做好因會得好果 編號：963 日期：2008.09.08, 2009.01.15 地點：法國 性質：國際研討會 用語：中文

字幕：阿拉伯、悠樂、簡體中文、正體中文、荷蘭、英、法、德、希伯來、印度、匈牙利、印尼、義大利、日、韓、蒙古、波斯、波蘭、葡萄牙、旁遮普、羅馬尼亞、俄、西班牙、泰、土耳其、烏爾都 (26種)

清海無上師以中文講於法國2009.01.15

這個故事就叫做：做好因會得好果，這個故事是說做福得福啦，好久以前，有一位男人，他叫做範某，他也有一位很漂亮的太太，不過有一天他太太生病了，生病就躺在那邊不能起來了，好像病得比較嚴重，他常常進來問候他太太，因為他很愛他的太太，非常愛太太，他太太也很疼愛她的先生…他這個人對太太非常溫柔的，他的太太剛好運氣不好，得到那個肺部的病，肺癆，治不了，以前肺癆不好治療的，好久以前那個時候只有中國那種食物的藥療，還沒有發明到可以治肺癆，她就得肺癆了，很可惜，病了躺在床上不能動，很難治療，不過她先生很疼愛她，所以天天除了工作的時間以外，就進到她的病房一直安慰她，一直講話都很溫柔，安慰她，鼓勵她，這個先生真的很會愛人喔，很會愛太太，因為肺癆會傳染，不過他很愛他太太，他不管，天天進來病房跟她講話，不過他的太太也知道她這個病比較難醫，她心裡非常感動，不過她也怕她的先生勞累，所以太太跟她先生說：稟相公，不要為了小妻浪費太多元氣，不要為了小妻操勞，他們兩個都非常客氣又很溫柔，

    有一位名醫，所謂的名醫，很出名的醫生，他把脈他的太太以後，就跟範某說“你太太的病，如果我們抓到一百只麻雀，用這個跟他的藥方混在一起，吃了到二十一天，她的病會好，然後繼續吃麻雀的腦”太恐怖了！然後會有希望病好，他說這個藥方就是家傳的秘方，不是每個人都知道的，而且不可能錯的，因為是家傳的秘方藥，他這樣講，不過一定要一百只麻雀，一只不少的才可以，這個名醫叫陳石應，他就跟範某一直念這樣好幾次，說一定要一百只麻雀才能夠治他太太的病，範某當然依照名醫的話去做，找人去抓好幾只麻雀放在籠子裡面帶回他的家，那些麻雀被放在一起，在籠子裡哭鬧得很，很悲傷、很感人，那範某的太太知道這些事情以後，就請她的先生到病房裡，很溫柔的跟他說：為了我一個小的生命要殺害一百個生命的話，我寧可死，不能做這種殘忍的事情。

    大概她有吃素吧，有拜佛，大概也許有印心，不過太遲了一點，印心早一點，病就不用了啊，有一些人印心，不過病還沒有很嚴重，就可以馬上好了，不過病太嚴重有時候好不起來，不那麼快好起來，有時候也會好，不達沒那麼快，因為那個生靈在我們身上哭鬧，我們吃它們那個元氣，然後讓我們身體虛弱，不過印心快一點也許有時候會好很快，只是有時候太遲了嘛，印心太遲了，慢慢來會好。

    她不忍心殺一百只麻雀，為了她一個人的生命，她說她永久不可能做這些事情的，所以她請她的先生說：如果愛我的話，請放它們全部自由，我才能夠安心.

    範某從以前到現在都是很聽他太太的，很順從他太太的意思，大概太太很賢良嘛，所以範先生也曉得，她要什麼他都會順著她，所以全部放生了。

    能不能想像，如果是我們呢？我們被關這樣，然後突然被放起來，高不高興啊？（高興）當然高興，我們做什麼都要考慮到別人，就知道怎麼做的，這麼很簡單而已，你換一下那個位置就知道了，不是想到自己：我要這個、我要那個，我要那個，OK,不過有沒有傷到別人，懂不懂？那個對方會不會受傷害？就想到這樣子這麼簡單，就每次都做對了，不可能做錯的，換一下位置就知道了，假如是我，我要不要被這樣弄？懂不懂？“假如我是他，我喜歡什麼？”懂不懂？要考慮對方，就馬上知道對錯了，也不用跟師父學什麼，也不用打坐那麼久才知道，打坐那麼久，不考慮別人沒有用，真的是這樣，都要考慮別人，OK？考慮別人第一，不傷到別人我們才做，利益自己是沒錯啦，不過利益自己的時候又傷到別人，是不可行的，何況是修行的人，是嗎？如果修行的人還不能做那麼小事情，真的太慚愧，是不是？太慚愧了，不能算自己是修行的人。隨時都要考慮別人，很簡單嘛，是不是？這個難不難，...做好事很難嗎？不難哪！就考慮別人就好了，OK！考慮別人就不難，就馬上知道對了，有很多方法可以做，不是有一個辦法而已，聽懂不懂？

    他的太太繼續生病，不過幾天以後就好了，沒有用什麼藥也好，看啦！跟你講過了，考慮到別人即使鳥而已，那麼小的生命，不過一百只呢！每一只都有一個靈魂，一百只就一百個靈魂，不是說它小就靈魂小，不是的，靈魂有大小嗎？有高有低有矮有胖有瘦嗎？沒有，所以我們放一百只就是一百了。

    跟我們的靈魂一模一樣，靈魂是沒界限的，有時候他們生在鳥裡面，有時候生在小小動物裡面，有時候連昆蟲也是有靈魂，草木都有。

    所以我們吃飯連吃蔬菜以前也要禱告，聽懂嗎？要感激上帝，給我們那些食物，還有感激那些眾生犧牲給我們溫飽，懂了？除了果類，還有那個堅果類，別的都是比較多少都有業障的，拿他們葉子的時候，他們會緊張，砍他們菜的時候，他們會緊張，砍樹，樹會緊張，如果該砍的，也可以砍一枝兩枝，然後就跟他們說，我要砍，因為這樣那樣，請你諒解這樣，他就OK啦，不要匆匆忙忙跑過來，就砍一砍這樣子，人家會心臟病，聽懂嗎？所有眾生都有那個靈魂的，都有貪生畏死，都有了解的，不是說樹長這樣就沒了解，了解，有了解！可以跟樹講話的，真的是這樣，我有經驗

    很多人都替她的先生太太高興，然後先生就開一個很大的宴會，請大家來祝賀，大家來很高興，覺得真是天地有保護她，一定是她做了好事才能這樣，大為那種病平常都好不起來的，以前那個好不起來而且又不殺那些鳥，不曉得殺誰，然後怎麼能好嘛？後來她身體好了，又壯啦，又漂亮，更漂亮，又更身體健康，還生出來一個男孩子傳宗接代，不可思議！每個人都看看他，小孩身體也很壯，臉都紅紅的，身體都紅潤的，他的臉很亮又很可愛，誰看都喜歡，不過有一個比較奇怪的現像，就是在一個手臂上面，有很多小小的黑的美痣，一百個美痣，每個美痣看起來很像一只麻雀，看啦！知道啦！那個表示是什麼呢？麻雀干什麼呢？（報恩）報好的果，報恩。所以大概那個鳥要提醒他們，它說：OK，因為你們救我，我就送給你們一個小孩子，也許這些鳥都合起來，變成那個小孩子來為了報答他們救人的恩，救命的恩典，太好了！救幾只鳥而已，這麼好，自己的命也好。

    所以我們不能每次都靠那些外表的醫藥或是外表的什麼東西的，應該靠道德，講過好幾次了，講太久了，太多了，聽多不過沒做多，沒用。

   不過我們修行人不是說吃素，不是說不殺生，不是說放生就好了，小事情、大事情，要考慮到別人，因為我們修行有智慧嘛，要保護別人，聽懂嗎？

    即使我們不傷人家，不過我們給人家生氣也不好，不是說去傷人、去打人才是不好，要越來越細心，到這樣子，我們知道做什麼事，讓別人不舒服，我們絕對不做就對了，很簡單嘛，有兩個方法而已：一個方法做就給人家高興；另外一個就給人家生氣。有時候人家不講起來吞下去，因為他們不好意思講或是講久了你不聽，他也不想再講下去了，不過我們不能惹人家生氣，我們知道了不能明知故犯

    因為我們給人家傷心、給人家生氣，也是一種暴力的，我告訴你，不是說去打人才是暴力，不是說去殺人才是暴力，不是說去偷才...給人家生氣也是偷人家元氣，偷人家快樂的時刻，給人家煩惱。人家生出來一百年而已，好時刻不多，那個美好的時間很少，你還要衝進去，還多偷幾個時刻，給人家多煩惱，世界煩惱多、高興少了，是不是？又不能給人家高興，又在那邊故意給人家煩，是不對啦，了解嗎？

    所以暴力就是這樣，持戒要持得清楚，不是明知故犯，去外面找人家麻煩或是挑戰，或是故意給人家弄，知道人家不會怎麼樣，然後故意這樣做下去，看看你怎麼樣，看能做到哪裡這樣，這樣就是不對，OK，還是有一種凶惡的心。

    有的時候我們認為，我不小心的，沒有這個事，沒有這個不小心的事，所有我們做東西，如果我們不小心就也是有那種意志力裡面做的，聽懂不懂？（師父用英文：下意識）在裡面，不好的才這樣，小心做不好的事情，當然不小心總比故意好，不過我們要修行的，要多考慮、要多努力，到我們不可能不小心傷害人就對了，這樣才是說有修行，這樣才是說好心，了解嗎？

    所以不是吃素又要打坐就夠了，不夠，持戒要緊，佛教金剛經有好幾個嘛，布施、持戒、忍耐、精進、禪定、智慧有幾個啊，懂了啊？有六個，你們能持哪幾個？...

    我們越來越好，越來越要細心，越來越要有慈悲心，慈悲心大小都是慈悲心的，就像放生一百只麻雀一樣，不能說它太小算什麼，我以前住在一個寺廟，他們不殺蟑螂，不過他們買那種黏的盤子放著，蟑螂就跑到那邊，每一個都這樣哇哇叫，黏在那邊或是黏在這邊，沒辦法動了到就變成白了，我看不慣哪，我說：你們怎麼這樣子做？他就說：我們沒殺他們。我說：這個比殺還要糟糕。我說：我們持戒是要持清楚，不是說一點點，聽懂嗎？這個是犯戒一點點而已，一點點怎麼行嗎？然後他們後來覺得師父講的對，就把那一盤子拿走了。

    我問他們：你能不能想像如果是你的啊？是你，然後人家放一個很大的盤，那個是小蟑螂當然是小盤嘛，那你這個大，然後人家放很大的一個盤，然後你在那邊被黏在那邊，整天這樣到死，不生不死那樣，你想你喜歡不喜歡？想就知道了嘛，想到那個蟑螂那個位置換一下，我們就知道怎麼做，不用跟師父學，不用學孔子、老子那麼多了。

    孔子說什麼不置於人...（己所不欲，勿施於人）再說一遍：（己所不欲，勿施於人）是啊！念那麼清楚，有時候你們做事都不細心，懂不懂？認為自己，我工作了，不管誰，不是這樣，不是這樣，這樣也是凶惡，了解嗎？吵鬧到別人，不考慮到別人，不想到別人那種感覺，就是有惡心就對了，有時候，比方說那個蟑螂它死，一死就很快，總比在那邊死的慢慢死、不死不活，被黏在那邊這樣子，不是很殘忍嗎？啊？也是一種懲罰人家，懲罰慢慢死那種，很痛苦，是不是？萬一是我們呢？你能不能想像是我？是你呢？一樣嘛，是不是？殘忍，殘忍！

    人修行有好幾種程度，你們修行跟師父要真的很考慮、細心，一滴一點都不能犯那種暴力，懂嗎？不能給人家生氣，不能故意的，難免的情況是沒辦法說了，就是不能這樣，知道又還在那邊做，了解嗎？這樣不能說“我有修行”會慚愧、會丟臉，當我徒弟這樣我會丟臉，我真的會慚愧，我覺得我自己教訓不好，教你們教不好，我認為是自己的錯。不過你們也不能這樣子賴下去，是不是？做什麼要考慮，知道嗎？

比方說你在家裡修理房子，當然晚上才有空嘛，晚上、白天是一樣，門要關起來，不給隔壁被吵啊，是不是？如果你住在一個人的隔壁，他天天這樣敲敲打打，然後講話都很大聲這樣，你喜歡嗎？有時候你工作整天回來，想休息一下，一開門又不能開，一開就吵吵鬧鬧這樣，你精神也崩潰呀，不舒服，即使有看到隔壁的臉上也不能講話什麼嘛，是不是？認為：OK，一天沒關系，明天他會好，然後後天會好，後後天會好，結果一直這樣繼續下去，即使幾天人家也受不了，了解嗎？比方說小事情而已，有時候車子停在人家的門口，一直開，不關哪，那個毒氣一直噴出來，在人家窗戶那邊，然後吵，人家也受不了，那個也不對，你們來這邊，晚上太晚了，車子砰來砰去，關車門砰得很大聲，也不對，應該關得很輕輕的，然後出去外面遠一點，沒有人家的地方，才停下來再關，即使關一點，也要很輕輕，它也關得好，不應該這樣砰一下，了解嗎？OK，懂了，謝謝。

    讓人家生氣也是一種暴力，了解啊？（了解）挑戰嘛，給人家心痛啊，給人家頭痛，那不是跟人家打一樣嗎？不是打人一樣嗎？打人，人家還有機會可以再打你呀，消氣一點，如果你打他，他打你，他還消氣一點；結果你給他頭痛，給人家生氣這樣，人家又不好意思講話的話，就更煩悶更痛苦，了解嗎？（了解）那個好像咬人家的心，挖人家的腦袋一樣，夫妻也是一樣，知道哪一個對的，太太講的對就要做的，不可以說，我是男孩子不聽你，不是這樣子，誰講都對的，先生講對，以後不要再犯，太太講對，以後也順著這樣，不要再犯，跟這個故事裡面一樣才對，太太說不要啦，不要殺生為了我，我寧可死也不要殺生這樣，為了我而殺他們，先生就聽呀，有沒有？那種先生才是算先生，先生就是生出來，先生出來嘛，先生出來他要先知道一些，即使不知道，我告訴你，你要聽嘛，是不是？才是算先生，不過多數先生沒有比太太好啊，所以才叫我們太太嘛，是嗎？太太了，不是一個太啊，太太了！既然叫太太，是要聽我們嘛，啊？家裡有沒有聽？有啊？有時候啊，然後你把這個故事講給他聽，我不是說什麼都要聽啊，不是說先生就要聽或是太太就要聽，對的事情要聽，不管我們那個我執多打罵我們，我們也要聽，有時候知道是對了，不過那臉拉不下來，是嗎？然後不想聽，不要不要，臉還是要拉下來的，拉一下，等一下再拉回去沒關系

    誰做人都會弄錯，弄錯，不過不要常常弄錯一樣的事情，人家已經講過不要再弄，我們有頭腦啊，有記憶力，是不是？人家講一次夠了，人家不用講，已經要知道了，何必要等講，講了然後還要再犯，那就是不算人了，不要說修行人哪，我沒有這得徒弟，懂嗎？

    所以要當師父徒弟的話，先當自己的老師，要教育自己、要教訓自己，要知道哪一個好就做，哪一個壞，不管怎麼樣也不能做，好的事情不管怎麼樣都要做，知道嗎？我們的世界短暫，生活沒有多少，而且這個時候又更緊急，要多做好事，要多修煉自己，不然等一下，就後悔來不及了，謝謝。

    我們每天想辦法做幾件好事給人家，不是說出去布施才是算好事，在家裡看，我昨天錯怪先生或是得罪他，忘記跟他道歉，今天要道歉了，如果忘記，今天要弄，知道嗎？我昨天錯怪小孩子，也許他很傷心，今天跟他彌補一下，比方說這樣，或跟隔壁吵一吵，今天要端過去給他一塊餅干糖果，聊一聊，或請他過來喝茶等等，比方說這樣，不是說弄錯就算了，對不起啦！我弄錯啦！對不起，好不好？不是這樣子，或是有時候也靜靜悄悄的，人家做好事，我們也沒謝謝他，我們做壞事也沒跟人家道歉，這樣不是算人，不是說修行人呢，普通人也不能這樣子，做人是要仁、義、禮、智、信，知道了，知道了啊？好，中國人很多書、很多經典、很多教理，要實行，要做，不是念念就夠了，然後出去外面教那個國外的人，說我們中國人喔，我告訴你孔子說...老子說...媽祖說...不要誰說的，我們先弄，然後做好以後才能夠教人，知道啦！那告訴你們一個好消息，我把我廚房跟客廳下面全部弄空了，等一下，你們一半可以過去那邊打坐，這樣就不用跑來跑去，這裡也是我家嘛，那邊也是我家，因為目前他們做在那邊太吵鬧，在你們房子旁邊，有時候吵鬧，灰塵啊什麼的，而且靠近師父比較舒服嘛，是嗎？坐我家那邊，不過現在因為我們整理房子，以後就會有很空，空多了，好。

清海無上師世界會出版有限公司
02-8787-3935 

http://smchbooks.com/new-c/dvd/index.htm

　差別就在有沒有智慧，如果沒智慧、沒開悟，我們會受自己的情緒左右，有智慧又開悟時，就會因勢利導、善用情緒。情緒不必完全消滅掉，而是要知道怎麼運用，就好像槍握在好的槍手手上，他只射他要射的地方而不會到處亂射，誤殺許多人。你若想要有智慧，獲得這種控制的能力，就必須要開悟。要開悟的話，必須跟有經驗的老師學，就像學英語，必須跟有經驗的英語老師學，如此而已，我可以貢獻這個方法給你們。

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/51/

編號：DVD784 日期：2007.02.22 地點：福爾摩沙西湖 性質：國際禪五 用語：英文

很久很久以前，在蘇格蘭一處風景秀麗的鄉村，有一隻很漂亮、很漂亮的綿羊，他除了會咩咩叫之外，從來不會吵鬧打擾別人，也不曾傷害任何人。他做好自己分內的事，按時生產羊毛，而且只吃一點點草原上的草；他十分知足，是隻美好、溫和的綿羊。

有一天，快接近聖誕節了，那隻綿羊的主人對他太太說：「親愛的，聖誕節就要到了，我們來把那隻漂亮的羊宰了，當作聖誕大餐吧！」

哇！那隻綿羊聽到這番話，差點心臟病發作。「噢！咩…！我慘了！」怎麼辦？他只是隻羊罷了，即使他想拿任何武器，也沒有手指頭可拿。他只有一顆非常單純的心，腦子裡除了青青草原、宜人氣候、悠悠白雲、綠草如茵、清澈流水，其他什麼都不想。因為在羊兒的世界，他們的字典裡可沒有像「爭鬥」、「戰爭」、「仇恨」、「殺戮」、「謀害」等這類字眼。他絞盡腦汁想辦法，卻不知道該怎麼辦才好，最後他決定逃跑。他從不曾離開這片山丘和草原，到別的地方去，但是他太害怕了，不得不逃命。

他一直跑、一直跑，直到迷了路，不知自己身在何方。他站在那裡，正想著接下來該何去何從時，突然看到小山丘後面出現一對巨大的尖角朝他逼近，越來越近、越來越近。原來是隻大水牛，有一雙黑色的大眼睛和牛角，大大的嘴巴淌著口水，他一邊朝著綿羊跑來，一邊還嚼著昨夜的晚餐。綿羊看了有點害怕，但大水牛說：「哞！我不會傷害你的！哞！別走！」綿羊站著不動，問道：「你到這裡做什麼，牛哥？」水牛氣喘吁吁地說：「你知道嗎？那個農夫一直餵我吃上等的草、喝上等的水，原來是打算今天把我宰了，當作聖誕大餐。我不知所措，所以就逃跑了。我一直跑、一直跑，不知跑了多遠，現在很累，希望這裡安全了。哞、哞、哞！」

水牛跑得差點累垮了，久久驚魂未定。綿羊等他定下神來，才說：「牛哥，我與你處境相同，我也是從主人那裡逃跑出來的，因為他們打算把我宰了，當作聖誕大餐。我想我們應該同心協力，一起去找個地方落腳，彼此互相照顧，你覺得如何？」水牛說：「哞！好主意！我們走吧！」現在他們有了伴，覺得安全多了。於是這兩個好兄弟儘可能地一直走，他們不睡覺，也不敢休息，在水邊不敢逗留太久，路上也不敢吃太多草，只是隨便吃個三明治什麼的，喝點果汁，然後又繼續走。

過了些時候，他們看到一隻小鵝氣喘吁吁地跑過來，一邊叫著：「嘎、嘎、嘎！噢！嘎、嘎、嘎！」然後他停下來，昏倒在他們的腳邊。綿羊和水牛只得拿了些水噴灑在那隻鵝的臉上，他才清醒過來。他們問他：「鵝兄弟，你怎麼了？有麻煩嗎？」「是的，嘎！我有麻煩，麻煩可大了！嘎、嘎、嘎！」（師父與大眾笑）「你遇到什麼麻煩呢？」鵝回答說：「那些飼養我的人打算把我宰了，當作聖誕晚餐。我不知道我現在在哪裡，也不知道該怎麼辦才好，我六神無主，你們能幫我嗎？告訴我該怎麼辦。你們塊頭比較大，請保護我，別讓那些人把我宰了！」水牛和綿羊就說：「別擔心！別擔心！我們會照顧你的。你看起來很累，何不去河邊喝點水，再吃點水果，這些水果是我們從附近森林帶來的。」水牛說：「然後你可以騎在我的背上，抓住我的角，我來載你。既然你那麼累，就不要再長途步行了。」

是的，團結力量大！鵝很高興，他喝了些泉水，吃了些水果，然後跳到牛背上，他們就一起上路了。過了很久，他們又遇見誰了呢？另一隻慌慌張張的動物，原來是雞。「咯、咯、咯、咯、咯！」她上氣不接下氣地跑過來，一邊拍著翅膀，一頭撞上了他們三個。他們問她說：「妳怎麼了？雞妹妹，妳有麻煩嗎？需要幫忙嗎？」「是啊！咯、咯、咯、咯！我很需要幫忙，我急需援助！那些餵養我的人想要把我當作聖誕大餐吃了，我只好趕快逃命。救命啊！救命啊！咯、咯、咯！」

其他三個就說：「別擔心！我們三個也遇到同樣的問題，妳何不加入我們？如果妳很累，就跳上小羊哥的背上，我們會帶妳遠離危險。我們要去一個沒有人煙的地方，那裡充滿愛與和平，沒有人會傷害我們。好！我們走吧！」那兩隻大的讓兩隻有翅膀的弟妹騎在背上，然後就上路了。

過了不久，又有一隻動物向他們跑過來，這回是隻豬。「呼嚕！咕嚕！救命啊！救命啊！」這隻豬氣喘吁吁地一直跑，一頭撞上他們四個。同樣的故事也發生在豬身上：「我本來很高興地吃著晚餐，然後無意中聽到我的主人說要把我給殺了，當作聖誕大餐，慶祝最仁慈的耶穌基督的誕生。我搞不懂他們究竟跟耶穌基督這位明師學到了什麼，竟然要把我宰了來感謝祂？所以我只好逃命了！我不知道要往哪裡去、要怎麼保護自己，以免被人類追殺，我不曉得該何去何從，才能遠離人類。現在我很苦惱，請幫幫我！我好久沒吃東西，已經累壞了，再這樣下去，我就死路一條了！」

水牛為豬感到很難過，就說：「別擔心，小兄弟，我們也有同樣的問題，不過現在已經想出好的解決方法了。我們要團結在一起，這樣就沒有人會欺負我們了。所以我們最好聯合起來，團結力量大，又可以互相保護。請加入我們的行列吧！這裡有些剩下的水果和一些水，請吃點東西、喝點水，讓自己堅強起來，我們就一起上路囉！」於是豬就加入他們的陣容。

過了一會兒，他們又遇到另外一隻動物，猜猜看是什麼？是隻中國狗。他也在逃命，一路上一直汪汪叫，差一點就撞上水牛。他們把他攔下來問：「你要跑到哪裡去？」狗說：「啊！我必須逃離我的主人，不然他們會把我殺了！」其他的動物說：「為什麼他們要殺你呢？」「喔！他們認為我太老了，再也不能工作了，所以他們要殺了我，把我的肉拿去當作聖誕大餐。」

噢，天啊！這是什麼種類的聖誕大餐？雞說：「咯、咯、咯、咯！這可不妙。你就加入我們吧！我們已經逃離人類的手掌心，我們要去找個非常和平、安全的地方安頓下來，然後蓋一個動物村。所以跟我們一起走吧！我們很強大，跟我們在一起，可以更壯大聲勢。別擔心！這裡有一些食物和水，現在先吃點東西，我們不會有事的！」

動物朋友合力找到避風港

他們就一直走、一直走，來到一個村莊外圍，看到一棟房子。房子雖很破舊，不過還像個樣，所以大家都停下腳步。老狗說：「我們最好先躲起來，看看四周有沒有人，再進一步行動。」鵝說：「好，我飛到樹梢上，看看房子裡面的情況如何。如果有人或有什麼動靜，我們再想想看該怎麼辦。」

動物們就躲到後面的樹林去，鵝則飛到樹梢去一探究竟。他先眺望四周，沒看到任何房子和人。然後他端詳面前這棟房子，聽到了一些聲響，裡面有人吵鬧的聲音。剛開始他有點發抖，不過想到自己是躲在高處，藏在樹葉後面，他就比較有安全感。他從破損的屋頂裂縫看進去，發現有六個小偷正忙著分贓；那裡有一大堆金銀財寶、鑽石、紅寶石、翡翠等各種奇珍異寶，還有高級餐具、珍珠、項鍊等等，簡直可以媲美國王的財富。接著鵝就下來告訴大家說：「我們應該等到天黑時再進去。我們如此這般…，你這樣做，還有你那樣做，這樣我們就可以把他們嚇跑。」他們計劃周詳。

水牛待在前門附近，綿羊待在側門，老狗在另一邊的側門，鵝在後門，雞則待在後門的另一邊。他們各就定位，一起行動。突然間，他們一起發出巨大聲響，聲音聽起來十分怪異。小偷們正忙著分贓，突然聽到這麼恐怖的聲音，全都嚇得拔腿就跑，衝進森林裡！然後動物們就進去屋裡了，他們說：「現在應該沒事了，這棟房子是我們的了。」不過老狗說：「如果他們回來怎麼辦？」鵝說：「不用擔心，我有個計畫。」他拍拍翅膀，把油燈都吹熄了，四周變得一片漆黑。他說：「好，牛哥，你守前門；羊守後門；狗守右門；雞守左門；豬留守在中間的桌子底下。」

小偷們跑到森林後，不再聽到任何聲響，也沒有人在後面追他們，他們就想：「喔！也許我們只是自己嚇自己，我們回去看看有誰在裡面。」然後他們就慢慢地、偷偷摸摸地、躡手躡腳地回到屋子裡；不過動物們早有準備。當那個賊老大走進去時，發現裡面黑漆漆一片，什麼動靜也沒有。冷不防地，水牛踢了他屁股一腳，把他從前門踢到後門。後門那邊，綿羊也用頭往他的肚子撞過去。接著他跑到右邊，狗也在他的腿上留個齒痕當紀念。然後他跑到左邊時，雞就啄他，又拍翅膀嚇他。在一陣混亂中，所有動物一起跺腳，同時又叫又吼的。

賊老大很害怕，掙扎著要出去，但每次他撞上一隻動物，就領到一個「紀念品」。最後他們把他逼到前門口，他就沒命地逃跑了。他跑回森林後，就告訴那些正在等候的部下說：「唉呀！我們最好趕快逃！我不知道房子裡究竟是什麼東西，那棟房子一定是鬧鬼了，一群妖魔鬼怪在裡面作亂。我們趕快逃吧，免得他們來把我們的魂勾走。」於是一夥小偷全都跑走了。動物們就留下來，把珠寶平分了。

之後，每隻動物都蓋了一棟又大又漂亮的房子住。他們也漸漸變得越來越繁榮富足，而且蓋了一座很漂亮的動物村，村邊有一條美麗的溪流，水源充足，可供大家使用，還有一座森林，裡面綠蔭處處，可以讓他們遮蔭避暑，還有足夠的水果和各種青草、植物可以維生。從此以後，他們就一起過著幸福快樂的生活（大眾鼓掌）。以後又有更多動物加入，他們的村子就變得越來越大。即使有人剛好經過，也會趕快跑走，他們知道最好別招惹這個村莊，因為它現在已經變得很強大了。

愛護動物

這就是這群聰明、漂亮又無辜的動物的故事。我真的希望…（大眾鼓掌），我們真的希望有一天動物不再對我們避之唯恐不及，而可以像我們的家人朋友一樣和我們在一起，包括狗、貓、鳥、鴨、雞、鵝、豬等等。我們希望每一種動物跟我們在一起時，都會很有安全感，並感受到人類的友誼和愛，再也不必像以前那樣逃開。假如我們就是那隻豬、那隻牛或是那隻鵝，我們做何感想？我們會像那樣感到徬徨無助。動物真的就像人類一樣，他們有靈魂、有領悟力，他們了解的比我們還多；他們了解我們的語言，而我們卻不了解他們的語言。所以誰比較聰明？真的！如果你們有養狗、養豬或養鵝的話，就知道了，就連他們都懂。 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/193/

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The Story of a Happy Animal Village

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International 5-day retreat, Hsihu, Formosa, 
February 22, 2007 (Originally in English)

A very long, long time ago in Scotland, there was a very, very, very beautiful sheep who lived in a very, very beautiful countryside. Apart from saying “Baahh, baaahh,” he never made any noise or disturbed or did any harm to anyone. He minded his own business; he produced his wool on time, and he just ate a little grass in the meadow. He was a perfectly contented, wonderful, peaceful sheep.

One day, near Christmas time, the husband or so-called owner of the sheep talked to the wife and said, “Hey, darling, Christmas is coming. We’re going to have to kill that beautiful sheep of ours for Christmas Eve dinner.”

Wow! The sheep heard that and he almost had a heart attack. “Oh! Baaahhh! Poor me.” What could he do? He was just a sheep; he did not have fingers to grab any weapon, even if he wanted to. He had only a very simple pure mind, just to think of nothing but the nice meadow, beautiful weather, nice white clouds, green grass and clean water. That was all he could think about, because in the sheep's world there is no such vocabulary like “fight,” “war,” “hatred,” “killing” or “murdering” – nothing like that in the dictionary of the sheep's world. So he tried to think but didn’t know what to do. He decided to run away. He had never been away from the surrounding hills and meadows; he had never been anywhere, but he was so afraid that he had to run for his life.

So he kept running, running and running, until he didn’t know where he was anymore. Lost, he stood there, wondering what to do next and where to go. Suddenly, he saw appearing from behind the little hills two big vicious horns, coming up and up, up and up, higher and higher. And there it was: A big buffalo, with black, big eyes, big horns, a big mouth and big drooling, as he was still chewing his last night's dinner while running. And he was running towards the sheep! The sheep was a little scared, but the buffalo said, “Oh! Mouuuh, I won’t harm you. Mouuuh, no, no, I won’t harm you. Mouuuh; don’t move.” So the sheep didn’t move but said, “What are you doing here, brother Buff?” The buff said, puffing, “You know what? The farmer has been feeding me all this time good grass and good water, so that he can kill me today for Christmas. I didn’t know what to do, so I had to run away! I’ve been running and running, I don’t know how far already, and I’m so tired. I hope I’m safe here. Mouuuh, mouhhh, mouhhhh.”

And then he almost collapsed on his feet, and he was panting for a long time. So the sheep waited until he calmed down and then said, “Brother Buff, I am in the same situation. I also ran away from my keeper because they planned to kill me for Christmas Eve dinner. So I think we should join together, me and you, and we will go find somewhere else to stay and we’ll look after each other. What do you think?” And the buffalo said, “Yes! Mouuuh. Good idea! Let's go!” Together they felt much safer and better. So the two buddies kept walking as far as possible. They didn’t sleep or dare to take a rest. They didn’t stay too long at the stream water, and they didn’t eat too much grass on the way. They just grabbed a sandwich or something quickly, and drank a little juice on the run.

After a while, they found a little goose that came running up, panting and panting, and said, “Quack, quack, quack! Oh, quack, quack, quack!” Then he stopped and almost dropped dead at their feet. The sheep and the buffalo had to go and get some water and sprinkle it on the goose's face. And then he woke up. They said: “Brother Goose, what's wrong with you? Are you in trouble?” “Yes, yes, quack, I’m in trouble. I’m in big, big trouble. Quack, quack, quack!” (Master and everyone laugh) “So what is the trouble?” The goose said, “The ones who have been feeding me all this time, they want to slaughter me for Christmas Eve dinner. I don’t know where I am anymore, or what to do. I’m at a loss. Can you help me? Tell me what I am to do since you are bigger. Protect me from these people!” So the buffalo and the sheep said, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. We’ll take care of you. You look so tired. Why don’t you go to the stream, drink a little bit of something and eat a little bit of these fruits here that we have brought from the forest nearby.” The buffalo said, “And then you can go on top of my back and hang onto my horns. I will carry you. You don’t have to go too far since you are so tired.”

The goose was so happy. Yes, together we are something or someone. So he drank some spring water, ate some fruit and hopped on top of the buffalo. Then, together they were going on their way. After a long while, what did they see again? Another panicking one, a chicken! “Pok, pok, pok, pok, pok!” He came running, panting, flapping his wings and bumping into the three. So they said, “What is the matter with you, sister Chick? Are you in trouble? Are you in need of help?” “Oh yes! Pok, pok, pok, pok... I need it so much! I need help; I need it right now! The ones who keep feeding me, they want to eat me for Christmas dinner. I have to run for my life. Help! Help! Pok, pok, pok...”

So the three of them, again, said, “Don’t worry! The three of us have the same problem. Why don’t you join us? And if you are too tired, jump on top of brother Sheep and then we’ll both carry you far away from your danger. We’re going together to where there are no humans, where there is no one to harm us, but only peace and love among us. Okay, so let's go!” So the two big animals carried the two winged brother and sister on their backs and they were well on their way.

After a little while, there came another running creature again towards them. This time it was a pig. “Groooon, grooooon, help! Help!” The pig was running and panting and bumped into the four. And then the same story was told again: “I was happily eating my dinner, and then I overheard my keepers saying that they were going to slaughter me for Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of the most compassionate Jesus Christ. I wonder what they have learned from the Master Jesus Christ. But they are thanking Him and want to slaughter me to give thanks. So I had to run for my life and I don’t know where I’m going now. I don’t know how to protect myself from these humans or where to go to be far away from them. I’m in distress. Please help me! I haven’t eaten for a long time, and I’m very exhausted. If I continue like this, I will die.”

So the buffalo felt very sorry for the pig and said, “Oh, don’t worry, brother, we also have the same problem you do, but we have a better solution. We are going together as a herd so no one can attack us alone. It is better if we unite and stand together; we’ll be powerful and we’ll protect each other. So, please join us. Here, we have a little fruit left over and we have some water for you. Please eat and drink; make yourself strong and we’ll be on our way.” So, voila! The pig joined them.

After a while, they encountered another one. Imagine who it was! A Chinese dog who was also running, barking, “Wouf, wouf, wouf!” all the way. After he also almost ran into the buffalo, they stopped him and asked, “Where are you running?” And the dog said, “Oh, I have to run away from my owners because they are going to kill me!” The other animals said, “Why are they going to kill you?” “Oh, they think I’m too old now and I can’t work anymore, so they want to kill me and by the way they can eat my flesh, for Christmas dinner.”

Oh dear God, what a dinner! So the chicken said, “Pok, pok, pok, pok! That's no good. You just join us, yes? We are already going away from humans and we’re going to find a very peaceful, safe place for all of us to settle down and make an animal village. So just come with us. We’re strong, we’re big, and together we are even stronger. Don’t worry about it. Now take a little bit of food that we have for you here and some water, and then we’ll be okay!”

The Friends Find Sanctuary Together

So they were going, going, going and then when they got to the edge of a village, they saw one house. It was a very broken down house, but it was still a house. Everyone stopped. And the dog said, “We’d better hide first to see if there's anyone around before we proceed further.” And the goose said, “Okay, I will fly up to the top of the tree to see what's going on in that house, if there are any humans or if anything is going on, and then we will see what to do.”

Everyone retreated into the woods behind, and the goose flew up to the top of the tree and looked. First he looked far and near but didn’t see any houses yet and no humans in sight. Then he looked into the house in front of him, and he heard something. There were some human noises inside. At first he was shuddering a little bit, but he was very high and hiding behind the foliage, so he felt a little bit safe. He looked through the crack of the broken roof and saw six thieves busy dividing loot among them. There was a lot of gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds - all kinds of precious stones, precious utensils and precious necklaces, and pearls, all worth a king's fortune. So the goose flew down to tell everyone. He said: “We should wait until it becomes dark and then we can go inside. I will do this and you will do that, and then you can do this and you do that, and then we will scare them away.” So they made a plan.

The buffalo stayed near the front entrance; the sheep stayed at the side door and the dog at the other side door. The goose stayed at the back door and the chicken on the other side of that door. They were all together. Suddenly, they made different noises but in a big togetherness and then it sounded very weird. The thieves were so concentrated on their thieving money that when they suddenly heard such a terrible noise like that, they all ran! They ran away into the forest. So then all the animals entered the house, and they said, “This should be okay; this will be our house.” But the dog said, “What if they come back?” The goose said, “Don’t worry. I have a plan.” So he flapped his wings to turn off all the oil lamps. It became dark and he said, “Okay: Buffalo brother, you guard the front door. Sheep, guard the back door. The dog is on the right door, the chicken on the left door and the pig in the middle under the table.”

Now, after the thieves went into the forest, they didn’t hear anything anymore. No one was chasing after them, and they thought, “Oh, maybe we’ve just been scared of nothing. Let's go back to see who is there.” So they slowly, quietly and secretly tiptoed back into the house. But the animals already had a plan. As the chief of the thieves went inside, it was all dark. He heard nothing, but he entered and suddenly the buffalo kicked him in the “behind” so that he went from the front to the back door. And then there, the sheep also used his head to nudge the thief in the stomach. And then, as he ran to the right side, the dog also gave him a little “teeth souvenir” on his leg. Running to the left side, the chicken pecked him, flapping wings and altogether very noisy. The animals were stamping their feet, barking and shouting, all at the same time.

So the chief was very afraid. He was trying hard to get out, but every time he bumped into an animal, he got another “souvenir.” Finally they edged him out to the front door, and he ran for his life. After he ran back to the forest, he told his waiting subordinates, “Oh! We better run! I don’t know what's in there, but the house must be haunted by many ghosts and devils. Let's run quick before they come and take our souls!” So they all ran away, while the animals stayed in the house, dividing the treasure between themselves.

After that, each one built a big, beautiful house. Slowly, they also got more and more prosperous and made an animal village, which was very beautiful. It was next to a beautiful stream, with a lot of water for everyone and a forest with enough shade and shadow to protect themselves and enough fruit and all kinds of grass and herbs for them to survive. And they lived together, happily ever after. (Applause) More animals also joined them later, and their village expanded. It got bigger and bigger all the time. It was so big that even if any human happened to pass by, they ran away. They knew they better not mess with this village, because it had become very strong now.

Master: Love the Animals

So that is the story of the smart, beautiful, innocent animals. I do hope. (Applause) We together do hope that one day the animals do not have to run away from us, but can stay with us like our domestic friends: the dogs, the cats, the birds, the ducks, the chickens, the geese and the pigs. We hope that every kind of animal will feel safe with us and will feel the friendship and love from humans, and will never have to run away like that again. Suppose it is us who are the pig; suppose it is you who are the buffalo or you who are the geese, how would we feel? We would feel helpless like that, and they are really like human beings. They have a soul, and they have understanding. They understand more than we do; they understand our language, and we don’t understand theirs. So who is more clever? Really! You know that already, if you have dogs, pigs or geese; even they understand it. 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/193/

這是一個關於阿拉伯人的故事。有一個人名叫穆罕默德，他是伊薩的兒子，他和當時的教會領袖是非常要好的朋友，他是個大人物，一直都很富有，並且廣受眾人尊敬。他思維敏捷、口才絕佳、辯才無礙，所以當時他的地位凌駕於眾人之上。

有一天，他高高騎在馬上，他的坐騎上裝飾著各種珍奇的布匹和美麗的毯子，披金戴銀，叮噹作響，有很多侍從隨侍在側。每個人都崇拜他、讚嘆他，浩浩蕩蕩的隊伍十分壯觀。眾人互相探聽：「這個人是誰？如此體面風光、氣派奢華。」但這時一位步履蹣跚的老婦人說：「噢，不，那是個窮困的人，他並不富有，因為阿拉沒有賜福給他，所以他才會這麼虛榮。」

伊薩之子穆罕默德聽到之後，立刻從華麗的馬背下來，承認這的確是他的問題所在。從那時以後，他摒棄了所有公開炫耀和追求財富的欲望，過著謙卑簡樸的生活，專心致志修習上帝的真理。

他很幸運，是嗎？他很幸運，因為他知道自己有問題。知道自己有問題的人就可以解決問題；認為自己沒有問題的人，就會帶著問題往生。

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/191/

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Better to Know of the Problems 
than to Think You Have None

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, 
European 3-Day Retreat, 
Paris, France August, 23, 2007 
(Originally in English)

　釋迦牟尼成佛以後，有一天他要過河，河邊有一個船夫在那裡，釋迦牟尼佛就問他：「你能不能載我過河？」船夫就說要渡船費，釋迦牟尼佛說：「我是出家人，因為要了脫生死，要得道，所以我放下任何東西，怎麼還有錢給你呢？」那個船夫不聽，他說沒有錢就沒有船，你們猜釋迦牟尼佛當時怎麼辦呢？他從水面走過去（大眾笑）。

　聽說菩提達摩、耶穌基督都曾這麼做，他們要做就做，但是需要的情況才做，不需要不做。本來釋迦牟尼佛也要坐船，跟一般人一樣，結果情況不能，所以才走過去，懂不懂？

　密勒日巴也是一樣，大師們他們不用神通，除非遇到不得已的特殊情況。

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/15/

清海無上師以英文講於德國杜塞道夫杜易斯堡 2006.12.31

清海無上師以英文講於美國洛杉磯 1997.08.31（影帶編號#589）

 

清海無上師以英文講於美國洛杉磯 1997.08.31（影帶編號#589）

有一次釋迦牟尼佛四處去托缽，一個富翁趕祂走，並且罵祂。佛就說：「你這個愚蠢的無明佛！你跟你的母親結婚，吃你的父親，還站在這裡罵我！」這位屋主感到很困惑，就請佛解釋。

佛對他說：「你現在的太太是你前世的母親，你現在吃的豬是你前世的父親，而這隻狗是你前世的祖母。但是你卻踢狗，吃你的父親，還跟你的母親睡覺，你覺得如何？」當佛如此對他開示時，屋主突然領悟到確實如是，他很後悔，後來就跟隨佛。

所以我們永遠不知道誰是誰！不過我們最好還是不要知道，不要知道太多前世的事情，因為其實留下來的只是能量，而不是同一個身體。那個人留下來的磁場能量、欲望的能量，和前世未完成的心願，都殘留下來進入另一個身體，所以事實上那是我們的母親，但又不是，懂我的意思嗎？因為她再來投胎轉世時，又混合了別的能量，有些是前世的，但有些是新加進來的，而且也不是同一個身體。

因此我們不要執著過去或未來，而把現在的生活弄得一團糟、弄得太複雜。凡事順其自然，我們現在有什麼就是什麼。 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/185/

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We Never Know Who Is Who

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Los Angeles, California,
August 31, 1997 (Originally in English) Videotape #589

One time, Buddha went around to get alms. But then a rich man chased the Buddha away and scolded him. So the Buddha said, “You are a very ignorant idiot ‘Buddha’! You married your own mother, and you eat your father; yet here you stand and scold me.” The owner of the house was very perplexed, and he asked for an explanation.

So the Buddha said to him, “The wife you’re married to now is your previous life mother. The pig that you’re eating now is your previous life father, and the dog was your grandmother before. Yet you kick the dog, you eat your father and you sleep with your mother. So, what do you think?” When the Buddha said it like that, suddenly the owner had a realization that it was true. He became repentant and he followed the Buddha afterwards.

So we never know who is ‘who.’ But it’s better if we don’t recognize or we don’t know much about the past life. Because actually, it’s just energy that’s left; it’s not the same body. The energy of the left-over magnetic field, the energy of the desire and the unfinished wish from the last life of that person is left over, in another body. So actually, it was our mother, but then it is not. You see what I mean? It is our mother, but it is not, because when she is born again, she is mixed with another kind of energy. There is something left over, but something new. And it’s a different body also.

So, don’t go around complicating life by messing with the past or the future. Just let it be! Whatever we have now is what we have.

Master Tells Stories

有一位所謂的明師，說不定還是一位無上師，大家都認為他很有道德、很清廉、很純潔，比方說，你不能供養任何東西給這位師父，否則識別證會被沒收；他就是這種明師。他也有太太和小孩，過著平常的生活。很多明師都有太太和小孩，我也有很多小孩，只不過沒有丈夫，這是唯一不同的地方。

這位師父有太太也有小孩，他因為十分清廉、純潔而享有盛名。就像許多國家一樣，在他住的國家有一些政治人物，宣稱實行民主制度。在那些民主國家中，人們可以投票選出合意的人，讓他們來治理國家、各州或地方行政區。這位明師所住的那個州，就有一些人出來競選，角逐州長的職位。

有一天，一些政客來到這位所謂的明師家裡，企圖說服他，叫徒弟投票給他們。因為很多老師或明師都有一大群信徒，影響力很大，即使是區區一票，也會造成影響，所以他們就想辦法爭取這位師父門徒的支持。

他們知道無法說服這位所謂的無上師接受賄賂或供養，所以就從他太太下手。通常這種方式都行得通，因為大官、大人物一向都是由太太來打點一切。那些政客的屬下就跟這位太太說：「拜託！請幫幫忙！只要告訴妳先生，請他為我們出力，那麼以後 妳想要什麼東西，全都包在我們身上！」

但是這位太太說：「這很難啊！你們都了解我先生，他是一位非常清廉、純潔的老師，他不會接受的。我才沒那個膽子跟他說，我怎麼敢呢？他會罵死我的。難道你們不知道很多人因為供養了巧克力而被沒收識別證嗎？才供養一條巧克力而已，識別證就沒了，我哪裡還敢告訴他這種事！」

那些人說：「哦！夫人，妳行啦！試試看嘛！老師需要什麼儘管告訴我們，我們會照著辦。至少試試看嘛！就算到時候事情沒有成功，我們也不會責怪妳的，只要試試看就好！」

那位明師的太太，不知是受到先生的影響，或是天生心腸很軟，還是被教導得很有慈悲心，就說：「好吧！我試試看！告訴你們一個可能行得通的方法：根據中國的十二生肖，我先生是屬鼠的，所以現在你們回去打造一隻金鼠，當作他下禮拜生日的禮物，然後我會盡力幫忙。」

那些政客聽了非常高興，說道：「哦，好的！好的！夫人，謝謝您，我們這就去辦！」他們回去後，就到珠寶店訂做了一隻金鼠，外形完全像老鼠，只不過從裡到外都是黃金打造的，因為那位太太已經言明：「一定要純金的金鼠喔，不要鍍金的。我們教的是真理，不接受假的東西！」

隔了一個星期以後，那些政客就帶著金鼠來給這位太太，這位太太便設法把它交給她先生。她先生問道：「這是哪裡來的？妳怎麼有錢做這個？」這位太太只好把事情的經過坦白說出來，她說：「那些人絕對是誠心誠意的，實在是因為他們的盛情難卻，所以我就告訴他們這禮拜是您的生日，而您的生肖屬鼠，請他們訂做一隻金鼠送給您，請您收下吧！」

那位師父聽了很失望又很生氣，拉高嗓門罵她：「啊！虧我調教妳這麼多年，妳還是這麼沒智慧！妳為什麼告訴他們我的生肖屬鼠？妳應該說我屬牛的啊！」（大眾笑並鼓掌）

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/184/

清海無上師以英文講於福爾摩沙  西湖國際禪五 2007.02.24

清海無上師以英文講於福爾摩沙西湖國際禪五 2007.02.24

中國也有類似的傳統，有位禪師整天工作，他說：「一日不作，一日不食。」他就是百丈禪師，一直到很老了，他還是繼續不斷地工作。當他很老的時候，有一天他的弟子把他的鋤具藏起來，因為他通常會出去種菜來吃，所以弟子們把鋤具藏起來，讓他不能再工作，結果那天他就不吃東西。「一日不作，一日不食」，那是他的座右銘，他躬身實踐，直到老耄之年。

好，現在我們回到德里。國王有個僕人，好幾個月都沒有領到錢，有一天他收到一封來自遠方的家書，告訴他家裡有急事，要他立刻回家。所以他需要一些盤纏，還要帶些錢給他的家人，這是理所當然的。你們要知道，通常在這種國王身邊的僕人，一定也是很好的修行人，因此有可能他只是純粹幫忙而已，甚至不在乎有沒有工資，但國王也許會給他一些零用錢來買月貨（師父笑）。

因此，那個僕人必須回家去，而國王卻說：「很抱歉，我現在身無分文。」（師父笑）啊！這是什麼種類的國王！窮光蛋國王！「你能不能稍微等一等？」過了幾個月，這個僕人實在得回家了，因為他又再度接到家裡的來信，告訴他必須立刻回家，家裡有人病了，可能就快往生了，他們需要一些錢用，所以他懇請國王讓他回去。

當他準備回家時，國王給了他兩盧比，天啊！那大約是台幣兩毛錢，還不是美金兩毛錢呢！國王告訴僕人說：「雖然錢很少，不過是我正大光明賺來的，所以將會帶來豐足，這裡面有上帝的賜福，大家都知道這是很清清白白的錢，上天知道這一點，所以不用擔心，只要歡喜收下就好。」

那個僕人很驚訝，收到兩盧比這「一大筆」數目，相當於新台幣兩毛錢，即使在當時也等於跟沒有一樣。不過國王說：「上帝會賜給你滿滿的恩典，因為我的錢是光明正大得來的，請上路吧，不用擔心！上帝會保佑你的！」所以僕人就走了，他也無可奈何，國王沒錢，他還能怎麼辦呢？所以他就帶著兩盧比走了。但即使他信賴國王，對國王很有信心，不過心裡還是不知道兩手空空怎麼回去見家人？當他回家時，家人一定會期待他帶些禮物回來，身為國王的僕人，卻兩手空空地回家，要怎麼向他的家人交代？因為世界的人就是這樣，如果你替國王工作，或是在世上擁有高地位，那麼你的家人和親戚會期待你送給他們豐厚的禮物、金銀財寶等等，這很正常，不是嗎？

所以那個僕人心裡很不好過，帶著沉重的心情走路回家，盤算著該怎麼辦？在回家的路上，他付不起奢侈的開銷，也沒錢搭車等等，不過他正好看到一些可口、成熟、鮮紅多汁的石榴，你們知道石榴嗎？像紅蘋果一樣，裡面是透明的，像紅寶石，有很小的種子和果肉，裡面很漂亮，打開來看就像珠寶一樣。他就付了兩盧比，付出全部的錢，他以為只能買一顆石榴滿足一下口欲，所以乾脆就這麼做，反正兩盧比也不能買什麼，實在買不了什麼東西，所以他想倒不如買個石榴來吃。不過他很驚訝，兩盧比居然買到了一大袋石榴！他非常高興！他只吃了一點點就滿足了。

經過邊境到別的國家時，他的手上還拎著一袋石榴。正好那個國家的王后當時得了重病，太醫們向國王建言，只有石榴汁才能治好王后的病。不過那個國家沒有這種東西，他們也不知道去哪裡找，所以就四處張貼告示：「誰能找到石榴，請帶到宮廷，國王必有重賞。」

那個僕人有一大袋石榴，而且正好來到皇宮旁邊，所以他當然請求進宮，把石榴獻給王后。王后喝了足夠的石榴汁之後就康復了。國王很高興，就以每顆石榴一千盧比的價格來酬謝那個僕人！哇！你們能想像他得到多少錢嗎？至少有一萬到一萬二千盧比，好大一筆錢，因此他高興極了！國王派 遣兩位士兵護送他回家，因為怕他帶那麼多錢，可能會被搶或是有危險，多麼光榮啊！所以他到家後就送了一點錢給那兩位士兵，再把剩下的錢送給家人。

每個人都開心極了，稱讚德里的國王很慷慨，那位僕人也沒說什麼（師父和大眾笑）。就如他家人所期待的，國王的僕人帶回來很多錢和禮物，因為他在路上買了很多禮物帶回來給他們，每個人都很高興，把國王捧上了天。

所以儘管只有兩盧比，這個僕人卻從中得到大豐收，獲得滿滿的財物，讓整個家族都開心快樂。從此以後，這個僕人對國王當然更加忠心不二，雖然他本來就已經很忠誠了，不過，現在可能更加相信國王的尊貴、聖潔、清廉與內在的單純心。故事說完了！（大眾鼓掌） 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/182/

清海無上師以英文講於美國加州聖荷西 1994.07.16（影帶編號#438）

編號：497  日期：1995.08.25~27  地點：德國漢堡  性質：歐洲國際禪三  用語：英文  字幕：中繁

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/178/index.htm

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這是有關一隻金鵝的故事，我猜那就是佛陀的前世。

很久以前，有個國王叫做巴哈帕特克，這個名字的本義是「多子之父」，他和王后迦瑪兩人一起統治拜諾爾斯，這是印度的一個聖城。

有一天，王后迦瑪夢見一隻金鵝如智者般說著智慧之言，她告訴國王她很想見見這隻奇妙的鵝，並聽牠講話，國王便展開調查。有人稟告國王說，確實有黃金鵝這種鳥類，但牠們非常稀有，在國內很難找到，不過確實存在。於是國王派遣了許多侍從去尋找這種鵝，據說牠們是棲息在某個遙遠的湖邊。

他們也雇了獵人去幫忙尋找，並把牠們帶回拜諾爾斯。許多人更建議國王在城郊建造一個湖，這樣也許那些鵝就會被吸引而飛來附近棲息。

當時有許多鵝住在吉大喀特山上，牠們的國王叫做達塔拉喀特。這隻達塔拉喀特鵝王是隻非常美麗的鵝，有閃亮的金色羽毛。哇！（師父開玩笑）這下牠給自己惹來麻煩了！

一段時間以後，拜諾爾斯附近便造了一個大湖，國王依皇后的名字，把它取名為迦瑪湖。湖的四周種滿了各式各樣美麗又稀有的花草樹木，湖裡還栽種了睡蓮、荷花，和一些水生植物及花朵，而且每天都會有人來撒些玉米和穀粒，以吸引鳥兒等等。然後國王的一個傳令侍者大聲宣佈說：「拜諾爾斯的國王歡迎所有的鳥兒來此和平又美麗的湖泊定居。國王有令，朝廷的人馬會保護牠們免於危險。」

於是有關這個湖的消息傳到了吉大喀特山的野生鵝群那裡，牠們便去跟金鵝說：「殿下！拜諾爾斯的國王在城郊造了一個芬芳美麗的大湖，他保證會保護所有棲息在那裡的鳥兒，而且會有林務官去餵食鳥兒。我們去看看那是什麼樣的地方吧！我們已經對住在山頂上，還得自己覓食的生活感到厭倦了。」

身為群鵝之王的金鵝，答應了牠們的提議，於是牠們一起飛向拜諾爾斯。

國王早已命令獵人定期在湖邊巡視，並指示他們，如果看到一隻金鵝接近水面，必須立刻撒網捕捉牠。於是獵人首領和他的部下日夜包圍湖的四周，等待機會捕捉這隻金鵝。

一天清早，獵人看見一大群鵝和一隻較大的金鳥，那金色的羽毛在陽光下閃爍著，牠們一起朝向湖面飛來。獵人很快地在睡蓮和荷花之中佈了一層網，他知道金鵝是領袖，會第一個落在水面上。

然後九萬隻鵝像濃密的白雲般，朝湖面飄然而下。金鵝一落到水面，雙腳立刻被網困住。看到領袖被捉，這群鵝在四周盤旋悲鳴，但是沒有一隻有足夠的勇氣去救牠。最後牠們振翅高飛，安然無恙地飛回吉大喀特山去了，只有一隻名叫「蘇姆卡」的群鵝將領，獨自和國王一起留下。

金鵝對牠說：「其他的鵝都飛走了，牠們毫不猶豫地遺棄了我。蘇姆卡，為何你還要留在這裡呢？趁現在還有機會，趕快飛走吧！如果你留下來，也會被抓的！」

蘇姆卡這位將領可能是鵝王的貼身侍衛，牠優雅地飄落在水面上，靠在鵝王身邊，回答說：「殿下，我絕不會離開你。儘管危機迫在眉睫，但不論是生是死，我都會留在你身邊。」

正當牠們在談話時，獵人首領朝湖邊走來，蘇姆卡決定想辦法軟化獵人的心。牠飛向他，乞求他釋放金鵝。獵人為金鵝絕美的帝王之姿所震撼，問牠：「尊貴的鵝啊，你的同伴都逃走了，難道你在遠處沒看到陷阱嗎？」

金鵝回答說：「當生命走到盡頭，死亡就在眼前時，和命運掙扎是沒用的，所以我看不到陷阱。」

獵人被金鵝的智慧深深感動。他問蘇姆卡：「為什麼你獨自留在這裡呢？其他的鵝都不見了，你可以自由離去，卻選擇留在這隻高貴的金鵝身邊。牠到底是誰，讓你在危急時仍不離開牠？」

蘇姆卡回答：「牠是我的國王、我的同伴，也是我的朋友，就算會死，我也絕不遺棄牠。」

聽到這些話，獵人心想：「牠們真是勇敢高貴的鳥兒！如果我傷害牠們，上天必會懲罰我。我何必在乎國王的獎賞呢？我要放牠們自由。」他告訴蘇姆卡：「既然你肯為朋友犧牲，我就放了你們，你們要飛到哪裡都行。」

他輕輕地鬆開縛住金鵝之腳的陷阱，用乾淨的湖水把腳上的血洗淨，再把脫臼的部位和肌腱接好，牠的腳便奇蹟似地復元了，完全沒有被縛過的痕跡。

蘇姆卡看到鵝王恢復自由，非常高興，牠對獵人說：「獵人啊！您慈悲釋放了吾王，祝您和您的家人永遠興盛昌隆。」

金鵝問獵人：「你抓我是出於自己的決定或是他人的命令？」

「高貴的鵝啊！我是遵照國王的命令，而設了這個陷阱。」獵人接著告訴金鵝整個事情的真相，以及王后是多麼渴望看到這隻奇妙的鳥兒。

金鵝心想：「也許我進城會更好，這樣獵人就可以得到獎賞。而且巴哈帕特克國王素以智慧和道德聞名，如果我自願來到他面前，他滿足了，說不定會讓我自由使用這個美麗的湖。」所以牠跟獵人說：「請帶我們去見國王，我們要跟他說話。如果他願意，就會讓我們自由。」

獵人說：「高貴的鵝啊！未必每個國王都很慈悲，也許他會把你們兩個都關起來。」

可是金鵝跟他說：「獵人，我能感化你的心，一定也能得到大王的善意回應。這件事就交給我，你就盡你的職責，把我和蘇姆卡帶到他面前去吧！」

獵人就把兩隻鵝放在他的扁擔上，帶到宮殿去了。

當國王與王后看見這兩隻非凡的鳥兒，一隻有著閃亮的金色羽毛，另一隻則宛若山頂積雪一樣白，他們歡喜異常。國王把牠們放在黃金的棲木上，親手餵牠們吃蜂蜜、上等的穀粒，還有甘甜的水。國王和金鵝並徹夜談論有關君王的職責與道德。

金鵝告訴國王：「要及時行善，否則會功虧一簣。一位君王若失去智識，將是一大損失。他如果看不見真理，就得不到智慧。要善待你的子民，使他們智慧增長、永行正道。」金鵝非但給國王建言，又鼓勵了他一番。

黎明來臨時，金鵝便向國王和王后道別，與忠心耿耿的蘇姆卡由北邊的窗戶飛了出去，返回吉大喀特山去了。

故事說完了！（大眾鼓掌）

現在我們會想知道，為什麼同樣是鵝，卻只有兩隻如此高貴，而其餘的都是懦弱、普通的鵝呢？九萬隻耶！只有兩隻是高貴的眾生。

所以事實上，即使在動物界裡也有差異，不光是人類而已。也許本該如此，我不知道為什麼會這樣。也許眾生的進化程度本來就不同，即使是同類的物種，還是有所差異。因為只有少數幾個選擇往上提昇，朝更高雅的方向走，而其餘的則選擇平凡、容易又可獲取物質利益的路。也許是我們的選擇決定了我們的高雅或低下。如果我們內邊不奮鬥，不努力改善自己的想法、理念、工作或行為，那我們會一直停留在以前的等級，就像一隻普通尋常的鵝，我們怕人所怕、憂人所憂、食人所食、夢人所夢、行人所行，期望別人所期望的事，不求改善，了無進展，相較於那些只會吃草、喝湖水，就這樣度過一生的鵝，我們實在好不到哪裡去。這種生活也很平靜、和諧、沒有壓力，鵝看起來也蠻漂亮，可是牠們除了吃草、喝湖水之外，沒有任何成就。

因此我們該捫心自問：是否也想要過這種所謂平靜的生活？所以我才一直教你們不要驕慢，如果你們家庭和諧、四周環境祥和、物質方面有所成就，或是你認為藉由師父加持或修觀音法門而得到種種利益，都不要因此而驕慢。

不論我們想要什麼，師父真的都會加持，但我們不該就此感到滿足，或為這種成就感到驕慢，因為這根本不算什麼。味道難聞的肥料是花所需要的，不過我們要的是花，不是肥料。

也許這就是為什麼故事中的金鵝會是金色輝煌又有智慧，而其他的鵝卻很平凡的原因。佛陀也許以前當過金鵝，也許沒有，說不定這只是一則寓言，好讓我們了解身為國王或明師的孤寂，就像跟一群沒有頭腦智慧的呆頭鵝說話一樣。所以不管這則故事是真是假，其中都有令人警醒的真理。故事內容不一定完全屬實，輪迴之說也不見得一定存在，佛陀以前也不一定真的轉世成金鵝、金兔等等；這些只是一個故事，述說一個真理。從這個故事中，我們不難看出國王、明師或智者的孤寂。不論佛陀是否曾經轉世成鵝，或者只是虛構，都是為了藉由不同的故事，說明同樣的道理。 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/176/

This is a story of a golden goose, and I suspect it’s about Buddha’s previous life.

A long time ago, there was a king. His name was Bahuputtaka. This name actually means “the father of many sons.” His queen was Khema. Both of them ruled in Benares. Benares is one of the holy cities in India.

One day the queen, Khema, dreamed of a golden goose who spoke with the wisdom of a sage. She told the king that she greatly desired to see and hear such a wonderful bird. The king consequently made inquiries and was told that there were such birds as golden geese, but they were rare and not easily found. People informed the king that it would be very difficult to find these kinds of geese in his kingdom. But nevertheless, they existed. So then, many of his attendants were sent out to look for the geese, which were supposed to be near a lake, very far away somewhere.

They also employed hunters to try to look for them and bring them back to Benares. Many people also advised the king to construct a lake near the city so that maybe the goose or the geese would be attracted, and would fly to live near there.

At that time, there were many geese that lived on Mount Cittakuta. Their king was called Dhatarattha. And this Dhatarattha goose king was an absolutely beautiful bird, with feathers of shining golden color. Wow… (Master jokes) He was inviting trouble!

In the course of time, a large lake was made near Benares, and the king named the lake Khema, after the name of the queen. Flowering trees, flowers, and beautiful rare botanical species were planted around the lake. Also, water lilies, lotuses and some water vegetables and flowers were planted in the lake. And every day, the people would come and scatter some corn and cereal to attract birds and things like that. Then the king’s herald, one of the attendants, would call out very loudly: “The king of Benares welcomes all birds to come and live in peace in this beautiful lake! They will be protected from danger by the king’s order and the king’s men.”

So, news of this lake reached the wild geese on Mount Cittakuta. They went to the golden goose, and said, “Lord! The king of Benares has made a large and sweet-smelling lake near the city. He guarantees protection for all birds who settle there. The birds will also be fed by the foresters. Let us go and see what sort of place it is. We are weary of living on this mountain top and having to search for food ourselves.”

So the golden goose, king of the geese herd, agreed to their proposal. And then he and some of his flock flew towards Benares.

The king had ordered his hunters to watch regularly by the lakeside. He told them that if they saw a golden goose approach the water, they were to immediately set a snare for him. The head hunter ringed the lake with his men at all hours of the day and night, waiting to capture this golden goose.

Early one morning he saw a huge flock of geese and a larger bird in golden color whose feathers gleamed in the sun rays, flying towards the lake. Quickly the hunter set a snare amongst the water lilies and lotuses. He knew that the golden goose, being the leader, would alight first on the water.

Like a dense white cloud, the 90,000 geese drifted down towards the lake. The golden goose settled on the water, and at once his foot was caught in the snare. Seeing that their leader was trapped, the flock of geese circled around, honking in distress, but none were brave enough to attempt to rescue him. They rose up and flew back towards Mount Cittakuta in safety. Sumukha, the chief captain of these geese, alone remained with the king.

The golden goose turned to him and said, “The other geese have all flown away, Sumukha! Without hesitation, they deserted me. Why do you wait here? Fly away quickly while you have the chance. If you remain here, you will be captured as well.”

Sumukha, the chief captain, maybe the next attendant to the king goose, sat floating gracefully on the water by the side of his king and replied, “I will never leave you, Royal Goose. Now that danger draws near, I will remain and either live or die by your side.”

As they were talking, the chief huntsman came close to the lake. Sumukha decided to try and soften the huntsman’s heart and flew up to him, begging him to let the golden goose go free. The huntsman was struck by the regal beauty of the golden bird, and asked him, “Your comrades have all fled, Oh noble goose. Did you not see the snare from afar?”

The golden goose answered him: “When life is coming to an end and death draws near, it is of no use to struggle against fate; thus, I did not see the snare.”

The huntsman was greatly impressed by the wisdom of the golden goose. He asked Sumukha, “And why do you also alone remain here? The other geese are no longer to be seen. You are free, yet you have remained by the side of this noble bird. Who is he that you have not left him in an hour of need?”

So Sumukha answered, “He is my king, my comrade and my friend. I will never forsake him though I die for it.”

Hearing this, the hunter thought, “Indeed, these are brave and noble birds. If I were to harm them, the gods would punish me. What do I care for the king’s reward? I will set them free.” He said to Sumukha, “Since you are prepared to die for friendship’s sake, I will set your king and comrade free. Then fly where you both will.”

Tenderly, he loosened the golden goose’s foot from the snare and washed the blood away in the clear, pure water of the lake. He set the dislocated muscle and tendons, and by a miracle the foot became whole again. Not a mark showed where it had been caught.

Sumukha was overjoyed at seeing his king free, and said to the huntsman, “May you and yours always live in prosperity, Oh hunter, for your merciful act in setting my lord free!”

The golden goose asked the huntsman, “Did you capture me for yourself or was it at someone else’s command?”

“It was by order of the king that I set the snare, Oh noble goose.” The hunter told the golden goose the truth and how the queen desired to see the wonderful bird.

The golden goose thought to himself, “Perhaps it would be best if I went to the city. The hunter will be rewarded, and King Bahuputtaka is known to be a wise and virtuous monarch. If I appear before him of my own free will, he will be satisfied and may decide to give me the freedom of this beautiful lake.”

So he said to the huntsman, “Take us to the king. We will speak with him, and then if he wishes, he will set us free.”

The huntsman said, “Noble goose, kings are not always merciful. He may decide to keep you both as prisoners.”

But the golden goose said to him, “I have softened your heart, huntsman. Surely I can find favor with a great king. Leave that to me! You do your duty, and take me and Sumukha into his presence.”

So the huntsman put both birds on his carrying pole, and took them to the palace.

When the king and the queen saw the two magnificent birds, one with feathers of shining gold, and the other as white as the snow on the mountaintops, they were absolutely delighted. The king set them both on a golden perch, and with his own hands, gave them honey and fine grain to eat, and sweetened water to drink. The whole night through, the king and the golden goose conversed together on the duties of kingship, and the virtues of kings.

The golden goose told the king, “He who puts off until too late the effort to do good will sink low. He loses all knowledge and great will be his loss. He who does not see the truth, gains no wisdom. Cherish your sons so that they may grow wise and always follow the path of virtue.” Thus the golden goose advised and encouraged the king.

When dawn came, he bade farewell to the king and queen, and with the faithful Sumukha, flew out of the northern window and far away to Mount Cittakuta.

Finished! (Applause)

Now, we would wonder why being geese together, there are only two so noble geese and the rest were cowardly, ordinary geese. Nine thousand in number, only two were noble beings!

So actually even in the animal kingdom there are differences, not only in humankind. Perhaps this is the way it should be. I don’t know why it should be like that. Perhaps there are different developments within sentient beings as well. Even with the same species there should always be this difference, because one chooses to go upward in a more noble direction, and the others choose to go the ordinary way, the easy way and the more materially beneficial way. Perhaps our choice makes us noble or lowly. And if we do not struggle within ourselves, trying to better our thinking and our ideals, or our work and our actions, then we will always remain at the same level as before - a very ordinary goose. We fear everyone else’s fears, worry everyone else’s worries, eat everyone else’s food, dream everyone else’s dreams and do everyone else’s actions and habitual expectation. There’s nothing better about us, nothing improves, and we’re nothing more than the geese that eat the grass and drink lake water and pass their life like this. Their life is also peaceful, harmonious and stress-free, and they also look good. But they achieve nothing more than just grass and lake water.

So now we should ask ourselves whether we would desire such a so-called peaceful life, too. Therefore, I have asked you before not to be proud of your harmonious family, your peaceful surroundings, your material gain and your whatever benefit that you think comes to you through the blessing of the Master, or through the practice of the Quan Yin Method.

It is true that the Master will bless us with whatever we desire, but we should not be satisfied with that and feel proud of that achievement, because this is just nothing! The stinky fertilizer is necessary for the flowers, but the flowers are what we want, not the fertilizer.

Perhaps that’s why the golden goose looked golden and so magnificent and wise; and the other geese looked ordinary, you see, like in this story. Perhaps the Buddha had been a golden goose at one time, or perhaps not. Perhaps this is only an exemplary story, so that we understand the loneliness of being a king or a Master. It’s just like talking to a mass of ignorant geese that don’t have human brains or intelligence. So whether this story is true or not, it has a ringing truth in it. This story does not have to be perfectly true. The reincarnation theory doesn’t have to truly exist, and the Buddha didn’t have to truly have been reincarnated as a golden goose or golden hare, or whatever that was before. It’s just the story has a truth. The loneliness of being a king or a Master or a wise person is obvious in this story. It doesn’t matter if the Buddha had been reincarnated as a goose or not, or if He just made it up to illustrate the same principle through different stories.

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/176/st_80.htm

清海無上師以中文講於福爾摩沙西湖道場  1988.10.29（MP3-CG03佛如何利益六道眾生）

師父告訴你們一些祕密：為什麼有的人修行進步很快，有的人卻很慢？想不想聽？（大眾答：想，並熱烈鼓掌）你們都知道密勒日巴尊者的故事嗎？如果有人不知道，師父很快再講一遍。

密勒日巴的爸爸死掉後，所有的財產都被他的伯父、姑母騙走。因為他的爸爸請他們照顧他的太太和兒子，結果密勒日巴的親戚不但沒有照顧他們，又讓他們變成工人，過著很辛苦的生活，一切都很刻苦，衣服不夠穿，東西不夠吃，對待他們像對待工人一樣，所以他們比較有憎恨的心。

我在一本書裡看到一個很好玩的故事，有關「傻瓜」和「亞蛋」的故事，你們知道嗎？（大眾笑答：亞當、夏娃）他們兩個住在伊甸園裡，本來就平安無事，很像在天堂一樣，吃東西、曬太陽，握手握腳、講一些愛情的話，然後就睡覺，每天這樣很快樂。

有一天，亞當躺在吊床的時候（大眾笑），一條蛇從樹上爬到吊床上，在他耳旁嘀嘀咕咕說：「喂！亞當，你知不知道最近我們最流行什麼衣服？」亞當當然不懂，他從來不知道衣服是什麼，他說：「衣服？衣服是什麼意思？」然後那條蛇說：「哎呀！就是遮蓋身體的東西嘛！像我身上這個外皮就是我的衣服。你身上穿的那個『衣服』，從你生出來到現在都沒有換啊，那種皮膚色的『衣服』目前不流行啦！現在最流行的就是柳丁色。」

亞當說他不懂那些東西啦。那條蛇說：「哎呀！你什麼都不懂！那你整天都在做什麼？」亞當說他整天不需要做什麼，餓了就去找東西吃，累了就睡覺，覺得孤單時就去找夏娃聊天，這樣就很快樂了。

那條蛇說：「哎呀！有很多事情你都不知道，不過我很樂意教你，因為你這樣是不文明的人啊，什麼都不懂，連衣服也不知道怎麼換。」亞當說他為什麼要換衣服呢？他的太太每天也不換衣服，這樣比較省錢，他們兩個很高興嘛，為什麼要換？那條蛇說：「不行啊，我們要跟別人住在一起，別人穿什麼，我們也要穿什麼，有一種競爭的力量才比較好玩。還有我們也可以打坐，因為打坐就可以跟上帝溝通。」

亞當說：「不過我每天已經跟上帝溝通了，我住在祂的園裡，就是每天跟祂溝通，我幹嘛還要打坐呢？」那條蛇說：「如果你已經跟祂溝通的話，那你應該要學習獨立，不能再跟祂溝通那麼多了。我要教你學打坐，才能跟祂分開。」（師父笑）本來就要溝通，現在卻要分開。那個亞當也比較笨、不懂事，在那裡呆呆地聽。

那條蛇又說：「如果你不想要日子過得那麼無聊的話，你可以找一些工作做，比方說去上班。」亞當說：「咦！上班？上班是什麼意思啊？怎麼做是叫上班？應該做什麼工作？」

那條蛇說：「比方說你可以去採水果，每天可以採很多水果這樣子。」亞當說：「為什麼我要採水果呢？我每天要吃多少就採多少，採那麼多水果幹什麼？」

蛇說：「如果你採到四百五十個蘋果，我會教你怎麼變成很文明的人。」亞當說：「我從來沒有採那麼多，為什麼要採那麼多？」蛇說那個就是學校的費用，不然的話，牠不會教他。

亞當不想做那些事情。不過那條蛇說：「你必須要採，因為你要採給你太太。」亞當說：「我太太為什麼需要那麼多蘋果呢？」那條蛇說：「因為她剛剛跟我學了，她已經學好了，現在她欠我四百五十個蘋果。」

哎呀！亞當為了太太忙死了，他本來不用採那麼多，現在因為他的太太變成文明的人，他就每天要採水果，採到四百五十個才行。然後他看「傻瓜」（夏娃）回來以後變成很文明的人，化的是最流行的妝，以及最流行的髮型；她本來是長長的直髮，現在變成像非洲人那種髮型（師父及大眾笑），衣服也都很漂亮，都是最流行的。她越要更多衣服，那個亞當越忙著去採蘋果。

後來他看他太太這麼文明，每天穿不同的衣服，而他卻沒穿衣服，所以感覺到不好意思，那個時候他就開始有罪惡感了。你們知道罪惡感是從哪裡來的嗎？就是從那個時候開始的。後來他自己也去學打坐，學怎麼跟上帝分開（師父笑）。每天忙著去採水果，然後又忙著去買衣服；要買衣服的話，又應該多工作。所以每天就忙啦，沒時間躺吊床、曬太陽，沒時間享受以前那種悠閒的生活。然後他越來越跟上帝分開，他越打坐越分開，所以那個時候就開始生出人類來了。以前沒有穿衣服就不用生小孩，現在穿上衣服就比較好奇一點，這就是故事的結局！（師父及大眾笑，大眾鼓掌） 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/175/

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I came across a very funny story in a book about “A-dumb” (Adam) and “Idiot” (Eve). (*Note: The Chinese pronunciation of these two names sounds like these meanings.) Do you know them? (Audience laughs and says, “Yes! Adam and Eve.”) They lived in the Garden of Eden peacefully just like in Heaven. Everyday they ate, lay under the sun, held hands, talked about sweet nothings and then went to bed. They were happy.

One day when Adam was lying in the hammock (Audience laughs), a snake climbed up and whispered in his ear: “Hey, Adam, do you know what’s the most recent style in popular clothes?” Of course Adam didn’t know, because he’d never known what clothes were before. So he asked, “Clothes? What are clothes?” The snake said, “Those are the things that cover your body! For example, the outer skin on my body is my clothes. But the clothes you’re wearing have never been changed since your birth. That kind of ‘skin-type’ clothing is not in fashion now! The most popular color is orange.”

Adam said that he had no idea about this kind of thing. So the snake said, “Oh! You are so ignorant! What do you do every day?” Adam said there was no need for him to do anything every day. He just found food to eat whenever he was hungry, went to sleep whenever he was tired and chatted with Eve whenever he was lonely. He was very content this way.

The snake said, “There are many things that you don’t know, but I am willing to teach you because you are so uncivilized and ignorant. You don’t even knowing how to change your clothes.” But Adam asked why he had to change clothes. His wife never changed hers, either. It saved money and they were both happy. Why would they have to change? The snake said, “We have to mix with others, wearing whatever they wear. It is more fun to have competition. Besides, we can meditate in order to communicate with God.”

Adam said, “I am already communicating with God every day. I live in Hiers garden, which means I communicate with Hirm every day. Why do I need to meditate?” The snake said, “If you have already communicated with Hirm, then you should learn to be independent and to communicate less with Hirm. I will teach you meditation in order to be separated from Hirm.” (Master laughs) Originally the snake was talking about communicating; now he changed to separating. Adam was dumb and so he stood there listening.

The snake said, “If you do not want to live a boring life, you can find something to do, such as going to work.” Adam replied, “Work? What does that mean? What do you do at work? What kind of thing should you do?”

The snake said, “Well, you can go pick fruits and gather a lot every day.” Adam asked, “Why do I need to pick fruits? I only pick enough for me to eat. What’s the use of picking so many?”

The snake said, “If you gather 450 apples, I will teach you how to become a civilized man.” Adam said, “I have never picked so many before. Why should I do that?” The snake explained that this was his tuition fee. Otherwise, he wouldn’t teach Adam.

Adam said he would rather not do it. But the snake said, “You must do it for your wife.” Adam asked, “Why does my wife need so many apples?” The snake said, “Because she just learned from me and she has graduated. Now, she owes me 450 apples.”

So, Adam started to work very busily for his wife. He originally didn’t need to pick so many apples, but now because his wife had become a civilized person, he had to pick apples every day in order to gather 450 of them. Later when “Idiot” (Eve) came home, she had become a civilized person, wearing the most popular makeup and hairstyle. Her hair used to be long and straight, but now it had become like an African hairstyle. (Master and everyone laugh) Her clothes were also very beautiful and the most fashionable. And the more clothes she wanted, the more fruit Adam had to pick.

Gradually, Adam felt embarrassed because he saw his highly civilized wife changing clothes every day while he himself wore no clothes. He then started to have guilty feelings. Do you know now where the guilty feeling comes from? It came from right then and there. Later, he started to learn so-called meditation on how to be separated from God. (Master laughs) Every day, he was busy picking fruits and then buying clothes. In order to afford more clothes, he had to work more. Soon he became too busy to lie in the hammock, enjoy the sunshine and live a leisurely life like before. Eventually, he became more and more separated from God. The more he meditated, the more he was separated from God. From that time on, they started to give birth to humans. Previously, when they had no clothes on, they didn’t make any children. Now that they were covered with clothes, they became more curious about each other. That’s the end of the story! (Master and audience laugh; audience applauds.)

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/175/

釋迦牟尼佛在世的時候，有一個婦女，她有一個小男孩，有一天小孩忽然沒有生病就死掉，她受不了這個打擊，一天到晚痛哭不停。那個時候正好釋迦牟尼佛在附近講經，那位婦女就來向釋迦牟尼佛抱怨哭訴，請求釋迦牟尼佛用神通、用力量、用祂的大智慧，救她的兒子。當時釋迦牟尼佛告訴她：「好！我可以救他。但是妳應該先回去，去問看看有沒有那種五、六代沒有一個親人死掉的家庭，然後拿他們的衣服或家裡的東西來給我。我有那樣東西以後，才能救妳的孩子。」

那個母親聽了以後，真的挨家挨戶去問，一天到晚去問，但是都找不到那種五、六代都沒有親人往生的家庭。她又累又失望，只好回來。釋迦牟尼佛問她：「有沒有任何家庭五代都沒有人往生？」她說：「真的沒有這種事！」釋迦牟尼佛這才告訴她：「就是這樣，人生本來無常，沒有人生出來以後不往生的，任何人有一天都會往生，早晚都應該離開世界，妳不要為了這個無常的身體太難過。」當佛講到這裡時，那個母親立即開悟了，於是皈依佛，當祂的徒弟，也很努力修行。

還有一個故事：有一個夜叉鬼長得很醜、很可怕，這個夜叉鬼有一個很可怕的習慣--喜歡吃人，就好像老虎喜歡吃人，普通人喜歡吃牛、豬、雞、鴨等等一樣。那個夜叉鬼特別喜歡吃小孩，看到小孩就捉來吃，就這樣整個村莊的小孩都快被她吃光了。那個村莊的父母親都跑來求釋迦牟尼佛幫忙。

那個夜叉鬼也有一個小孩，她很疼愛自己的孩子，就像老虎可以吃任何動物或人，但是不會吃自己的小老虎，牠也很愛自己的小孩。

釋迦牟尼佛告訴他們：「你們回去，等這個夜叉鬼出去的時候，把她的孩子藏起來，不要讓她知道，以後的事再講。」那些小孩的父母等夜叉鬼出門以後，立刻把她的小孩藏起來。夜叉鬼回來以後，找不到孩子，傷心得不得了，很痛苦，在地上滾來滾去，痛哭流涕，最後她也跑去請示佛。你們看，鬼也尊敬佛，只要是真正修行的人，鬼魔都尊敬。

釋迦牟尼佛對她說：「妳很疼愛妳的小孩是不是？」她說：「是！」佛說：「妳的小孩對妳來說是世界上最珍貴的寶物是不是？」她說：「是！」佛說：「如果妳那麼疼愛妳的小孩，其他的父母也很疼愛他們的小孩，妳為什麼把他們的小孩都快吃光呢？如果妳答應我，以後不吃別人的小孩，我會幫妳找到妳的孩子。」夜叉鬼馬上答應了。鬼也會開悟，是不是？釋迦牟尼佛告訴她這番道理，她馬上開悟，以後再也不敢吃其他的小孩。

對我們來說，小孩子那麼小，話也不能講，路也不能走，跟大人不一樣，但是我們知道，他也是眾生，以後會長大，變成和我們一樣。從這個故事，我們可以進一步推論，動物也是眾生，以後牠修行多了，也會生為人，也能成佛。所以如果我們真正學佛，真正發慈悲心，就應該發願不吃動物才對。

從這兩個故事中，我們可以知道：智慧或是了悟並不是每個人可以自然得到的，有時候必須有人講給他聽，他才會了解。就像第一個故事中的母親，她的兒子往生了，但是她不曉得其他的小孩有一天也同樣會往生，人都會往生，但是她不明白。如果釋迦牟尼佛當時馬上用自己的智慧勸她：「妳為什麼哭呢？妳應該知道，人生是無常的，早晚我們都應該走，有因就有果，如果妳的小孩因果不好，他當然馬上往生，因為沒有福報，所以妳不必這樣傷心痛哭等等。」她也聽不進去，我們多數人碰到這種情況，都只會這樣勸人。

但是釋迦牟尼佛不用這種方法，祂叫這個母親自己去找，找一個從來沒有人往生的家庭，她當然不可能找得到。那個時候不論釋迦牟尼佛講什麼，她都馬上懂，因為自己有了體驗。開始的時候，師父也有講體驗的事，如果我們自己不能悟「道」，就必須找到一個人，他自己知道，同時也能教我們怎麼找、怎麼做，以後我們自己有體驗，自己可以知道真理。

比如說我們看《阿彌陀經》，釋迦牟尼佛講：「阿彌陀佛是無量光，阿彌陀佛每次都放光救我們，在阿彌陀佛的地方，有什麼什麼境界，有小鳥唱歌、有美妙的音樂等等，如果我們聽到那種音樂，會一心不亂，念佛、念法、念僧等等。」我們聽佛這樣講，又聽說有的人可以去西方享受那種境界，但是如果我們自己沒有那種體驗，也不會相信，也不能真正了解西方淨土到底是怎麼樣。所以聽經、看經，都是聽人家的體驗，聽人家講自己的等級，跟我們沒有關係。任何人要開悟、要了解，要真正體悟這種境界，就應該有同樣的體驗，最少也要有一點點西方淨土的體驗。

如果當時釋迦牟尼佛馬上叫這個夜叉鬼來，告訴她：「妳不要那麼壞，不要吃其他人的小孩，妳難道不知道那些小孩的父母心很痛，妳這樣做是不對的，不應該傷害別人的心。」釋迦牟尼佛如果直接這樣對她說，這個夜叉鬼很可能不肯聽，因為她自己還不知道，還不曾體驗過痛心是怎麼樣的感覺。所以釋迦牟尼佛沒有馬上跟她講道理，祂叫人先把她的小孩帶走，讓她也體驗到失去小孩的痛心，以後再跟她講的時候，她馬上就了解了。我們凡夫也有類似的講法：「為人父母時，方知父母心。」 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/174/

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Enlightenment through Personal Experience – Even a Demon Could be Enlightened by Buddha’s Teaching

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai in Penghu, Formosa,
February 11, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

At the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, there was a woman who lost her little boy to no apparent illness. Devastated by this heavy blow, the mother buried herself in tears. She sought Sakyamuni Buddha, who happened to be delivering lectures in the area, poured out her grief, and begged Him to revive her son with His magical power and great wisdom. “Yes, I can save him,” the Buddha promised. “However, you must first find a family that has not lost a single member in the past five or six generations, and bring me a piece of clothing or some other item from their family. I can save your child only when I have that item.”

Following the Buddha’s instruction, the mother went from house to house, day after day, but she failed to find any family that had no one die in five or six generations. Totally exhausted and disappointed, she came back to the Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha asked her, “Is there any family that has not lost a member in five or six generations?” She replied, “No, there isn’t such a family.” Sakyamuni Buddha then told her, “That is right! Life is ephemeral. No one born can ever escape death. Sooner or later, everyone must die and leave this world. You should not feel too upset over this ephemeral body.” When the Buddha pointed out this truth, the mother was immediately enlightened. She then became a devoted disciple to the Buddha and practiced diligently.

There is another story about an ugly and horrible Yaksa (a demon). But even more terrible was her habit of devouring humans, just as tigers love eating humans, and ordinary humans eat cows, pigs, and poultry. This Yaksa had a special appetite for children, and every child she saw became her food. Very soon, she had eaten almost all the children in the village. The parents in the village came to seek help from Sakyamuni Buddha.

The Yaksa had a child whom she loved dearly, the way tigers love their young and do not eat their own cubs even when they eat all other animals and humans.

“Go home and wait until the Yaksa leaves her house. Then hide her child from her. I will tell you what to do next,” said Sakyamuni Buddha to the villagers. When the Yaksa left her home, the parents in the village hid her child. When the Yaksa returned and could not find her child, she was in deep grief and agony, weeping and rolling on the ground. Finally, she also went to seek help from the Buddha. You see, even the demons respect the Buddha. The ghosts and demons respect all genuine and serious spiritual practitioners.

Sakyamuni Buddha asked the Yaksa, “Do you love your child dearly?” She replied, “Yes!” The Buddha asked, “Is your child the most precious thing on earth to you?” She replied, “Yes!” To this, the Buddha said, “You love your child dearly, as other parents love their children. Then why have you eaten almost all their children? If you promise to stop eating others’ children, then I will help you find your child.” The Yaksa immediately made the promise. Even demons can be enlightened. Is that not right? After Sakyamuni Buddha explained the truth to her, she was immediately enlightened and dared not eat others’ children any more.

In our eyes, children are very small; they cannot speak or walk, and are quite different from adults. However, we know that they are sentient beings all the same and will grow up to be like us. From this story, we can further deduce that animals are also sentient beings. In the future, as they practice more, they will also be born as human beings and become Buddhas. Therefore, if we really want to study the way of the Buddha and develop our compassion, we should not eat animals.

From these two stories, we realize that wisdom or enlightenment is not naturally attained. Sometimes it takes an explanation from someone to be able to understand it. Take the mother in the first story for instance. Her son had died, but she did not realize that the children of other people would also die one day. Everyone must die, but she did not understand that. Suppose at that time, Sakyamuni Buddha had tried to comfort her with such words of wisdom as: “Why are you crying? You ought to know that life is ephemeral. Sooner or later we must go. Where there is cause, there is retribution. If your child has bad karma, of course he will die early because he is short of blessed retribution. Therefore, there is no need to cry so sadly.” The woman would not have listened to these words. However, in this kind of situation, most of us would only know to offer comfort in this way.

Sakyamuni Buddha did not do it this way. Instead, He sent the mother out alone to find a family in which no one had ever died. Of course she could not find one. At this time, whatever teachings that Sakyamuni Buddha said to her, she would comprehend immediately, because she had personally experienced it. In the beginning, I also talked about spiritual experiences. If we are unable to realize the “Truth” by ourselves, then we will need someone who has attained it and is capable of teaching us how and where to find it. Later, when we have had a personal inner experience, we can realize the Truth by ourselves.

For example, in the Amitabha Sutra, we read about Sakyamuni Buddha saying, “Amitabha Buddha is the Infinite Light; He always radiates His light to save us. In the Amitabha Buddha’s world, there are such and such realms. There are chirping birds and wondrous music, etc. When we hear that music, our mind will become tranquil and concentrated to recite the Buddhas’ names, the saints’ names and to remember the teachings.” This is what we heard the Buddha say, and we have also heard about people going to the Western Paradise to enjoy those wonderful realms. However, without personal inner experience, we would not believe or truly understand what the Western Paradise is like. Therefore, reading the scriptures or listening to discourses on them is merely listening to other people talking about their spiritual experiences and spiritual level, which have nothing to do with us. Whoever aspires for enlightenment and true realization should have the same inner experiences, or at least have a glimpse of the Western Paradise.

If at that time, Sakyamuni Buddha had immediately summoned the Yaksa and ordered her, “Stop doing such evils and stop eating other people’s children. Don’t you understand the grave pain in the hearts of the parents? What you are doing is wrong. You should not break people’s hearts.” If Sakyamuni Buddha had talked to the Yaksa directly like this, she might not have listened, because she did not know and had not experienced the feelings of the brokenhearted parents. Therefore, Sakyamuni Buddha did not reason with her in the first instance. Instead, He told the people to take away her child, so that she, too, would experience the pain of losing her child. After that, she understood immediately when the Buddha talked to her. We ordinary humans also have a similar saying: “We can only realize the feeling of our parents after we ourselves have become parents.”

Master Tells Stories

 

講一個禪的故事給你們聽。在日本一所寺廟裡，有兩個師兄弟住在那邊，那個師兄很聰明、很開悟，又很莊嚴、很好看；師弟長得比較難看，只有一隻眼睛，又比較笨，大概是阿修羅境界的等級。

有一次那個師兄太忙、太累了，那天他就去休息、打坐，叫那個只有一隻眼睛的師弟照顧道場，他們的地方叫「太陽場」道場。那天有一個遠方的和尚來，他是個行腳僧，想來那邊過夜，吃一頓素菜，然後明天再趕去別的地方。那個師弟雖然只是第一界阿修羅的等級，沒什麼了不起，不過規矩還是規矩，他要考一下那個和尚。他難得能當住持嘛！師兄睡著了，就他一個人當王，所以他要考他一下。他就往那個鋪了黃布的桌子坐上去，然後叫那個和尚過來坐在地下（師父與大眾笑），問他：「你從何方來？」和尚回答：「我是從東京來，想來這邊過夜，明天還要趕路去送葬。」

然後那個師弟說：「歡迎你啊！如果你本事夠，能回答我的問題的話，我就讓你住下來，住多久都沒問題。」那個遠方來的和尚說：「當然啦！這個規矩我了解，請你隨便問吧！」那個師弟不知道怎麼問，他在那邊想：「我最好用那種『禪不用語言』的方法，這樣他一定會輸，因為不管他猜什麼都不對，我可以說他對，也可以說他不對。」

那個師弟及和尚在那邊對答了一陣子以後，和尚就跑到師兄那邊，說道：「哎呀！我要走了，我輸了。我來跟你打一個招呼，跟你說再見。你的師弟非常、非常厲害，不可思議啊！我很抱歉！因為輸了，所以沒辦法繼續在這邊拜訪你，跟你學習。你的師弟都那麼厲害了，你一定更厲害！不過很抱歉，我輸了，我是要守規矩該走了。」

那時候那個師兄已經休息好了，就問他說：「你們對答什麼啊？怎麼這樣就輸了呢？」和尚回答：「他讓我先表達，我就比了一根手指，表示世界上最尊貴的是一尊佛，也就是代表一個完全開悟的人。然後你的師弟馬上就比了兩根手指出來（大眾笑）。哎呀！我就輸了！我知道他意思說，如果佛沒有出來講法、沒有傳播祂的教理的話，光坐在那邊就沒用，因為佛和祂的教理兩方面要合起來才行。所以我當然輸了，我很佩服他。後來我還是儘量試試看，看能不能再彌補回來，我就比了三根手指這樣（大眾笑），代表佛、法、僧三方面合在一起才是真正的完美。意思說那些僧眾都和平住在一起，雖然那麼多人，卻還是同一體，佛法也是唯一，世界上只有一位佛是最珍貴的，祂的教理也是唯一的真理，所以我比了三根手指，代表佛、法、僧。

喔！你的師弟就握拳頭弄在我的鼻子這邊（大眾笑），差一點就打中了，那是代表一個人已經即刻開悟（師父及大眾笑並鼓掌）。他的意思說，即使佛、法、僧為的是要令人一世解脫，但『即刻開悟』更厲害，打人家一下，就馬上讓他醒悟這樣。所以我沒辦法，我看他太了不起了，就馬上跑來跟你道歉，打一個招呼，表達佩服之意，然後我馬上就要走了。」

和尚走了以後，那個師弟從後面匆匆忙忙追過來，問師兄：「那個遠方來的和尚在哪裡？他到哪裡去了？」那個師兄說：「他被你打敗，他就跑了。你好厲害喔！你真的好厲害喔！我想不到你那麼開悟！對不起，這幾年以來都看不起你，我現在才知道你好厲害。」那個師弟說：「我哪裡贏他！我剛好要打他，他就跑掉了。」（師父及大眾笑）師兄說：「你怎麼要打他呢？他說你贏他，你為什麼要打他？你告訴我，你們對答了一些什麼？」

那個師弟說：「你不知道啊，那個和尚非常驕慢，他一來就馬上要挑戰。他看到我只有一隻眼睛，就取笑我（師父及大眾笑），他馬上比了一根手指出來，笑我只有一隻眼睛。不過我有記得，你叫我修忍辱：人家打罵你怎麼樣，你要忍耐。我當和尚啊，沒辦法，只好忍氣吞聲下去。我也記得佛說要以恩報怨，不要冤冤相報，所以我儘量不生氣他，不侮辱回去。我比了兩根手指出來，讚嘆他很有福報，有兩隻眼睛（師父及大眾笑）。不過這樣他還不甘心，他看我讓他，他還在那邊繼續侮辱我。」

師兄說：「他怎麼侮辱你？他是一個和尚，怎麼會侮辱你？」師弟說：「他就比了三根手指出來，他意思說，我們兩個人合起來只有三隻眼睛（師父及大眾笑並鼓掌），你說我氣不氣！那時候我忍不住想打他一拳，結果被他跑掉（師父及大眾笑），所以我就追在他後面。要不是被他跑掉，我一定會多打幾拳給他看（師父及大眾笑）。」因為那個和尚跑掉，不然也許還有故事可以講。 

這故事裡面有一些含意，意思說我們修行等級不一樣，看事情會不一樣。我們裡面心單純肯定，看事情就會很肯定、很舒服、很漂亮；我們心不單純、心否定的話，看什麼都不好。所以一個東西給幾個人看，每個人看不一樣的角落，有不一樣的看法。

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/173/

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Different Levels, Different Perceptions

 

Now I will tell you a story about Zen. In a temple in Japan lived two monks. The senior monk was very intelligent, enlightened, dignified and good looking. The junior was less attractive and had only one good eye. He was also rather dumb, perhaps still in the Astral level.

One time, as the senior monk had exerted himself from busy work, he retreated to take a rest and to meditate, and he told his one-eyed junior brother to take care of the “sun plaza,” the temple where they lived. That day, a wandering monk came from afar to their temple; he requested a vegetarian meal and to spend the night there, as he would be leaving for another place the next day. Although the junior was just at the first level, the Astral level, which was nothing much, he still wanted to follow the rules to test the visiting monk. He seldom had a chance to act as the abbot! Since his senior was sleeping, he was the king, and he was going to test the monk. As he sat on a table covered with a saffron cloth, he asked the visitor to sit on the ground (Master and everyone laugh) and then asked, “Where are you from?” The visiting monk replied, “I come from Tokyo, and I would like to stay here for the night, because I have to hurry on my way tomorrow to attend a funeral.”

The junior said, “You are welcome! If you are capable of answering my questions, I will let you stay as long as you wish.” The monk from Tokyo said, “Of course! I am aware of this rule. Please ask any question, as you wish.” However, the junior was at a loss as what to ask until he came up with an idea. He thought, “This is best done in a Zen manner, where no words are necessary. Then he will definitely lose, because his answers will always be wrong since it is entirely up to me to say whether the answer is right or wrong.”

After a speechless question-and-answer session between them, the visiting monk went to the senior, saying, "Well! I have to leave now because I lost. I just came here to say farewell to you. Your junior brother is truly terrific and incredible! I am very sorry. Since I was defeated, I can no longer stay here to learn from you. If your junior brother is so fantastic, you must be even more superb! Unfortunately, I have lost, and according to the rule, I must leave now.”

The senior monk who had rested enough, asked, “What were your questions and answers? How could you lose so easily?” The visitor said, “He let me express myself first, so I showed him one finger, as a metaphor of the almighty respectable One in the whole world - the Buddha, the fully enlightened One. Immediately, your junior showed two fingers in return (everyone laughs), and so I lost! I knew what he meant, which was that the Buddha alone would be useless if He just sat there and did not go out to give lectures and spread His teachings. The Buddha and His teachings must go side-by-side with one another. Of course I was defeated and admired him very much. Then, in an attempt to turn things around, I raised three fingers like this (everyone laughs), indicating that if the Buddha, the dharma (the teachings) and the sangha (assembly of monks and nuns) are unified as one, then it is truly perfect. What I meant was, though living together in numbers, the monastic order is harmonious as one; the Buddha was the only One and most precious in the world; His teachings are also the one and only Truth. Therefore, I showed him three fingers, representing the Buddha, the teachings and the monastic order.”

“Oh! Your junior immediately clenched his fist and punched at my nose here. (Everyone laughs) He almost hit me! It represented a person who had attained immediate enlightenment. (Master laughs; everyone laughs and applauds.) What he meant was that, although the Buddha, the teachings and the monastic order are supposed to give people liberation in one lifetime, this “Immediate Enlightenment” is even better. Just give the person a punch and he will be enlightened immediately. I was at the end of my wit; this was beyond me. Therefore I immediately came to see you to extend my apology and admiration, and then I will be on my way.”

After the visiting monk had left, the junior ran panting from behind and asked his senior: “Where is that monk from Tokyo? Where has he gone?” The senior said, “He has been defeated by you, so he left. You are terrific! You are really terrific! I never knew that you were so enlightened! I am sorry. All these years I have always looked down on you. Only now do I know that you are so superb!” The junior said, “What do you mean I defeated him? I was going to hit him but he escaped.” (Master and everyone laugh) The senior asked, “Why did you want to hit him? He said you defeated him, so why did you want to hit him? Tell me about the contents of your questions and answers.”

The junior said, “What you don’t know is that this monk was extremely arrogant. He challenged me as soon as he arrived. Observing that I had only one eye, he made fun of me. (Master and everyone laugh) He immediately held up one finger in mockery to laugh at me. However, I remembered that you had told me to practice humility, and to tolerate even when people hit or scold me. Since I am a monk, I had no choice but to endure his humiliation. I also remembered the Buddha had taught us to repay hostility with benevolence and refrain from taking revenge. Therefore, I tried hard not to be angry with him or insult him in return. I praised him by holding up two fingers to indicate that he was really blessed to have two eyes. (Master and everyone laugh) Even then, he was not satisfied. Observing that I was giving in, he continued to insult me further.”

The senior asked, “How did he insult you? He is a monk! How could he possibly insult you?” The junior said, “He showed me three fingers. He meant that the two of us together had only three eyes. (Master and everyone laugh) I was really mad! I could not tolerate any more so I raised my fist at him, but he managed to escape. (Master and everyone laugh) That was why I chased after him. Lucky for him that he fled; otherwise I would have given him a few more punches!” (Master and everyone laugh) The monk had fled. Otherwise, there might have been more stories.

Use Wisdom
to Perceive the Truth

This is a funny story of course, but it conveys a serious moral. I often tell you some funny stories, not just to make you laugh, but for you to understand the meaning behind them. Most of the stories I tell have meanings in them, even though sometimes I explain and sometimes I don’t.

If I explain, you will understand one aspect, and later you should continue to think about other aspects; if I don’t, you should think about it yourself and explain to yourself. We understand according to our level.

This story means that if our levels are different, our perceptions will be different. If our hearts are pure and positive, what we see will be positive, comfortable and beautiful; if our hearts are not pure, but negative, everything we see will turn out to be bad. So if we show one thing to different persons, each will look at a different corner and have different perception.

Why should we pursue spiritual practice? It is because after practicing, our wisdom will develop, our mind will open and our perception will be accurate. That is all. Looking at the same thing, if we can see through to its Truth, we will not misunderstand and will not be confused or cheated by illusions, which lead to misinterpretation and misconception.

That’s why after we have practiced spiritually for a while, we will become happier living in this world. Perhaps we still have suffering; it’s not that we have none, but we will not become violent, nor do we have hatred, because we understand the ephemeral nature of the world as well as the law of cause and effect. If someone takes something from us, it is not necessarily bad for us. We know this very clearly after we have practiced spiritually and become enlightened. Otherwise, no matter how many times we read the story about an old man losing his horse and that it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, or how many other similar stories we read, we don’t practice what we learn. We already know enough morals, but if we don’t quiet down each day and meditate in order to digest what we know, we cannot use them. We just study them, read them and forget about them. Very few people can put the teachings of the Saints into practice

After practicing spiritually, we do not take this world and everything too seriously, nor do we get lost in passion or fame and name like before. Nothing can upset us or bind us. We can have children and fulfill our duties or the needs of the body, but we are not lost in it, which we know very clearly. >>

以前有一個故事，有一位富翁有兩個男孩，兩個都是同樣富有、同樣聰明，都是出生在富有的家庭，也是一起在富裕的環境中成長。有一天，弟弟想去外面體驗其他的生活，所以他告訴他爸爸，他要去外面學習生活的體驗。

他到外面去以後，嘗受過很多困難，日子也過得很艱辛，但是他也學習到很多道理，所以他越來越聰明，越來越有智慧，也越能幹，知道很多情況，也發現自己的潛在能力。以前他都不曉得自己具有這些能力，因為在家時很富有，凡事都有奴隸、工人、佣人服侍，一點也不需要自己動手，他要什麼有什麼，所以他不曉得自己有什麼能力。去外面體驗生活以後，他才發現，原來自己具有這麼多不可思議的能力、不可思議的天才，他越來越高興、越來越明白，他具有那麼多力量。

但是在他明白這個道理以前，他也碰到很多困難，最後他遭遇到最艱難的情況：他病重、沒有錢，又沒有人照顧，也沒有家住，什麼都沒有，別人對他又不好。那個時候他很想家，所以他想，不可以再這樣下去，我一定要回家。在家中，我生活得很好，為什麼我要去外面，變成乞丐的樣子？那個時候他很想家、想回去，想跟家人溝通。回去以後，他爸爸很高興，非常歡迎他，馬上拿最好的衣服給他穿，最好的東西給他吃，送他最好的禮物，開盛大的宴會歡迎他回來。

那個時候，大兒子問他的爸爸：「那我呢？你怎麼沒有替我開宴會？你怎麼沒有特別給我什麼好東西？我到現在始終對你很真誠，我沒有離開過你啊！我天天侍奉你、跟你接近，你卻沒有給我什麼。」他爸爸告訴他，我的東西都是你們的。

現在他們兩兄弟的情況和以前完全一樣，弟弟並沒有失掉什麼，還是跟以前一樣富有，但是比哥哥多出什麼好處呢？你們曉得嗎？多出生活體驗，多出聰明智慧、多出能幹的能力、多出對自我的覺悟，他比以往更加了解自己，是不是？

可是做哥哥的，就像一位被寵壞的兒子一樣，雖然生活過得很舒適，但是只有舒服的生活而已，沒有用。他跟他弟弟一樣富有，但是缺少弟弟所具有的智慧，弟弟現在明白很多事情，對自我體認更多，更了解自己，也更獨立，但是哥哥什麼事都不曉得。

佛本來是佛沒有錯，但是應該做眾生以後才可以曉得，不當過眾生不曉得；沒有當過眾生，雖然也是佛，但是沒有什麼用。所以我們應該來娑婆世界學東西，學做人，學習困難痛苦的情況，以後才知道「快樂」是什麼？學習「無常」的情況，以後才知道「永恆」是什麼？學習這個「無明」的世界，以後才可以知道「智慧」是什麼？

在你們還沒有學習「完全」以前，雖然也是佛，但還是「無明佛」，慢慢地會變成「開悟佛」，成真正的佛，跟以前完全一樣。本來我們什麼都已經有了，不是等到開悟的時候才有，只是我們自己還不曉得而已。

開悟前和開悟後一樣，以前有那麼多力量，開悟以後，還是一樣有那麼多力量，只是以前不知道自己有那麼多力量，現在知道了。所以釋迦牟尼佛說：「煩惱是菩提」、「眾生是佛」。祂不會說謊，今天師父把這個意思解釋給你們聽，為什麼佛是眾生？為什麼佛要跑到這個世界做眾生，要受那麼多痛苦？

事實上，痛苦也不是痛苦，而是我們在學習東西，這就像我們去學校學習一樣，不論上小學、中學、大學，都不是那麼簡單，但是學好各種課程以後，我們會變得比較聰明，長大以後，會有自己的地位，具有獨立性，所以應該學，不學不行，不學不能知道自己都有哪些能力。

如果說所有眾生都具有佛性，本來已經是佛，那怎麼可以說女眾不能成佛？這是胡說，成佛就是成佛，沒有什麼分別。所以我告訴你們好幾次，外道、內道都是道，好、壞都是佛，沒有好也沒有壞，但這是最高的境界，在我們還沒有達到這個境界以前，我們必須學習，還應該做好事，不可以說，因為好跟壞一樣，所以就不要學，反正我已經是佛了，我不需要修行。不可以這樣想！

我們本來是佛，但是還要修行，因為我們還不真正了解自己是佛。師父這樣講，你們相信，因為你們相信師父，但是你們自己還不是真正認識自己，所以應該修行，不然我們會有很多痛苦。還不認識自己的時候，別人稍微罵一點就會痛心，人家恨我們，我們也會恨他，因為還不認識所有眾生都是佛，還達不到這個平等心，還做不到不分別心。所以應該修行，修到什麼時侯，我們的心不動，看所有眾生，就如同看自己一樣，這樣才算是真正了解自己。 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/172/

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Once upon a time, there was a rich man and his two sons who were equally rich and intelligent. They were born into the same rich family and grew up in the same wealthy environment. One day, the younger brother had the urge to experience a different life, so he told his father that he would like to venture outside to gain new life experiences.

In the world outside, he encountered many predicaments and lived through great difficulties, but he had also learned a lot of truths. Therefore, he became more intelligent, wiser and more capable. He knew how to handle many different situations and discovered his own potentials. Previously, he was not aware he had these abilities because he was living in a wealthy family and attended to by slaves, laborers and servants in everything. He could get anything he wanted without having to lift a finger. Therefore, he did not know what kind of abilities he had. Only after venturing outside to experience life, did he discover that he possessed so many incredible abilities and talents. He became happier and happier,realizing more and more  that he had such great power.

Nevertheless, before realizing this truth, he ran into many hardships. Finally, the gravest situation befell him: he was left seriously ill, penniless, had no one to take care of him, had no home, nothing and was treated badly.  At that moment, he really missed home. He thought: “I cannot carry on like this; I must go home. I can live comfortably at home, so why must I go outside and live like a beggar?” At that time, he longed to go home and contacted his family. When he finally came home, his father was extremely delighted and welcomed him warmly. He immediately gave his son the best clothes, food and the best gifts. A grand banquet was held to welcome him home.

At that time, the elder son asked his father: “What about me? You have never held a banquet for me or given me anything special! Why? I have been faithful to you all this time and I have never left you! I attended to you every day and stayed close to you, yet you never gave me anything.” His father then told him: “All the things that I have belong to you brothers.”

Now, the circumstances of the two brothers were exactly the same as before. The younger brother didn’t lose anything; he was still as wealthy as before. However, he had gained something that his elder brother had not. Do you have any idea what? He had gained more life experiences, more intelligence, more wisdom, more capabilities and more self-realizations. Thus he understood himself better than before. Is that right?

On the other hand, the elder brother was like a spoiled son. He enjoyed a comfortable life, but that was all he had; nothing really useful. He had the same wealth as his younger brother had, without the wisdom. Now his younger brother understood many things, had a better realization and understanding of himself, and became more independent. Yet, the elder brother had none of these.

It is true that a Buddha is originally a Buddha, but we can only realize this after we have gone through the stage of a sentient being. Otherwise, we do not know that we are Buddha. Without going through the stage of a sentient being, even though we are still Buddha, we are useless. Therefore, we have to come to this deluding world to study, to learn how to be a human being, how to overcome difficult and painful situations, and eventually understand what “happiness” is. We have to learn about “ephemeral” situations in order to realize what “eternity” is. We have to learn about the “ignorance” of this world before we can understand what “wisdom” is.

Before you have completed your learning, although you are still a Buddha, you are an “ignorant Buddha.” Slowly you will become an “enlightened Buddha,” a true Buddha, exactly the same as we originally are. We already had everything in the first place; we don’t have to wait until we are enlightened to have it. It is just that we are not aware of what we have.

There is no difference between before enlightenment and after enlightenment. We still have the same power after enlightenment as before, except that we did not know we had such power before. Now you understand.  That was why Sakyamuni Buddha said: “Vexation is Wisdom,” and “Sentient beings are Buddhas.” He was not lying. Today I am explaining to you what He meant: Why Buddhas are sentient beings, and why Buddhas have to come to this world to become sentient beings and endure great sufferings?

The truth is sufferings are not really sufferings; we are merely learning, just like learning in school. Whether we go to elementary school, secondary school or university, all of them are challenging. However, after we have learned the various subjects, we will become more intelligent. After growing up, we will earn our own place and become independent. Therefore, we must learn. Otherwise, we will not be aware of what abilities we have.

If all sentient beings have the Buddha Nature and are originally Buddhas, then why do people say women cannot achieve Buddhahood? This is nonsense! Attaining Buddhahood is attaining Buddhahood; there is no difference. That is why I have told you many times that both heretical paths and orthodox paths are spiritual paths, and good beings and bad beings are Buddhas. There is no good, or bad. But that’s speaking from the point of view of the highest level. Before we reach this level, we must learn and we still need to do good deeds. We cannot say: “Since good or bad is the same, there is no need to learn. Since I am already a Buddha, I don’t need to practice.” We must not embrace such ideas!

It is true we are originally Buddhas, but we still need to practice spiritually because we have not yet truly realized that we are the Buddhas. When I tell you all this, you believe, because you believe in me. However, you still have not truly known this for yourself, so you must practice spiritually. Otherwise, you will have a lot of suffering. Before knowing ourselves, we feel very hurt when people reproach us however lightly; we hate whoever hates us, because we still have not realized that all sentient beings are Buddhas. We have yet to reach the level where we treat all beings equally and without discrimination. That is why we should pursue spiritual practice until our hearts become still and we see all sentient beings as ourselves. At that time, we can say we have truly realized ourselves.

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/172/st_36.html

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/171/

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以前有一位軍人才剛去當兵，就被配去侍候一位上尉，這位長官生性很嚴厲，對部下也是「令出如山」，必須絕對遵守，本來軍人的本分就是絕對「服從」。有一天，這位上尉叫那個新兵去油漆他的住處，油漆完畢以後，又叫新兵把刷子洗乾淨，可是新兵找不到抹布可以擦洗刷子。這個上尉就叫那位新兵到一旁放著其他軍人衣服的地方，隨便拿一件來清洗刷子。這時候這位小兵感覺非常為難，不知該怎麼辦？因為如果他服從上司的命令，就必須去偷別人的衣服來當抹布，偷取別人的東西，一旦被發現，也是犯法，但是不服從命令也同樣犯了違反軍令。

經過一番掙扎思考以後，他決定不去偷別人的衣服，就以堅決的語氣回答他的上司：「我不去！」他的上司很驚訝他竟敢不服從命令，立刻問他說：「你為什麼不去？」可是這位新兵也沒有回答什麼，只是用很堅決的表情看著他的長官，顯示他不去偷別人東西的決心，這時候那位上尉知道新兵的意願已定，也就不再說什麼。

所以要獲得別人尊敬，必須先要具有贏得別人尊敬的態度，自己如果能自重，別人自然會尊敬你。因為在軍法中，也同樣規定禁止偷取別人的東西，所以這位新兵下定決心，無論如何不去犯偷盜。

但是對他來說，當時要下這種決心，一定也很不容易，因為軍人的職責就是「服從」，可是他的「道德心」替他做了一個合理、勇敢的決定。人有自由意志可以做選擇，要做什麼就做什麼，所以天堂、地獄都是我們自己造的，沒有人可以勉強我們做。如果我們聽從其他沒有開悟的人所說的話，他要我們做什麼就去做什麼，這樣是不會獲得別人的尊敬，因為我們缺乏獨立的思想和意志。 

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/news/170/