上人說起一則佛典故事。佛陀曾經為了教育羅侯羅尊者，就在羅侯羅服侍洗腳之後，指著水問他：「羅侯羅！這盆裡的水可以喝嗎？」羅侯羅回答，洗過腳的水很髒，當然不能喝。

This is a story told by Dharma Master Cheng Yen from Buddhist scriptures, when Buddha wanted to teach one of his disciples, Rahula, a lesson.  Rahula liked to tell white lies and tease people.  After Rahula had washed Buddha's feet, he pointed to the basin and asked Rahula: Is this water drinkable?  Rahula replied that it's not, being dirty after washing Buddha's feet.

佛陀教誨經常撒小謊、惡作劇的羅侯羅：「你既已出家，卻不精進於道、不清淨身心、不守口慎言，如同這盆水，本質清淨卻有垢穢。」接著佛陀要羅侯羅將水倒掉，問道：「是否能拿這個空盆盛飯來吃呢？」羅侯羅回答：「不可以的，洗手足的盆還殘留垢穢，不能盛裝食物。」佛陀教誨：「你就和這個盆一樣，雖然做了沙門，不修戒定慧、不淨身口意，大道之糧怎麼能裝入心中？」
The Buddha said to Rahula:  "Though you have been ordained a monk, you are lacking in cultivation, having an unclean body and mind and vulgar in speech.  You are just like the water which was originally pure but have been tainted."  Buddha told Rahula to pour out the water then asked him: "Can this basin be used for storing rice for eating?  Rahula replied:  "No Sir, this basin is unclean after being used to wash the hands and feet; therefore, cannot be used to serve food."  Buddha then used this analogy to explain to Rahula: "You are like this basin.  You have been ordained to be a part of the Sangha; yet you neither practice the precepts nor follow the Vinaya, nor purify you speech, mind and body.  How can the food of the Dharma be absorbed by your mind?"   

佛陀用腳把盆子輕輕一踢，盆就滾轉了起來，羅侯羅面露懼色，佛陀問：「你怕盆子壞了嗎？」羅侯羅回答：「不是的佛陀！盆是粗鄙用物，壞了也不要緊。」佛陀教誨：「羅侯羅！你不珍惜此盆，正如同大家也不願愛護你一樣。既出家做沙門，卻不重威儀、戲弄妄言，讓人不愛護你、不珍惜你。」
The Buddha lightly kicked the basin around, giving Rahula a bit of a jolt. The Buddha then asked Rahula:  "Do you fear that this basin may get broken?"   Rahula replied:  "No Sir, this basin is meant for rough use, it does not matter if it gets broken."  Buddha replies:  "Just as you don't value this basin, you are similarly being condescended upon due to your lack of dignity and decorum despite being a member of the Sangha; thus people neither love nor respect you." 

尊者聽了佛陀的教誡，一改往日調皮的習氣，嚴持戒律，精進修道，每日勤於密行，終於成為十大弟子中的密行第一。
After listening to Buddha's advice, the venerable monk decided to reform his old mischievous ways of the past.  He strictly abided by the discipline of the precepts by diligently cultivating himself with daily esoteric practices to finally become foremost among Buddha's Ten Eminent Disciples.

上人以此則故事告訴大家，人人都可以接受法，但若心不清淨，聽法之後只會覺得：「有道理！」卻不受用，唯有真正徹底懺悔，才能有清淨心接受清淨法，即使只有一點一滴，聽入心，說到也可以做到，就可以滋潤心田。
Master used this story as a lesson that everyone can receive the Dharma; but if one's heart and mind are defiled, listening to it, one may say:  "It is reasonable!"﹐despite the Dharma not being put into practice.   If one is not sincerely contrite, however, he would not be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the Dharma.  With a pure heart and mind, even if one receives but a tiny drop of Dharma's purity, putting it into practice, his whole being would be fully nourished.

上人引述《無量義經》「微渧先墮，以淹欲塵」，指出心地無明揚沙塵，如大地之沙塵暴，昏天蓋日黯淡無光，需要以「誠正信實」重新建設，更需如露法水加以滋潤，成長慧命；以誠正信實常護心地，使之維持如菩薩清涼地，就不會輕易颳起心靈沙塵暴。

Master quotes from the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings: "Like the gently falling dew that blankets the dust of desire, it is prevented from being agitated."  She points out that delusions are dust storms of the mind that blanket the earth and blacken the skies.  It is necessary that we reform our minds and instill into it virtues of sincerity, integrity, faith, and honesty.  The Dharma is likened to the dew that nourishes the mind and propagates wisdom.  When the mind is protected by these four virtues, the calm and serene state of the Bodhisattva may be achieved and the dust storms of the mind will be settled.

 

Translated by Wenley Ho  Edited by Roger Yu, Australia