Chapter 5 Section 4 Monk

(1) What you saw at the Four Gates When Prince Siddhartha was seventeen years old, King Jingfan chose for him a woman with both virtue and appearance, named Yasodhara, to marry him, but the prince practiced precepts, meditation and wisdom for many lifetimes. The three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance are eliminated, so although he is in the dust and toil, his heart is always pure and untainted, just like the lotus flower, born in the mud and not polluted.When he was nineteen years old, Prince Siddhartha wanted to play in the garden outside because he had lived in the deep palace for a long time.The father sent many ministers and court ladies to accompany the prince out of the garden.In addition, he ordered a minister with great wisdom to follow the prince and accompany him personally so that the consultant could answer.The prince first came to the East Gate Garden. He happened to be on the way and saw an old man.Pale and wrinkled, skinny, hunchbacked, bent over, holding a walking stick in his hand, walking extremely difficult, it is really admirable.The prince asked, who is this?The courtier replied: "Prince, this is an old man."At that time, the prince felt depressed when he touched the scenery.He felt that everyone in the world has old suffering, and what can be done to solve it!After much deliberation, he couldn't think of a solution to his old suffering, so he stopped playing and went back to the palace.

Once upon a time, there was a Zen master Dongshan Ryosuke. He wrote a very meaningful poem. He said: "Don't wait until you are old to learn Taoism. Most of the solitary graves are young people. This body is not saved for this life, but for He Sheng. .” We must keep in mind this poem by Zen Master Ryosuke.Make up your mind, work diligently and bravely to build a solemn land, benefit and benefit the sentient Mahayana Bodhisattvas and make vows, so as to achieve the goal of getting rid of suffering and obtaining happiness. Once upon a time, there was an old monk who was meditating and practicing meditation when he suddenly saw a man running around happily in the courtyard. Judging by his appearance, he was very happy and dancing around.The Zen master felt very strange that I was the only one in that hut, clean and without a companion.Where did this man come from?I asked suspiciously, who are you?He replied: "I am the king of ghosts." The Zen master asked again, "How many years have you been the king of ghosts?" The ghost king replied with a poem: "Eight hundred years from ancient times to the present." The Zen master asked again: "Is it not true that you have been the king of ghosts?" Do you feel pain?" The answer said: "There is no trouble or worry." The Zen master said: "Why don't you go to the world to be reborn as a human being? Wouldn't it be better to practice and learn the Tao?" The ghost king replied with a sigh: " The master advised me to reincarnate, I am afraid that I will not practice in the next life." The king of ghosts said, I am still a ghost, and I know how to practice hard. All kinds of situations are confusing, obscuring nature and heaven, being deluded again and again, creating karma with delusion, feeling evil results based on evil causes, and falling into hell, hungry ghosts, and animals to suffer in three ways. In this way, I am afraid that even the ghost king will not be able to do it.A few words from this ghost king will be of great inspiration and encouragement to those of us who practice and study Buddhism.In a word, his main purpose is "for fear that he will not cultivate in the next life".It is of great benefit for us to keep in mind the two words that Zen Master Liang Jie said, "This body should not be saved for this life, but for another life."

A few days later, Prince Siddhartha asked to go out again for the second time, and when he arrived at the south gate, he met another patient who was sleeping by the roadside, moaning and crying over and over again, fascinated, in great pain, and in a very pitiful shape. .The prince asked again: Who is this?Answer: This is a patient.The prince was terrified to see the pain of the patient.Our body is made up of the four elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. If the four elements are out of balance, then there will be many diseases. Not only serious diseases are suffering, but minor diseases such as headaches and toothaches are also painful.Who in the world can not get sick?After much deliberation, he couldn't think of a solution to his illness and suffering. He was very troubled and didn't want to go sightseeing, so he went back to the palace.The ancients said: "When you are sick, you will know that the body is suffering, and when you are healthy, you will be deluded by the five desires." These two sentences are also very reasonable.

The third time the prince asked his father to go out to play, and accompanied by ministers and many maids of honor, he arrived at Ximen.I happened to see a group of people carrying a dead body, with pus and blood overflowing, and the stench was unpleasant.The accompanying relatives wept bitterly, which made the witnesses feel sad.Human death is the moment when the four elements are separated, and life and death are at the crossroads.Just like the live cow peeled off its skin, and just like the live turtle took off its hard shell.How painful and tragic is this scene?Prince Siddhartha asked again, who is this?The answer is, this is a dead person.The prince thought about it for a while, life is alive, life is bound to die, no matter who it is, no one can escape the last death.

Finally, for the fourth time, when the prince traveled to the north gate, suddenly a dignified and dignified Samana came across.Wearing cassock, holding a bowl in one hand and a tin staff in the other, he walked over peacefully.When Prince Siddhartha saw him, he was overjoyed, so he clasped his hands respectfully to the monk and asked, "Who are you?"Answer: I am a monk.The prince asked again, what does a bhikkhu do?Answer: A bhikkhu is a monk who leaves home to practice and seek the Tao.When we become a monk and practice the Tao wholeheartedly, we can solve the four greatest sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death for ourselves and all sentient beings.After hearing this, the prince thought to himself: I have always wanted to solve the fundamental pain of birth, old age, sickness and death of all sentient beings. He said it very well.The prince was about to ask him for further advice carefully, but in an instant, when he looked up, the monk suddenly disappeared.At this time, the prince felt very sad and happy in his heart.The sad thing is that I want to ask about the way of cultivating the Tao again, but the bhikkhu has disappeared.The joy is to solve people's old illnesses and death sufferings. With a role model, the prince returned to the palace very happily.According to the scriptures, when the prince was traveling through the four gates, the old, sick, dying, suffering, and a bhikkhu who left home to practice the Tao were all the scenes of the pure dwelling gods. Yes, as a helping cause.

(2) The Disaster of Yasodhara One day Prince Siddhartha went to the palace of King Suddhodana to ask his father to allow him to become a monk and practice Taoism.Upon hearing these words, King Jingfan burst into tears.The prince's wife, Yasodhara, was also there. King Jingfan took the prince's hand with a heavy heart and said, "Siddhartha! If you can have a son, I agree with you to become a monk." Pointing to Yasodhara's abdomen with his hand, he said, "Father, she is pregnant." At this time, Yasodhara was taken aback and conceived.This is the story of finger pulp becoming pregnant.It also shows that the inconceivable supernatural power of Shakyamuni Buddha is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.After six years, a son was born, named Rahula.How did Rahula live in the mother's womb for six years?This was caused by the cause and effect of his previous life, and he suffered it on his own.Six years after Prince Siddhartha became a monk, Yasodhara gave birth to a son. There were many discussions in various interpretations. They mistakenly believed that Yasodhara did not abide by the family rules and should be executed, but Yasodhara knew in his heart that this was the prince. It's not my fault that the fingertips became pregnant.This kind of grievance that has been buried forever, when will it be cleared up, is really a dumb person who eats coptis, can't say anything, and feels extremely painful in his heart. After careful thinking, he made up his mind and asked his father to burn a pot for her. In the fire pit, Yasodhara held Rahula in his arms, and right in front of the blazing fire pit, he swore to the sky: "If my son Rahula is really conceived by Prince Siddhartha, my mother and son will jump into the fire pit and be safe. If this is not the case, my mother and son will be burned to death immediately." After taking the oath, he jumped into the fire pit heroically, and at this critical moment, a red lotus blossom suddenly emerged from the blazing flames to support Jesus. Sudra and Rahula.The mother and son are both safe and sound.Seeing this scene, the Sakyamuni caste sighed that it was rare.The slanderous words disappeared immediately, and the sea was calm. Everyone praised Yasodhara as a dignified, virtuous, and heroine.Up to now, in the Buddhist chanting, there are still two sentences: "In the past, Jesus lost, and it is difficult to eliminate disasters".

(3) Immortals ask to see Seven days before the prince became a monk, a celestial being came to the palace to ask to see King Jingfan.He said: "According to my observations of astronomy, within seven days, if Prince Siddhartha does not go out to practice the Tao, he will become the wheel-turning holy king, also known as the golden wheel king. He has seven treasures with him and can rule the world for fourteen days." .” What are the seven treasures of the wheel-turning sage king? ① Jinlunbao.Sitting on the golden wheel treasure, the great king can travel around the east, south, west, north, and four worlds in one day and one night.That is Dongshengshenzhou, Nanzhanbuzhou, Xiniuhezhou, and Beijuluzhou.These four continents, one four-day world, are the area ruled by the wheel-turning sage king.

② female treasure.That is, the first wife of the wheel-turning sage king, named Jingmiaode, who was able to give birth to a thousand sons. ③ horse treasure.King Jinlun has a horse named Yong Gaifeng, which can travel thousands of miles a day. ④ Elephant treasure.The great king sat on the white elephant king, at ease and unhindered, as secure as Mount Tai. ⑤ The main hidden treasure.It is the Minister of Finance, gold and silver treasures, everything is available. ⑥ The main soldier god treasure.He is the guard minister of Jinlun King, who travels around the world and is invincible.

⑦ wishful treasure.That is the Mani Orb.Can give birth to all treasures.Listen to your majesty's wide-ranging alms, and help all living beings, respond to every request, and everyone is satisfied.When the Golden Wheel King ascended the throne, these seven treasures naturally flew from the void for use.What is the Golden Wheel King?There are four different kinds of wheel kings in the world.The first is the Iron Wheel King, who can rule the world.The second is the Copper Wheel King.He can rule the world.The third is the Yinlun King, who can rule the Three Kingdoms.The fourth is the Golden Wheel King, who can rule the four worlds.After listening to the words of the immortal, the king of Jingfan hoped that the prince could become the holy king of wheel turning.I don't want him to become a monk.Within seven days, specially dispatched courtiers and maids of honor to take turns to guard the prince so that the prince would not leave the palace.

(4) Over the city in the middle of the night In the middle of the night on the eighth day of February, when the court ladies were sleeping soundly, the prince suddenly heard someone calling the prince's name in the air, saying: "Siddhartha! Siddhartha! Have you forgotten your long-cherished wish?" The prince said: "Who are you?" "Answer: "I am a heavenly man living in Jingju." The prince said: "I have not forgotten my long-cherished wish, because I am in the deep palace, and my father and king are closely guarded, so there is no way to get out of the palace." The heavenly man said: "You are really Do you want to become a monk and practice? Now is the time." The prince was very happy when he heard this, so he called the groom Chennai, drove the horse Jianzhi, and the four heavenly kings (the east is the king of the country, the south is the king of growth, and the west is the king of growth) The Heavenly King Guangmu, and the Heavenly King Duowen in the north) holding four horseshoes, under the protection of the divine power of the Jingju Heavenly Man, flew out of the palace in the middle of the night.After exiting the north gate, looking back at the majestic palace city, he swore: "If I can't attain enlightenment and save all living beings from the sea of ​​life and death, I vow never to return to Kapila City."

(5) Broken Hair in the Deep Mountains After the prince arrived at the snow mountain, he achieved his goal of becoming a monk.Thinking back to the time when I traveled to the four gates, I met the dignified bhikkhu who had shaved his beard and hair, and he shaved off the blue hair on his head with the knife he wore with him.He said: "May I and all sentient beings be cut off from all troubles, as well as the karma of previous lives." He threw the shaved hair into the air. Take it to the Taoli Heavenly Palace to set up a pagoda to make offerings to. This is the second pagoda of the four pagodas in the Tiangong Temple, called the Fa Pagoda.Beforehand, the prince took off the jewel in his hair to give back to his father, took off the necklace on his body to give back to his aunt, and at the same time took off the gorgeous clothes on his body and gave it to Yasodhara as a souvenir.The prince also asked Channa to bring a message and said to his father: "There is no fixed time for parting between life and death in this world. I am now a monk to seek the way of liberation for all living beings." It must be separated, I have eliminated this kind of distress now, I hope you will not be greedy, sad and sorrowful." Siddhartha's words are really eloquent, and every sentence is good, we just need to keep it in our hearts and follow the teachings. It will definitely eliminate troubles and bring peace of mind and body. "Parents are deeply affectionate, and husband and wife are separated when they are deeply affectionate. Human affection is like birds staying in the same forest, and when the end comes, they fly separately." This is an absolutely true saying. Prince Siddhartha saw a hunter wearing a cassock hunting in the snow-capped mountains. When the prince saw the cassock, he was very happy and took off his precious clothes and exchanged them with the hunter.After the prince put on the cassock, his appearance changed immediately, and he looked like a dignified, serious and peaceful monk.It is necessary to explain here, why does this hunter wear cassocks and go hunting in the deep mountains?Because in the Indian forests, there are many lions and beasts. When they see them wearing cassocks, they think they must be monks who practice compassion and Taoism. They will not kill them, so there is no need to run away from them.The cunning hunter used this cassock to disguise himself and cover up his true colors. In this way, lions and beasts fell for him and countless people were killed. (6) Five years of visiting and six years of penance After the prince put on the cassock, he walked around peacefully and slowly to find teachers and visit Taoism.First of all, I went to Baqu Immortal Ascetic Forest and saw many people practicing asceticism, some were wearing grass clothes, some were wearing bark, some were lying in the mud, and some were lying on thorns, so I asked: " What are you doing doing these things?" Baqu Immortal replied: "I want to ascend to heaven." The prince said: "Although ascending to heaven is a joy, and the blessings of heaven are exhausted, you still have to fall." He asked and answered with all the immortals for a long time, and found that they practiced asceticism , is not a way to get rid of it at all, stay for one night, even if you quit.Continue to move forward and go to the foot of Milou Mountain to visit the two famous immortals Alan Jialan and Yutou Lanfu at that time. After they practiced the Four Zen and Four Empty Meditations successfully, they can only be born in the sky to enjoy the blessings of heaven.Although the lifespan of celestial beings is much longer than that of our human beings, it is the time when the blessings of heaven are exhausted.Still have to fall down, follow the karma I have done in the past, and feel the result of suffering.Just like in the ancient times, there was an immortal named Lanfu with a gloomy head. They practiced the highest meditation of non-perception and non-perception in the world. Want to live in heaven.The lifespan is eighty thousand kalpas.When the blessings in heaven are exhausted, they still fall into the world as a fox in the animal realm and an otter in the sea, suffering all kinds of troubles.Why did this fairy, after ascending to heaven, enjoy all the blessings of heaven, and receive the evil retribution of foxes and otters?Because this immortal, when he was practicing in the past, in order to get bored and calm down, he went to practice in the mountains.The mountain is full of green trees, and there are many birds perched on the branches of the trees, or flying in the air, chirping.He often heard birds chirping, and when he felt bored, he felt a hatred in his heart, and made an evil wish: "It is best to have a flying fox, that is, a flying fox, to eat all these birds, so as not to hinder my study. The fairy was disturbed by the sound of birds, so he ran to the seaside to meditate and meditate. Unfortunately, there were many fish swimming in the water by the sea, jumping and having fun, which hindered his hard work. , I was troubled, and made another evil oath, saying: "It is best to have an otter who eats up all these fishes." Yutou Lanfu, the great immortal, made a sinful vow when he practiced hard, and sincerity will lead to spirit.It is better to move thousands of rivers than to move the hearts of Taoists.Because Taoism has a human heart, words are as heavy as a mountain, and he responds to his feelings, so when his blessings are exhausted, even after many kalpas, he still has to rely on cause and effect, and degenerates into the evil retribution of foxes and otters. "Ode to the Diamond Sutra" says: "After 80,000 kalpas, you will eventually fall into nothingness." It shows that worldly meditation is not the way to ultimate liberation. Prince Siddhartha, after five years of visits, seeking teachers and Taoism, failed to find the truth of life in the universe.Finally, on the west bank of the Nilian River, in the ascetic forest outside the village of Uloupintuo, he sat quietly and meditated.After observing the foundation and opportunity of sentient beings, it takes six years to mature and be saved.Therefore, I am here to practice diligently and practice meditation.Carry out the Tao with precision, and keep the mind and body motionless.Use your own wisdom to illuminate the source of your heart.In addition to eating a grain of hemp and a grain of wheat to satisfy our hunger every day, the main thing is to eat Zen bliss, so we can be filled with Dharma joy.He spent six long years in this way. During this time, there were still some sparrows making a nest on top of his head.There are many reed grass and tree vines wrapped around his legs.This is the historical story of "five years of visits, six years of asceticism, the roof of the nest, and the reed grass on the knees" recorded in the Buddhist scriptures. Besides, Channa, the groom, was entrusted by the prince to bring the prince’s jewelry, clothes and other things back to the palace, and told the King Jingfan and Yasodhara the message of the prince’s instructions.After hearing this, they were very sad.King Jingfan said sadly at that time: "The words of Immortal Ashituo are correct." But he was not reconciled to the prince's renunciation, so he immediately sent five ministers from his family, including Chen Chenru, Ada, Badi, and Shili. Kassapa and Mahanan.He rushed to the snow mountain to find the prince.King Jingfan said to them: "If the crown prince can't be found, the five of you don't come back to see me." Therefore, the five ministers tried their best to search all over the world, and finally found in the ascetic forest of Bajia Immortal. Found the prince.But Prince Siddhartha was determined to become a monk and practice Taoism, and made a vow: "If you don't become a Buddha, you will not return to your home country."