时间：07/24/2027 07/25/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
求福者遇佛得度
「我总是这么不如意！为何没一件事能顺我的心，满我的愿？」罗阅只国中，有一个人常常如是抱怨着，无论是在家，抑或是在外办事，常遭遇阻隔、横难，终难圆满成就心中的理想，因此心中常充满怨怼与苦恼。
「曾经听闻祭拜火神可以获得保佑，我也许可以试试看。」于是求福之人一到黄昏，即聚起柴堆，燃起熊熊烈火，并对着柴火不断膜拜，直至半夜，大火灭尽方才停歇。如此持续三年，依然未能化解生活中的不如意。
「火神真是不灵！改求日月之神好了！」于是求福者从日出之时，即向太阳朝拜，直至日没；月出之后，又朝着月亮膜拜不停。如此日以继夜，须在天将明、月隐没之时，方有喘息的时候。就这样又过了三年，生活仍处处不顺心。
求福者心想：「怎么都不灵验呢？难道是我不够诚心吗？」于是，他准备许多美味的佳肴、酒酿，更宰杀猪、牛、羊等牲口以祭天，没想到最后散尽家财，贫困潦倒，仍不见天神降福护佑，身体也因不分昼夜的礼拜而不堪负荷，疾病缠身。
求福者心有不甘，听说舍卫国有一位佛陀，为诸天、众人所敬仰，于是抱着最后一丝希望前往，期盼能获得福佑，除去灾难、病恼。他来到舍卫国的祇园精舍，向里望去，正好看到佛陀在为大众说法，其身光明，面容庄严。一见佛的慈容相好，求福者满心欢喜，不由分说即顶礼佛陀，并且惭愧地表示：「有生以来，我竟如此地愚痴，不知世上有佛法僧三宝，而虚掷时间、钱财去祭祀火神、日月等诸天鬼神。在过去的九年当中，我虽然精勤不懈，却未能获得一丝一毫的福佑，不但散尽家财，身体也孱弱不堪，仿佛死期将至。今日我至诚顶礼佛陀，希望您能为弟子赐福消灾！」
佛陀慈悲地说道：「你从前所供奉的都是妖教或鬼神，即使所祭祀的物品累积如山，所造的罪过亦如大海般地深广。杀生和获福是背道而驰的两件事，就算你百千劫不断地杀猪、杀牛，残害生灵以祭祀天地，你所获得的也仅是如须弥山般高大、不见边际的罪业，毫无福报可言。如此徒费气力、虚耗钱财，却妄想获得福佑，这岂不是件令人疑惑的作为？」
「弟子明白杀生祭祀是错误的行为了，若不再犯，是不是就可从此消灾得福呢？」
「你还要再反省、检讨自己是否孝顺父母、敬重尊长？对于贤善之人，是否常怀轻蔑之心？骄傲、贡高、我慢这些种种不正的心念，将使贪、瞋、痴三毒如大火般炽盛，烧尽所有功德；如此不顺正道，罪障自是日日加深，又有何因缘可以得福？」
「弟子知道错了，请世尊再慈悲教示弟子。」
「从今以后，你若能从心念上彻底地忏悔，礼敬贤人、奉养长者，并且断恶修善，端正自己的品德，以仁慈为崇，自能获得四种福德，生生世世无忧无恼。四种福德分别为何？一者颜色端正，二者气力丰强，三者安隐无病，四者寿命增益，且终生不遭横难。如能再进一步，在正法上持续精进不懈，则不只获得福报而已，亦能成道证果，毕竟解脱种种忧愁苦恼。」于是，佛陀即说偈语：
「祭神以求福，从后观其报，
四分未望一，不如礼贤者。
能善行礼节，常敬长老者，
四福自然增，色力寿而安。」
其人听闻佛陀说此偈语，当场心开意解、欢喜无比，于是至诚顶礼并请求佛陀：「往昔陈积罪垢所蔽，如是无知造罪九年，今日幸蒙世尊慈悲教化，方得于尘劳烦恼中解脱。唯愿世尊慈悲，应允我随您出家修行。」佛闻此请，即说：「善来比丘！须发自落，即成沙门。」其人于后，于正法上精进不懈，最后证得阿罗汉果。
Date: 07/24/2027 07/25/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
A Seeker of Blessings Encounters the Buddha and Attains Liberation
“I am always so unfortunate! Why can nothing go according to my wishes?” In the country of Rājagṛha, there was a man who constantly complained in this way. Whether at home or handling affairs outside, he often encountered obstacles and misfortunes, and could never fulfill his aspirations. Thus, his mind was filled with resentment and suffering.
“I have heard that worshipping the fire deity can bring protection; perhaps I should try.” So at dusk, he piled up firewood, ignited a blazing fire, and continuously bowed in worship before it until midnight, stopping only when the fire died out. He persisted in this for three years, yet his life remained unsatisfactory.
“The fire deity is ineffective! I will instead worship the sun and moon.” From sunrise he bowed to the sun until sunset, and after the moon rose, he worshipped it continuously. Day and night he persisted, resting only briefly before dawn when the moon set. After another three years, his life still did not improve.
He thought, “Why is nothing effective? Am I not sincere enough?” He then prepared fine foods and wine, and even slaughtered pigs, cattle, and sheep as offerings to the heavens. In the end, he exhausted his wealth, fell into poverty, received no blessings, and his body became frail from constant worship, afflicted by illness.
Unwilling to accept this, he heard that in Śrāvastī there was a Buddha revered by gods and humans. With his last hope, he went there seeking blessings and relief from suffering. At Jetavana, he saw the Buddha teaching, radiant and dignified. Upon seeing the Buddha, he rejoiced, bowed, and confessed his ignorance and wasted efforts over nine years, pleading for blessings and relief.
The Buddha compassionately said, “What you worshipped were spirits and false teachings. Even if offerings are piled high, the resulting karma is vast like the ocean. Killing and gaining blessings are opposed; even over countless eons, slaughtering beings brings only immense karmic burden like Mount Sumeru, with no blessings at all. To expend effort and wealth in this way while expecting blessings is delusion.”
“Now I understand killing is wrong. If I stop, can I gain blessings?”
“You must further reflect: are you filial to your parents, respectful to elders, free from arrogance and contempt? Pride and ignorance fuel the three poisons, burning all merit. Without following the right path, how can blessings arise?”
“I understand my faults. Please instruct me further.”
“If from now on you sincerely repent, respect the virtuous, care for elders, abandon evil and cultivate good, and uphold moral conduct with compassion, you will gain four blessings: dignified appearance, strong vitality, freedom from illness, and long life without misfortune. Further diligence in the Dharma leads not only to blessings but to liberation.” Then the Buddha spoke:
“Seeking blessings through worship of spirits,
Observe the results thereafter—
Not even a quarter is gained;
Better to honor the virtuous.
Those who practice respect and propriety,
And honor elders constantly,
Four blessings naturally increase:
Beauty, strength, long life, and peace.”
Hearing this, the man attained clarity and joy, bowed, and requested ordination. The Buddha said, “Come, bhikṣu,” and he was ordained instantly. Thereafter, he practiced diligently and eventually attained arhatship.
