，不久即证得阿罗汉果，得宿命通，方知此生之苦皆是过去所造之业，自作自受，纤毫不差。”听到微妙比丘尼的开示，在场大众无不感到叹息。
五百位比丘尼又问：“请问您过去世因何因缘，导致这生如此不幸，又何因缘能遇佛证果，得到解脱？”微妙比丘尼说：“过去世我曾为长者之妻，因无子嗣，见小老婆生子而心生妒忌，起了杀念。于是我偷偷将一根细针刺入婴儿头顶，导致这孩子日渐消瘦，没有几天的时间便往生了。小老婆伤心地质问我：‘孩子是否为你所害？’我不但不承认，还诅咒自己如有谎言，‘世世夫为毒蛇所杀，有儿子者，水漂狼食。身见生埋，父母大小，失火而死。’因一念妒心，生生世世都得承受自己所咒诅的恶报。”接着，微妙比丘尼又说：“然而另有一世，我曾供养辟支佛，并发愿后世也要如辟支佛一样得到解脱。所以因过去供养的福报及愿力，使我今生能遇佛出家修行，得罗汉果。但即使今日已证果解脱，我的身体仍日以继夜地饱受热铁针从顶上入、于足下出的痛苦。”
五百位比丘尼听了微妙比丘尼的开示后，各各心生惕励，体悟到欲爱之本犹如炽火，在家之苦甚于牢狱，贪欲之心永不复生，最后烦恼漏尽，有人入定，亦有人证得阿罗汉果，解脱生死。
Date: 02/27/2027 02/28/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Karmic Story of the Bhikṣuṇī Vimala
During the time of the Buddha, five hundred noblewomen, dissatisfied with the tyranny and cruelty of King Virūḍhaka, renounced the worldly life and shaved their heads to become nuns. Although they had left behind their former lives of wealth and pleasure, their habitual tendencies were difficult to subdue, and they were unable to let go of emotional attachments and various afflictions. Therefore, they went together to the residence of Bhikṣuṇī Vimala, hoping to hear her teaching and resolve their doubts.
Knowing their intention, Bhikṣuṇī Vimala addressed them, “Sisters, in the past I too was born into a noble Brahmin family. Shortly after marriage, I conceived and bore a child. Later, my parents-in-law passed away, and as my younger son was about to be born, I decided to return to my parental home. However, on the way, labor pains struck severely, and I had to rest under a tree by the roadside. Late at night, as I was about to give birth, I cried out in agony, but received no response from my husband. At dawn, I discovered that he had been bitten to death by a venomous snake drawn by the smell of blood. Overcome with grief, I fainted, only to be awakened by the cries of my elder son. In order to survive, I had no choice but to continue the journey with my two children.”
“We then arrived at a desolate place where a great river blocked our path, and no one could help us. I carried my younger son across first. After placing him safely on the other side, my elder son, unable to wait, entered the water and was immediately swept away by the current before I could save him. Grief-stricken, I returned to the other side, only to find a pool of blood—the younger child had been taken by a wolf. Having lost both husband and sons, I collapsed again in anguish.”
“Eventually, I returned to my hometown and met a friend of my father. When I asked about my parents, he sighed and said, ‘Recently, a fire destroyed your home, and they perished in the flames.’ Upon hearing this, I fainted once more. Seeing my suffering, he took me in.”
“A few days later, a Brahmin, seeing my dignified appearance, asked me to marry him. With no one to rely on, I agreed. Later, when I became pregnant and went into labor, I locked the door to prevent others from entering. My husband, drunk, returned home, and when no one answered, he broke in. In his rage, he beat me, and the child also died. Seeing his brutality, I fled once again.”
“After leaving the city, I met a young man who had just lost his wife. In grief, he went daily to her grave. He asked me to accompany him, and moved by his devotion, I agreed and later married him. However, within days, he died of illness. According to custom, his beloved and possessions were buried with him, so I was buried alive. Three days later, grave robbers opened the tomb and rescued me. Their leader, seeing my beauty, took me as his wife. Soon after, he was captured and executed, and I was again buried with him. After three days, starving wolves dug up the grave, and I was freed once more.”
“In such a short time, I suffered repeated calamities, dying and reviving again and again—it was unbearable. Suddenly, I recalled hearing that a Buddha had appeared in the world, and that by relying on him one could attain liberation. Thus, I went to Jetavana. The Buddha knew my conditions for liberation were mature, and instructed Mahāprajāpatī to ordain me and teach me the Four Noble Truths—suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self. Through diligent practice, I soon attained arhatship and the knowledge of past lives, realizing that all my suffering was the result of past karma.”
The assembly sighed upon hearing this account.
The five hundred nuns then asked, “What past causes led to such suffering in this life, and what causes enabled you to meet the Buddha and attain liberation?” Vimala replied, “In a past life, I was the wife of a wealthy man. Having no children, I grew jealous when a concubine bore a son. I secretly killed the infant with a needle. When accused, I denied it and cursed myself, saying that if I lied, I would suffer such misfortunes. Thus, due to a single thought of jealousy, I endured these karmic consequences over many lifetimes.”
She continued, “In another life, however, I made offerings to a Pratyekabuddha and vowed to attain liberation as well. Because of that merit and vow, I encountered the Buddha in this life, entered the monastic path, and attained arhatship. Yet even now, my body still suffers the pain of karmic retribution, as if pierced by heated iron from head to foot.”
Hearing this teaching, the five hundred nuns became deeply vigilant. Realizing that desire is like blazing fire and that household life is more painful than imprisonment, they eradicated craving. Their afflictions were exhausted; some entered meditative absorption, and others attained arhatship, freeing themselves from birth and death.
