南朝梁武帝，姓蕭名衍，字叔達。蘭陵人。篡齊為梁，建都於建康，在位四十八年，勤政愛民，提倡學術，國勢大盛。當受道法，後信佛教，十分虔誠，捨身同泰寺三次。為超荐亡后都氏而作〈梁皇寶懺〉，流傳
至今。
達摩祖師東來，帝問曰：「朕即位以來
，造寺寫經度僧，不可勝計，有何功德？」祖曰：「並無功德。」帝不悅。祖北去少林寺，面壁九年，傳法與二祖慧可大師，創立禪宗。
一日，帝問誌公國師：「朕壽有幾何？ 」公曰：「吾塔何時倒塌，帝何時往生。」初造木塔，後改建石塔。拆塔之日，侯景反叛，囚帝於臺城，無食而崩，此是前因後果之定業。
註解：
梁武帝姓蕭名衍，字叔達。據說虛雲老和尚的先人就是梁武帝。虛雲老和尚是不是梁武帝的後人，就不管它了。這位皇帝改齊為梁，治國有方，勤於政事，注重民生，又提倡所有的學術。因為他提倡學術，所以國家一天比一天興盛起來。他是真正想把國家治好了，所以他勤政愛民。
起初他信道教，以後又改信佛教。為什
麼他信道教？因為他在因地的時候是個婆羅門教徒，以後改修行佛法。因為他曾修苦行，即修褔修慧；福得到一點，慧卻修得不夠，所以先信道教，以後再信佛教。信道教的時後他沒有什麼建設；但自改信
佛教以後〔弟子周果立：就十分虔誠，曾經三次到(南京)同泰寺(今之雞鳴寺)捨身修行。他的皇后郗氏好妒嫉，死後墮入畜生道化為一條巨蟒。他為超度郗皇后所作的〈梁皇寶懺〉一直流傳到今天。〕他又建了很多寺廟，也印了很多經典，度了很多僧人，來弘揚佛法。這時他自以為功德很大也就驕傲起來。看見菩提達摩祖師由印度來，想要炫示自己的功德就問達摩祖師：「我作皇帝以來建了很多寺廟，
印了很多經典，又度了很多僧人出家，我的功德如何？」他的意思是想表示他有功德，讓達摩祖師讚歎他。可是達摩祖師不會給人戴高帽子，就直話直說：「你這個
樣子並沒有功德。」
從來說是忠言逆耳，所以梁武帝聽見人家說真話，就不太高興。話不投機半句多，達摩祖師就一葦渡江到河南嵩山，在少林寺的石洞面壁九年。以後傳法給二祖慧可大師，繼續禪宗的命脈。有一天，梁武帝問寶誌禪師說：「我的壽命還有多少
？」誌公禪師說：「等我圓寂之後你會造 個塔。這個塔什麼時候坍塌損壞你的壽命
就到了，就應該往生了。」誌公禪師的塔本來是木頭造的，現在武帝聽了這個預言後就把它再用石頭造一個更堅固的塔。心想大概永遠不會倒了；既永遠不會倒，他就能永遠活著了。想不到拆木塔造石塔的時候，侯景造反把他抓住關在臺城，被餓死了。這是為什麼呢？他貴為天子，富有四海，宗廟饗之，子孫保之，怎還會餓死呢？這是他所預料不及的。
據傳說梁武帝在困地修道的時候，有一隻很調皮，很通人性的猴子，在他不入定的時候牠不麻煩他，等他剛剛一入定，
猴子就擾亂他不能入定。這隻猴子大概是怕他睡著了不念經，所以給他作一個巡香的人；怕他睡著不修行就把他弄醒
。他要入定，使他不能入定。這位老修行心裡很不高興，就把這猴子關在旁邊一個洞中，想牠一時不能再麻煩他。想不到這回他一入定很多天，等他出定想起猴子在洞裡，打開石洞一看猴子已餓死在內。
這隻猴子死時憎恨心很重地說：「你這個老修行這麼狠！心裏這麼毒把我餓死。我將來一定要報這個仇！」
這位老修行有些功夫，圓寂之後沒有修成，來生就作了皇帝一一梁武帝。蕭衍作了皇帝，怎麼樣也想不到有一個人來造反。此人侯景，來報他餓死猴子的仇恨，所以把他關到臺城餓死。這是因果循環，報應不錯絲毫。這種事情都是陰錯陽差，不期然而然；想不到的事情。其實這就是給我們說經典。這是一部活經，令世人看見這種境界而能反省
，就諸惡不做，眾善奉行了。
待續
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Text:
Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty of the South, who
had the last name Xiao, first name Yan, and style name Shuda,
changed the name of the Qi Dynasty to Liang and established
his capital at Jiankang. During his 48-year reign, he
governed with diligence, had great love for his people, and
promoted academic learning. Thus his country became strong
and prosperous. Initially a Taoist, Emperor Liang later
became a very devout Buddhist. He went to Tongtai Temple
three times requesting to give himself up to Buddhism. He
also compiled the "Jeweled Repentance of the Emperor of
Liang" to take across the deceased Empress Xi. This
repentance text has been passed down to the present time.
When Patriarch Bodhidharma traveled east to
China, the emperor asked him, "Since I became the Emperor, I
have built many temples, printed many Sutras, and allowed
countless people to enter the Sangha. What merit and virtue
have I gained?" The Patriarch said, "There was actually no
merit and virtue." The emperor was displeased. The Patriarch
then traveled north to Shaolin Monastery. After meditating
there facing a stone wall for nine years, he transmitted the
Dharma to the Second Patriarch, Great Master Huike, and
established the Chan School.
One day the emperor asked the National Master,
Venerable Zhi, "How long will I live?" Venerable Zhi said,
"When the stupa (pagoda) you are building for me collapses,
you will die." Originally the emperor was building the stupa
out of wood, but then he decided to build a stone stupa. As
the wooden stupa was being dismantled, Hou Jing led a revolt
and imprisoned the emperor in the palace prison, where he
starved to death. This was the inevitable consequence of the
emperor's past karma.
Commentary:
Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty had the surname Xiao, the
first name Van, and the style name Shuda. It is said that
the Venerable Master Hsu Yun was Emperor Wu's descendant,
and that the emperor was an ancestor of his. It is not
important to know whether this is true or not. Emperor Wu
renamed Qi dynasty the Liang dynasty. He was a very skilled
ruler who governed with diligence and cared for his people.
He promoted the pursuit of scholarly learning. Thus his
country became more and more prosperous day after day.
Sincerely hoping the best for his country, the emperor loved
his people and worked diligently for them.
Initially, Emperor Wu was a Taoist. Later, however, he was
converted to Buddhism. Why did he start out being a Taoist?
Because in his past life, he was first a Brahman and later
cultivated the Buddhadharma. Having cultivated ascetic
practices to develop both blessings and wisdom, he attained
some blessings, but did not acquire sufficient wisdom.
Therefore, Emperor Wu was first a Taoist, and then a
Buddhist. When he was a Taoist, he did not build temples.
But after he became a Buddhist, [Guo Li Zhou: he was very
devout. He went to Tongtai Monastery (in Nanjing, now called
Jiming Monastery) three times] to commit himself to
cultivation. His queen, Empress Xi, was a very jealous
person, and therefore she fell to the animal realm and
became a giant python after death. In order to take across
the deceased Empress Xi, the emperor compiled the "Jeweled
Repentance of the Emperor of Liang," which has been passed
down to the present. Having built many temples, printed many
Sutras, and allowed many people to enter the Sangha in his
support of Buddhism, Emperor Wu thought that he had great
merit and virtue, and he became very arrogant. When he saw
Patriarch Bodhidharma arriving from India, he wanted to show
off his merit and virtue and get the Patriarch to praise
him. Thus he asked the Patriarch, "Ever since I became the
Emperor, I have built many temples, printed many Sutras, and
given sanction to many people to join the Sangha. What merit
and I virtue have I gained?" The emperor wanted the
Patriarch to praise his merit and virtue, but Bodhidharma
did not give him a "high hat" to wear. Instead, he said
bluntly, "There was actually no merit and virtue."
Sincere words are displeasing to the ear. When Emperor Wu
heard those honest words, he was displeased. Seeing that the
emperor could not accept his words, Patriarch Bodhidharma
traveled across the river and arrived at Mount Gao in Henan
province. He meditated in a cave at Shaolin Monastery for
nine years. Afterwards, he transmitted the Dharma to the
Second Patriarch Huike and continued the lineage of the Chan
School.
One day, Emperor Wu asked Chan Master Zhi, "How much longer
will I live?" Chan Master Zhi said, "After I complete
perfect stillness, you will build a stupa for me. When this
stupa collapses, your life will end. You will die then."
Originally the emperor had ordered Master Zhi's stupa to be
constructed out of wood. But after he heard that prediction,
he decided to build a more solid stupa out of stone. He
thought that a stone stupa would never topple, and so he
would live forever. When he was taking down the wooden stupa
to start building the stone one, the official Hou Jing
rebelled against him and had him imprisoned in the palace
prison. The emperor later died of starvation. How could all
of this have happened? The emperor was the "Son of Heaven";
he enjoyed the greatest wealth and honor that extended even
to his after life. How could he have died of starvation? It
was beyond his imagination.
It is said that when Emperor Wu was cultivating on the
causal ground, there was a mischievous monkey who had a good
understanding of human beings. When this cultivator was not
in samadhi, the monkey would not bother him. But when he was
about to enter samadhi, the monkey would disturb him so that
he could not enter samadhi. Perhaps this monkey was afraid
that the cultivator would fall asleep and forget his
practice, so it became his meditation proctor, waking him up
so that he would not fall asleep. Since this old cultivator
could not enter samadhi, he became very upset. He locked the
monkey in a nearby cave so that the monkey would not disturb
him for a while. This cultivator then remained in samadhi
for several days. When he woke up from his samadhi, he
remembered the monkey that he had put in the cave. He opened
the cave and found that the monkey had died of starvation.
When the monkey was dying, it was full of hatred, thinking,
"You cruel, evil cultivator! You starved me to death;
someday I will take revenge!"
This old cultivator had some power, but he was not fully
enlightened at death. He was reincarnated as an
emperor--Emperor Wu of Liang. The emperor never could have
guessed that someone would rebel against him. The rebel, Hou
Jing, seeking revenge on the one who had starved him to
death as a monkey, kept the emperor in the palace prison and
starved him to death. This was all the workings of cause and
effect; the retribution is never off by the slightest bit.
Such things may seem twisted, mistaken, impossible, and
unimaginable, but they are not. They serve as Sutras -
lessons - for us. This is a Sutra from actual life. When
people encounter these teachings and reflect upon
themselves, they will refrain from evil and only do good.
To be continued
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