20130422《靜思妙蓮華》王舍城的由來 (一)

【證嚴上人開示】
住無所住無處不住
佛說法處莊嚴道場
永恆法身慧命常住
佛在靈山人心中處
我們就能了解，在佛的境界，他是住無所住，無處不住，常常跟大家說，心，佛，眾生，三無差別。佛陀真如本性，是無處不住，佛說法的地方，就是最莊嚴的道場。
我們不管讀哪一本經，經的開頭就向我們敘述，佛陀說法，道場莊嚴，尤其是在靈山會這個道場，說法的地方，那就是成長慧命的地方。
所以「永恆法身慧命常住」，佛陀的法身是永恆的，無生無滅，所以佛的慧命是常住。
也是常常跟大家說，人人的慧命要不斷地成長，因為我們人人本具慧命，只是無明遮蓋，所以學佛是要如何去除無明？減輕一分無明，就成長一分慧命。
「佛在靈山莫遠求」，「靈山只在汝心頭」，這不就是我們人人都知道的，一句偈文，是啊，靈山在那裡呢？是在印度嗎？在人間的事相，沒有錯，在印度，不過佛陀說法《妙法蓮華經》，只要我們用心聽，真如本性體會，靈山當時的說法，和我們現在的心境應該是一樣，心境和事相地方的環境，只要你用心體會，心境環境合一，所以人人心中都有真如的本性，真如的本性，永遠都向我們自己說法。
所以佛在靈山莫遠求，不要想向很遠去求，靈山只在汝心頭。
五、處成就
住王舍城
耆闍崛山中
謂能住住所住
佛為能住
所住者即忍土講經的六成就，現在已經是第五個成就，佛所住處說法的地方，若沒有這個地方，要在哪裡說話呢？所以必定要有這個地方，地方在哪裡？住在王舍城耆闍崛山中，這是講《法華經》的場地，佛陀當時，就是在這個地方講《法華經》，現在要跟大家解說，「王舍城耆闍崛山」這個地名，是怎麼來的？飲水思源，我們也要知道講經的來處，它為什麼被取這樣的名字？
就說「住」，先解釋住。佛(為了要)適應人間，因為是要講人間事，人間的事，就有能、所，所以現在說的「住」，能住，住所住。
什麼叫做「能住」？能住的人，這個地方誰能住？我能住，你能住，還有什麼人能住？就是「能」，有我這個人，所以我能住在這裡，這是「能」，我們能在這裡，能在這裡；所以那個時候，佛陀遊化來到這個地方，這個地方剛好很適合，眾生的根機成熟，佛陀能住在這個地方，向大家講經，這叫做「能」，「能住」，這個人能住在這裡。
「住所住」就是靈鷲山，就是佛所講法的地方，這叫做「所」，能、所。
我可以用這個東西，這個東西是我所用的，這是世間的法，能與所，所以住王舍城，就是「能住、住所住」，佛為能住的主；佛陀這麼大一群人，也是不能缺佛一個人，所以他是主宰，就是佛在這個地方，因為要講這部經，這一大群的人，唯有講經這個人，不能不在這裡，所以佛為能住。
所住者即忍土，「忍土」就是在娑婆世界，娑婆世界就是這個世間，堪忍的世間。佛教徒人人都知道，娑婆世界，它的名稱叫做堪忍，因為世間苦，苦事偏多就是這個世間，所以叫做「忍土」。我們要堪得忍耐的地方，佛為能住，所住者即忍土。
王舍城，什麼它的名稱，叫做王舍城？我們可以再解釋，在梵語的名稱叫做羅閱衹伽羅，這是在印度，在這裡翻譯過來叫做王舍城；這是一個國家的地方，王舍城又有它的國名，國的名稱叫做摩竭陀，譯成我們這裡的意思，叫做「不害」。意思就是說，這個國家很祥和，因為這個國家沒有刑殺。
因為這位國王很仁慈，國家所領導的人民很善良，所以沒有人犯法，國家也沒有施行刑罰，所以這個國家，是一個很祥和的國家，所以又再有另一個名稱，叫做摩竭提。
摩竭提就是國王的名字，意思就是說，這位國王的仁慈，人民的善良，這個國家都沒有殺、盜，這些種種不法的事；所以這個國家，以國王的名字來稱國號。
這位國王後來又有一個兒子，因為他的腳底有斑痕，有駁痕，所以人人給他稱名為「駁足」。
王舍城
梵語羅閱祇伽羅
此云王舍城
國名摩竭陀
此云不害
言無刑殺也
亦云摩竭提
此云天羅
即國王名也
此王駁足之父這位駁足太子很聰明，只是有一分喜愛，就是愛吃肉，一天當中要吃很多肉，性情比較暴躁，但是國王只有這個兒子而已。
所以到他即將往生時，把他的王位傳給太子，太子開始掌政，他最愛的就是三餐飯，一定要有很豐盛的肉類，所以廚房的廚師，每一天每一天，都要準備很多很多豐盛的肉食，來供給國王。
有一段時間忽然間缺肉，找不到肉可以供應，廚師看到一個孩子往生了，孩子既然死了，就把孩子的肉，拿來廚房料理過後，就是一道菜；駁足王吃到這個肉，他覺得很好吃，這很好吃，從來沒有吃過這麼好吃的肉類，所以就開始交代，交代廚房，以後你們每天，都要用這種肉類來供應我。
當時的廚師不知道怎麼處理，這種的肉類是人體，所以只好廚房就開始，每一天到外面去抓孩子來處理，作為料理來供奉國王的三餐，能吃得很高興。
但是這個消息，已經使得全國人民開始很惶恐，人人都不知道自己的孩子，今天能否保命到明天；所以每一位為人父母的人，都是很擔心，所以觸怒了他的國家的民眾。
這個消息又傳到其他的鄰國，以前的印度，有很多國，以城稱國，所以鄰近的國家都是很憤怒，所以除了他自己(國家)，本身的民眾很惶恐很憤怒，也觸怒了周圍的國家；所以過了這一段時間，千王大家共同聚會，就開始認為，這個國家不值得繼續存在，所以就共謀要討伐這個國家，所以這個國王就被很多的國家，大家共同包圍起來。
他就逃，逃到靈鷲山，那時候靈鷲山中，有很多鬼神，因為這座山，平時印度有這種風俗，人若往生不能在家裡，往生之後，就要抬出去外面，放在露天的地方，所以鷲山，就有一種名稱－天葬。很自然的，人死之後就放在那裡，因為人死後都放在那裡，所以會養成一些鳥，那些鷲鳥會集中到那裡，吃人的屍體。
人人認為那個地方有很多鬼神，在那個地方，這位駁足王，他就被大家包圍，包圍逃到那裡，他再也無法出去了。但是那座山裡有很多山神，就是要抓這個國王，也是要抓來吃。後來這個國王，就和這些山神有一個約定，約定你們假如能留我一命在，我會和大家合作，去抓一千位國王來供山神。
因為這樣，所以這些山神，共同以這位駁足王為王，果然他就開始找，若是國王，他就利用這些山神去抓過來，抓來這個山中，就要累積，集到一千位為止，才同時千王祭祀山神。
不多久的時間，就已經抓到，共九百九十九位國王，已經集中在那個地方，就差一位。
果然讓他找到一位國王，這位國王就很特殊，抓來時一直哭，所以那時這位駁足就問他：「有這麼多人，你為什麼一來就開始哭了，你很沒有勇氣。」
他就說：「不是為我自己，果然有這麼多人，等我來湊足一千人，所以他們當然在短期內，就會被殺。除此之外，我還有一件很重要的事要辦，你若能給我三天內的時間，讓我辦好這件事情，我絕對會親自再來報到。會來！」
這個駁足認為，還有比你的生命，更重要的事情嗎？他就想，就算你這三天不回來，我也有方法能把你再抓回來，他們互相約定了。
所以這位第一千位國王果然被釋放了，當然再接下去的故事，真的是很感動人，「王舍城」的名稱，如何成立起來，關鍵就是在這第一千位的國王。
各位，時間就是這麼快地過，雖然因緣是這樣，不過我們應該要知道，凡事都是因緣合成，我們若沒有因緣合成，這個地方就無法成就、沒有成就這個地方，佛陀就不是在這裡說法了。
所以「住無所住、無處不住」，應該要看因緣，因緣聚會的時候；所以佛到底在哪裡？永遠都是在我們心裡，所以請大家，不管故事是如何，說法處是怎麼來的，最重要的，我們的本心裡面，永住著佛說法的道場。
所以人人要在心中，這朵不受染的妙蓮華，就是最清淨莊嚴的道場，請大家法要往我們心的深處找，所以要時時多用心！

《靜思妙蓮華》
王舍城的由來
上證下嚴法師20130422~24開示重點
整理者：陳映月
住無所住無處不住
• 住無所住無處不住
佛說法處莊嚴道場
永恆法身慧命常住
佛在靈山人心中處
• 佛陀真如本性，是無處不住，佛說法的地方，就是最莊嚴的道場，就是成長慧命的地方。
• 佛陀的法身是永恆的，無生無滅，所以佛的慧命是常住。

靈山只在汝心頭
• 靈山在那裡呢？人間的事相，是在印度。
• 佛陀說法《妙法蓮華經》，只要我們用真如本性體會，靈山當時的說法，和我們現在的心境是一樣；心境環境合一，人人都向我們自己說法。
• 佛在靈山莫遠求，靈山只在汝心頭。

處成就
• 五、處成就
住王舍城
耆闍崛山中
謂能住住所住
佛為能住
所住者即忍土
• 佛為了要適應人間，要講人間事，人間的事，就有能、所，所以現在說的「住」，能住，住所住。
王舍城
• 王舍城
梵語羅閱祇伽羅
此云王舍城
國名摩竭陀
此云不害
言無刑殺也
亦云摩竭提
此云天羅
即國王名也
此王駁足之父

• 梵語的名稱叫做羅閱衹伽羅；王舍城的國名，叫做摩竭陀，翻譯「不害」。意思就是，這個國家很祥和沒有刑殺。
• 國王仁慈，人民善良，這個國家沒有殺、盜，種種不法的事；所以這個國家，以國王的名字「摩竭提」來稱國號。
• 摩竭提的兒子，腳底有斑痕，有駁痕，所以人人給他稱名為「駁足」。
駁足王成為鬼王
• 駁足王很聰明，性情暴躁，喜愛吃肉。
• 有一段時間忽然間缺肉，廚師找不到肉可以供應；就把往生的孩子的肉，拿來廚房料理。
• 駁足王覺得很好吃，交代廚房，以後每天都要用這種肉類來供應我。
• 廚房就開始，每一天到外面去抓孩子來處理。

• 這個消息，使全國人民很惶恐，也觸怒了周圍的國家。
• 千王共同聚會，共謀要討伐這個國家。
• 駁足王，逃到靈鷲山，靈鷲山是當時印度人往生後天喪的地方。
• 駁足王，就和這些山神約定，假如能留一命在，會去抓一千位國王來祭祀山神。
• 不多久的時間，就已經抓到九百九十九位國王；第一百位國王很特殊，抓來時一直哭。
說法處大因緣
• 說法處應有大因緣
集大福德靈應具會
聖法流傳廣被歷代
今人應時心存感恩
• 說大法，一定有大因緣；因緣，因為有大福德，靈應具會，才能讓聖法流傳，蔭庇後代的人。
慈悲的普明王
• 駁足鬼王，利用羅剎的力量來抓千王，最後一位叫做普明王。
• 普明王信仰佛法，是一位仁王，話出口一定信受奉行。
• 他哭的原因是心悲；第一悲，千王生命在旦夕；第二悲是他的信將喪失；他已經定下要為他的國家，做一個無遮法會，開國庫普施，就是布施大會；還沒做就被抓來了，對人民失信，因而心悲。
守信從容赴死
• 駁足鬼王心中存疑，想要試探他，所以放普明王回去，約定三天時間，會準時回來。
• 普明王回國宣告，讓大家接受無遮法會；並集合太子及國家大臣，說明將國政交給太子，希望大臣，來擁護太子，施仁政，疼惜國民，照顧國民的生活。
• 在三天內，真的是回到靈鷲山，他的神色輕安自在，喜悅在他的臉上。

• 駁足王問他：「要赴死的人，為什麼這麼高興呢？」
• 普明王的心，就是感恩，第一感恩得遇聖法，聖法入心；再來感恩鬼王，願意給時間，讓他完成「信」。
• 鬼王問：「你內心所受的法是什麼？」
• 普明王就要求，九十九位小國王，都一起來聽，他分享：「已經覺悟的聖者，所說的教法，就是慈、悲、喜、捨。」
慈悲喜捨真實法性
• 無緣大慈，同體大悲。
• 慈悲用在行動中，做了之後，那分的輕安，那分的喜悅，捨掉了煩惱。
• 心中沒有煩惱、沒有掛礙，捨了一切的煩惱，內心不管什麼時候，都是法喜，法喜、禪悅，禪悅就是定，不受外面什麼樣的環境，來影響我的心。
• 生老病死苦，時間如果到了，不管是富有、貧窮，不管是位高、貧賤，總是歸盡。
• 成、住、壞、空，天地萬物沒有一樣是永住，這真實的法性，何必計較生命的長短。

• 駁足鬼王，也是大根機、大權示現的人，他聽了以後，證初地(菩薩地)，內心完全開解，滿心歡喜，解開心結，暴惡、抱怨、埋怨的心開解了。
• 他就提議，不殺千王，大家共成一家，等同是兄弟。
• 已向羅剎夜叉說過，千王來祭祀，要對他們有個交代；普明王獻智慧，千王每人一滴血，三根頭髮，合起來叫做髮膚血肉，來祭祀山神。

大愛啟悲智暴虐成菩提
• 以如是無私大愛
真誠信守化暴虐
正行殷實啟悲智
山神惡王成菩提
• 如是就是真實，如是大慈大悲，如是誠正信實，無私的心付出大愛，人人若能真誠信守，自然我們就能化解暴虐。
• 虔誠在內心，正行在外，正行殷實，言行合一，方能說服暴虐的心，調伏惡念無明。
同心同念同修行
• 千王共同一念心，法才是永恆，大家約好來靈鷲山修行。
• 千國的人民，有的人也願意，跟著國王來這個地方建舍。
• 不知道為什麼，有七次火災，都是一般的民眾的房子，唯獨王所蓋的房子，都沒有被燒到；大家就向王請求，凡是來到這裡建房子，都可以讓它叫做王舍。
• 千王共聚一處，深入佛法，那分心的平靜，階級都平等，所以應允。
• 「舍」字，是一王「赦」千王；千王允許所有的百姓，在這個地方建立家園。
王舍城的總號
• 舍衛國裡面的一個城；這個城在群山裡面，有五座山合起來，這座山還有一個通稱叫做耆闍崛，我們譯為靈鷲。
• 傳說中，印度的風俗，人若往生就是用天葬，往生了就抬到尸陀林，不管是日曬或雨淋，讓它很自然的腐化，很多鷲鳥都會，吃這些屍體的肉；因此叫做靈鷲山。
• 這個地方，也是佛講經最多的地方，所以這個地方稱為靈山。
• 靈山只在汝心頭，我們要好好去找出我們心中的靈山。

無量光曜心 文章總數 : 968 威望 : 72 注冊日期 : 2009-04-25

Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Origin of City of the House of Kings (1) (王舍城的由來一)
Date: April. 22, 2013

He is non-abiding; He abides in all places. The place He expounds the Dharma is a dignified place of spiritual practice. His eternal Dharma-body and wisdom-life are ever-abiding. The Buddha is at the Vulture Peak in our hearts.

We need to understand that in the state of Buddhahood, He is non-abiding yet He abides in all places. As I often say, [the natures of] the mind, Buddhas, sentient beings do not differ. The Buddha’s Tathagata-nature abides in all places. The place where He expounds Dharma is the most dignified training ground. Regardless of which sutra we read, it starts by describing the place where the Buddha taught as a dignified spiritual training ground. This is especially so for the one at Vulture Peak. A place where the Dharma is expounded is a place to develop and increase wisdom-life. So, “His eternal Dharma-body and wisdom-life is ever-abiding.” His Dharma-body is eternal; it does not arise nor cease. Therefore the Buddha’s wisdom-life is ever-abiding. As I often say to you all, we need to continuously develop our wisdom-Life. We all intrinsically have wisdom-life, but it is covered by ignorance. We learn Buddhism to eliminate ignorance. By eliminating a bit of ignorance, we develop a bit of wisdom-life. “Do not go far to seek Buddha at Vulture Peak; Vulture Peak is in our hearts”. This is a verse known to us all. Indeed, where is Vulture Peak? Is it in India? In the worldly sense, yes, it is in India. But, if we mindfully listen to the Buddha’s teaching of the Lotus Sutra and comprehend our intrinsic nature of True Suchness, then the state of our mind should be identical to that of Vulture Peak when the Dharma was taught. Between this state of mind and the actual place, as long as we mindfully comprehend it, the mindset and environment are one. So, everyone has this intrinsic Tathagata-nature. Our true Tathagata-nature is forever expounding Dharma to us. “Do not go far to seek Buddha at Vulture Peak”. Do not think about looking far away. “Vulture Peak is in your hearts”.

5. Fulfillment of Place
At Vulture Peak near City of the House of Kings is the place where the one who abides. The Buddha is the one who abides. The place to abide is the world of endurance.

Of the Six Fulfillments in expounding sutras, this is the fifth fulfillment, the place where the Buddha dwells and expounds Dharma. If not for this place, where would He have spoken? So such a place was necessary. Where was this place? At Vulture Peak near the city of Rajagrha. That was where the Lotus Sutra was expounded. That was the place where the Buddha taught. Now I will explain the name of this place, “Vulture Peak near the city of Rajagrha,” and where it came from.
When we drink water we think of the source, so when we hear of this place, we need to know the origins of its name.
I will first explain the word “abide”.To accommodate those in the human realm, the Buddha spoke of worldly matters.In the workings of these matters, there is always a subject and an object.
So when we speak of abiding, there are subjects who abide and objects in which they abide.
What are “the subjects who abide”?People who are able to abide.Who can abide in this place?
I can abide, you can abide, who else can abide?The subjects, those with the ability to do so, such as I, a person.I can abide here, therefore “I” am the subject.We, as subjects, also have the ability to be here.So at that moment, the Buddha’s travels brought him to this place.It happened to be very suitable, and the capabilities of sentient beings were ready.[So] the Buddha could abide in this place to expound sutras to many people.So He was the subject; one who could abide.Vulture Peak is “the object in which they abide”.The place where the Buddha expounded the Dharma is the object.There is a subject and an object.I am able to use this object.This object is used by me, the subject.In the workings of worldly Dharma, there is always a subject and an object.
The city of Rajajgrha is “the place where the one who abides abides”.The Buddha is the host of those who can abide.The Buddha was part of a large group of people, yet the group could not exist without Him.Therefore He was the host because He was expounding this sutra in this place.
Of this large group of people, only the one who was expounding the sutra could not be absent.
Therefore the Buddha was the one who abides.The place to abide was the world of endurance.
The world of endurance refers to the Saha World, so this world is one that needs to be endured.
Every Buddhist knows that the Saha World is also known as the world of endurance.Living in this world is painful; there tends to be more suffering than not.So this is a world of endurance, a place we must endure.The Buddha is the one who abides.The place to abide is the world of endurance.
Why is the city of Rajagrha also called City of the House of Kings?I can explain further.Rajagrha is the Sanskrit name.That is its name in India.Translated, it is City of the House of Kings.This place is also considered a kingdom, which has another name.The name of the kingdom is Magadha.
Translated into Chinese, it means “no harm”.This means that this country was very harmonious because there was no capital punishment here.The king was very benevolent and kind, and the people he led were very good and gentle.No one broke the law, so the kingdom did not execute any punishments.Therefore this country was a very and peaceful kingdom.So this city had another name, Magadna.
Magadna was the name of a king, which refers to the benevolence of the king and the goodness of the people.There was no killing or theft, or any illegal acts in this country.So this country was named after its king.This king later had a son.Because he had markings at the bottom of his foot, people called him “Marked-Foot”.

City of the House of the kings is called Rajagrha in Sansjrit City of the House of the Kings is also called the Kingdom of Magadha. Mahadha means “no harm.” There was no punishment or killing in this kingdom. The kingdom was also called Magadhi, or Devala, and was also the name of a king. This king was the father of Marked-Foot.

Crown Prince Marked-Foot was very intelligent.He only had one interest; he craved meat, and he had to eat a lot of meat each day. His temperament was violent and heated. But the king only had this one son, so when he was about to pass away, he abdicated his throne to the crown prince. The crown prince began to rule. He demanded that in every meat. So every day, the royal chef had to prepare many heaping dishes of meat for the king. Then suddenly there was a shortage of meat. The chef could not find any meat for the king. Then he saw a child who had passed away.
Since the child was already dead, he took the child’s flesh and prepared it in the kitchen as a dish. When King Marked-Foot tasted this meat, he found it very delicious. He had never had meat this wonderful. Therefor he issued this order to the kitchen staff: “From now on, you need to provide me with this kind of meat every day.”
The chef did not know how to handle this because this meat came from a human body. Now the kitchen [staff] had to go out every day and kidnap a child to prepare the king’s three daily meals, so that he would be very happy with his food. But this news started to make the people of the kingdom panic. No one knew whether their child would survive till the next day.Everyone parent was very worried. The king outraged the people in his country. This news then spread to neighboring kingdoms. In India in the past, many cities were considered kingdoms. All the neighboring kingdoms were also enraged. Not only were the citizens of his kingdom scared and enraged, the neighboring kingdoms were also angry. After a period of time passed, one thousand kings gathered and began to share the belief that this kingdom no longer deserved to exist. They decided to invade that kingdom. So many kingdoms laid siege to the king, and he fled to Vulture Peak.
At that time, in those mountains, there were many spirits and ghosts. This was because India had the custom that the decease could not be kept at home. Once a person passed away, they had to be carried outside and placed in an open space. So Vulture Peak was a place for what is called sky burial, it was a natural place for people to bring corpses.Because dead bodies were placed there, birds, especially vultures, would gather to eat the corpses. Everyone thought the place was filled with many ghosts and spirits. King Marked-foot was surrounded by his enemies. He managed to escape to this place but became trapped there.
There were many spirits haunting that mountain who wanted to capture and eat him. So this king negotiated with these mountain spirits, “If you are willing to spare my life, then I will collaborate with you all to capture these thousand kings for you.”
Because of their agreement, these mountain spirits supported King Marked-Foot as their leader. Consequently, he started the hunt. When he came across a king, he had these spirits capture him and bring him to the mountain. He decided to capture 1000 kings before sacrificing them all to the mountain spirits at once.
Before long they already captured 999 kings and gathered them in one place. They were one short. Eventually he found one more king. This king was very unusual [because] when he was captured, he would not stop crying. So King Marked-Foot asked him, “There are so many other captured kings here, why are you the one crying for being here? You truly lack courage.”He said, “I am not crying for myself. Indeed, there are many people here. With my capture, there are finally 1000 kings, so they will all be killed shortly. Other than this, there is still one very important thing I need to take care of. If you can give me three days to resolve this matter, I will certainly come back. I promise.”
King Marked-Foot wondered, “How could anything be more important than your own life?”
He thought to himself, “Even if you don’t come back after three days, I have ways to re-capture you.” So, they made an arrangement and this thousandth king was indeed released. The story that follows is truly touching. The name of the city, City of the House of kings, and how it was established is based on this thousand king.
Everyone, time passes so quickly. This is the way things are. We should know that all things can be fulfilled when caused and conditions come together. If these causes and conditions did not converge, this place would not have come into being. If this place did not exist, the Buddha would not have taught Dharma there, “He is non-abiding; He abides in all places.” This depends on causes and conditions and their convergence.
So, where is the Buddha? He is forever in our hearts. Regardless of how the story goes or how the place He expounded Dharma came to be, the most important thing is that our heart is the place where the Buddha will always expound the Dharma. Therefore, this wondrous, undefiled lotus in every person’s heart is the purest and most dignified place of practice. We need to look for Dharma deep within our minds. So, please always be mindful.

(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)