时间：09/11/2027 09/12/2027
地点：星海禅修中心
主讲：净诚
佛法修行
悭贪长者受毒蛇身
“去去去，别停在我家门口！我这里什么都没有……”“唉！好一个吝啬贪财之人！”王舍城的贤面长者大声地驱赶所有靠近他家门口的人和物，上至修行沙门，下至贫困乞讨之人，乃至飞鸟雀子等，皆不许其靠近。人人都知道贤面长者家中府库充盈，财宝粮食多到溢出门墙之外，却总是嚷嚷着：“怎么就只有这些？谁可以让我发财？”为了聚敛财宝，贤面长者攀附权贵、苛刻下人，无所不用其极地收拢财富；甚至临命终时，因不甘一生的努力将化为乌有，悭吝怨毒的心，招感了可怕的果报──长者的神识堕落到畜生道中，变成一条毒蛇，爬回原先的舍宅内看守财宝。毒蛇瞋恚炽盛，口喷毒气就能致人畜于死。
此事辗转传到频婆娑罗王的耳里，国王忧念毒蛇伤人，心想，唯有佛能化此恶物。当下便率领众人前往释迦牟尼佛所在的迦兰陀竹林精舍，禀白此事，具说原委，请佛慈悲降伏毒蛇，莫使害人。世尊听完，默然应允。
过后某日，世尊观察此蛇得度因缘已经成熟，独自搭衣持钵前往贤面长者的旧宅。守在门口的毒蛇看见世尊，瞋心大作，吐信前行欲伤如来。世尊入慈心三昧，伸出手掌，于五指端放出五色祥光，照在毒蛇的身上，毒蛇顿感遍体清凉，身中热毒消除，心不恼不恨并且喜悦舒畅，抬头仰望想着：“是什么人有此大福德，能放瑞光，让我得清凉？”
佛陀知道毒蛇的心已经调伏，堪受法益，于是对它说：“贤面长者，你由于前身悭贪苛刻，所以受此丑陋的果报身，人见人怕；今日不仅不生忏悔，还恣意纵毒伤人，更造新恶，未来必当下堕更不如意之处，受苦更深。”毒蛇听完心生懊恼，深自悔责，业力消除，智慧增长，对佛陀信敬非常。世尊以他心通晓知蛇意，便说：“你若调顺，现在入我钵中，随我回寺听经闻法。”毒蛇即乖顺地入佛钵内，盘曲而住。
佛陀带着毒蛇回精舍的消息传遍大街小巷，频婆娑罗王随即赶来一探究竟，竹林精舍被臣民们挤得水泄不通；钵里的毒蛇看到这么多人都是因它而来，更是惭愧得无地自容，厌恶自己丑恶的外形，便自取命终。因为临终前皈依三宝的善根，贤面长者脱离蛇身，投生到忉利天中，头戴天冠，身着璎珞，思衣衣至，思食食至。天人自忖：“我造何福，而能受诸快乐？”用宿命通忆起往昔的因缘，心生无比感恩，便齎持香花来到佛所，顶礼供养，并聆听佛陀说法，心开意解，证须陀洹果。随后，天人以偈赞佛：
“巍巍大圣尊，功德悉满足，
能开诸盲冥，寻得于佛果。
除去烦恼垢，超越生死海，
今蒙佛恩德，得闭三恶道。”
这天夜里，频婆娑罗王适巧于宫殿楼阁上远眺竹林精舍，只见晃耀的光明环绕精舍，久久不散，以为是梵天八部鬼神天众前来谒佛，隔日即整装至佛所求证。佛陀向国王说：“昨日的光明不是其他的神祇，而是之前众人唾骂的悭贪长者──贤面，他已经转生天上，特别回来修诸供养。”与会大众听完世尊详叙此事因缘本末后，各各生大信敬心，不仅有得证四果者，更有发无上菩提心，欲上求佛道、下化众生者；诸比丘亦欢喜踊跃，依教奉行。
Date: 09/11/2027 09/12/2027
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Dharma Talk
The Miserly Elder Reborn as a Venomous Serpent
“Go away, go away! Do not stay at my gate! I have nothing here…” “Alas! What a miserly and greedy man!” In the city of Rājagṛha, the elder Xianmian loudly drove away all who approached his gate, from wandering ascetics to poor beggars, even birds were not allowed near. Everyone knew his storehouses overflowed with wealth and grain, yet he constantly complained, “Why is there only this much? Who can make me richer?” To amass wealth, he flattered the powerful and oppressed servants, using every means to gather riches. At the moment of death, unwilling to lose his lifetime’s gains, his miserly and resentful mind brought forth a terrible retribution—his consciousness fell into the animal realm, becoming a venomous serpent that returned to guard his former house. The serpent, filled with rage, could kill beings with its poisonous breath.
This matter reached King Bimbisāra, who worried about harm to the people and thought that only the Buddha could subdue such a being. He led his retinue to the Bamboo Grove Monastery and reported the matter in detail, requesting the Buddha to compassionately tame the serpent. The World-Honored One silently consented.
On a later day, seeing that the conditions for the serpent’s liberation had matured, the Buddha went alone with robe and bowl to the former residence. The serpent, seeing the Buddha, became enraged and advanced to strike. The Buddha entered the samādhi of loving-kindness, extended his hand, and emitted five-colored light from his fingertips, shining upon the serpent. The serpent immediately felt cool throughout its body, its inner poison dissipated, and its mind became calm and joyful. Looking up, it thought, “Who possesses such great merit to emit this light and bring me coolness?”
Knowing the serpent’s mind was subdued, the Buddha said, “Elder Xianmian, due to your former greed and harshness, you now bear this ugly body feared by all. Yet you do not repent and instead harm others, creating further evil that will lead to deeper suffering.” Hearing this, the serpent felt remorse, its karmic burden diminished, and faith in the Buddha arose. The Buddha then said, “If you are tamed, enter my bowl and return with me to hear the Dharma.” The serpent obediently coiled within the bowl.
News spread quickly. King Bimbisāra came to see, and the monastery was crowded. Seeing so many gathered because of it, the serpent felt deep shame, loathed its form, and ended its life. Due to the merit of taking refuge before death, it was reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, adorned with celestial garments and ornaments, enjoying spontaneous pleasures. Reflecting on its blessings, it recalled past causes and came with offerings to the Buddha, heard the Dharma, and attained the fruit of Stream-entry. It praised the Buddha in verse:
“Vast and exalted Great Sage,
All merits perfectly fulfilled,
You open the eyes of the blind,
Leading to Buddhahood.
Removing defilements,
Crossing the sea of birth and death,
Through your grace today,
The three evil paths are closed.”
That night, King Bimbisāra saw radiant light around the monastery and thought it was divine beings. The next day he asked the Buddha, who explained that it was the former miser reborn in heaven returning to make offerings. Hearing this, the assembly gave rise to great faith; some attained the fruits, others aroused bodhicitta, and the monks rejoiced and practiced accordingly.
