蛇来听法

　　A Snake Comes to Hear the Dharma

　　佛法传到西方，它亦不惮远渡重洋，来美国护法。

　　Now that the Buddhadharma has come to the West,

　　a snake has also crossed the vast ocean and come to America to protect the Dharma.

　　(编按：一九八二年六月二十日星期日晚，万佛圣城法筵正盛，四众弟子绕着万佛殿，齐念「南无阿弥陀佛」。回殿时，赫然发现一条青色花斑小蛇，伏在大殿前门侧，蛇长约三、四尺，形状细长。大众中有人睹之，即被吓得却步不前。

　　[Editor”s Note: On the evening of Sunday, June 20, 1982, the fourfold assembly of disciples was holding a Dharma celebration at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Everyone was circumambulating the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, reciting in unison, “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” As people were returning to the hall, they suddenly noticed a mottled green snake lying to the side of the front door. The snake was three or four feet long and very thin. Upon seeing it, some of the people in the assembly froze in fear, unable to take a step forward.

　　当时纠察建议把蛇拿走，但上人莞尔微笑说：「不必。所有众生皆有佛性，此蛇乃来亲近三宝听法，不应驱之。」

　　The monk who was the prefect at the time suggested that the snake be removed, but the Venerable Master smiled and said, “It not necessary. All living beings have the Buddha-nature. This snake has come to draw near the Triple Jewel and listen to the Dharma, so it should not be driven away.”

　　奇怪的是，此蛇不同于普通的蛇，它伸直躺在地上，虽然有近百人前后来往，它却毫无怯意，甚为柔顺驯服。上人登法座后，说：「告诉它可以进来听法。」该蛇立刻听招呼，随即从前门爬行到殿内，未曾惊怖任何人。再从大殿左侧爬至右侧，做绕佛一圈状，然后静静地伏在法座前面，俨如跪在佛前，聆听说法。)

　　Strangely enough, this was no ordinary snake. It stretched out on the ground, and although there were nearly a hundred people coming and going on all sides, it didn”t show the slightest sign of fear. Rather, it was tame and docile. The Venerable Master ascended to the Dharma-seat, and said, “Tell it to come in and listen to the Dharma.” The snake immediately responded by slithering into the hall from the front door without frightening anyone. Then it slithered from the left side of the hall to the right side, as if circumambulating the Buddha once. Finally, it settled down in front of the Dharma-seat, as if kneeling before the Buddhas with quiet dignity in order to listen attentively to the Dharma. In response to the snake”s appearance, the Master spoke as follows:]

　　「一切众生皆有佛性，皆堪作佛。」这是佛亲口告诉我们的，但因众生妄想执着，故不能证得如来的智慧德相。从这句「一切众生皆有佛性」看来，就应该不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不饮酒，持这五戒。若杀众生，则与杀十方诸佛一样。盖一切众生乃是诸佛所示现，但因「一念不觉生三细」(即业相、现相、转相)，便愈跑愈远，所以沉沦苦海，永失真道。这种道理是很浅显的，可惜被人忽略。

　　All living beings have the Buddha-nature and can become Buddhas. This is what the Buddha personally tells us, but because we have discursive thoughts and attachments, we cannot certify to the Buddha”s wisdom and virtue. In view of the fact that all living beings have the Buddha-nature, we should refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants, and we should uphold the five precepts. If we kill living beings, it”s the same as killing the Buddhas of the ten directions. All living beings are manifestations of the Buddhas; however, since a single unenlightened thought produces the three subtle attributes (the attribute of karma, the attribute of manifestation, and the attribute of turning), the more we run, the farther off we stray, and so we sink and drown in the sea of suffering, losing sight of the truth forever. This is a very simple principle, but unfortunately people have overlooked it.

　　修道人又应作如是观想：「一切众生皆是我过去生中父母，未来诸佛。」既是过去生中父母，就应想法子孝顺他们，超荐他们，令他们离苦得乐，了生脱死，不再流转于轮回之中。既然是未来诸佛，在他们还未成佛之前，就应当尊重恭敬他们，如面对十方三世诸佛无异。若能常做如是观想，就不会对任何众生有不恭敬、不礼貌，或恼害众生。

　　Cultivators of the Way should contemplate in this way: “All living beings have been my parents in former lives, and they will become Buddhas in the future. Since they have been my past parents, I should find ways to be filial to them, save them, and enable them to leave suffering, attain bliss, and end birth and death. Since they will become Buddhas in the future, I should honor and respect them just as I would the Bud…

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