The Power of Buddha Law
 
There is a story from Buddhism. In ancient India, there was an extremely clear and strict separation of the social classes. The lowest and poorest class was the Sudra race, which was looked down upon by others. Most of them were servants or slaves, performed the hardest, most difficult work and were often abused.
 
In Sravasti City, there was a Sudra (the lowest of the four Hindu castes) named Niti. His job was to carry manure for people - the last job that anyone wanted to do. He was an honest, kind person and rarely spoke more than necessary.
 
Shakyamuni once observed Niti when he was in meditation. Niti's karma had almost been paid off, so it was the time for him to break away from the sea of misery. Thus Shakyamuni and Ananda went to the city of Sravasti. They came to the street where Niti lived, and Shakyamuni asked him, "Niti, do you want to become a monk? Do you want to break away from the sea of misery?"
 
Niti said with shame, "You are so honorable and respectful. Even your disciples are from royal families. I am such a low class person, how can I be compared with them? How do I have the fortune to be a monk and free of suffering?"
 
Shakyamuni said, "Buddha Law is like pure water. It can wash away all the dirt. No matter what is on the earth, once it is washed by the pure water, it becomes brand new. Buddha Law is like a flame. It can burn everything. No matter what it is, once it is touched by the sacred fire, it becomes pure immediately. Buddha Law is most fair. It does not distinguish rich from poor. Any person, as long as he believes in Buddha, wants to escape the suffering, and cultivates diligently, can become a monk."
 
Niti was deeply moved by Shakyamuni's words. He followed Shakyamuni to his residence, had his hair cut and became a monk. He listened to Shakyamuni's teachings and cultivated in meditation with a calm mind, and gradually became enlightened. Not only was he able to understand the Law that Shakyamuni taught, but he was also able to act accordingly. Soon he enlightened to the Arhat level.
 
Many people with regular everyday thoughts could not accept the fact that Niti had become a monk. How could a low class person become a monk and be materially supported by the people? They could not accept it, so they asked the king to tell Shakyamuni not to take Niti as his disciple.
 
The king rode in his carriage to Shakyamuni's residence. When he arrived, he was surprised to see a monk who walked through a stone with no opening. When he saw Shakyamuni, he saluted him, then folded his palms and asked Shakyamuni, "The person who reported to you of my arrival has a lot of supernormal capabilities. May I know his title?"
 
With a smile, Shakyamuni said to the king, "The King of Prasenajit, you came here for a reason. You wanted to ask me why I will save the person whom you thought was the lowest person. But I don't care whether a person is rich or poor. They are all the same in my eyes. That monk you asked for was Niti, and he has reached the Arhat level. The person you saw just now is him."
 
After Shakyamuni's explanation, the king praised Buddha’s mighty virtue, the boundless benevolence of the Buddha Law and his actions to save people.
 
佛法的力量
 
你读过这个佛家故事吗？在古代印度，等级观念非常悬殊。其中有一族最贫穷，是最最低下的、被人瞧不起的首陀罗族，他们大多以做奴婢、或做奴隶为生，要干最苦最累的活，还受虐待。
 
在舍卫城中，有一个首陀罗族的人，名叫尼提，他专门替人家挑粪，做最没有人愿意做的活。他为人很诚实善良，平时从不多说一句话。
 
有一次佛陀在定观中，看到尼提这个人，他的业力已经消的差不多了，应该是让他脱离苦海的时候了。因此，佛陀和阿难上街，来到一条巷口。佛陀走到尼提的身边，问他：“尼提，你愿意出家吗？你想脱离苦海吗？”
 
尼提满面愧色的说：“佛陀是高贵崇敬的，随从的弟子也是贵族的王侯，我的身份低下，怎能与他们相比？我哪来的福报可以出家、脱离苦海？”
 
佛陀说：“佛法如净水，能够洗去一切肮脏。世间无论甚么东西，一旦经过净水的洗涤，马上一新。佛法有如烈火，能够燃烧一切，无论任何东西，一旦被圣火触到，立即纯净。佛法是最平等的，没有富贵，贫贱之分，任何人，只要愿意信佛，脱离痛苦，勤行修持，都是可以出家的。”
 
佛陀的话，使尼提非常的感动，他就随著佛陀来到祗园精舍，剃度出家。听经闻法，静坐修禅，尼提渐渐开启智慧，对于佛陀的法理，不仅能够悟到，又能去奉行，不久他就证到罗汉果位。
 
当尼提出家的时候，很多世间势利的人非常不满，他们认为这样一个出身卑贱的人怎能够做出家弟子且受大众的供养？越想越不平，于是，一直告到国王那里，要国王去告诉佛陀，千万不可以让尼提做他的弟子。
 
于是，国王乘车，来到祗园精舍来请教佛陀。他看见一位比丘，从无门无缝的石头中，进出自如，实在惊奇。当他见到佛陀时，顶礼以后，就合掌问佛陀道：“佛陀，刚才为我通报的那位比丘，他的神通罕见，请问他的尊号？”
 
佛陀微笑的对大王说：“波斯匿王，你今天特地来此的原因，是要问我为甚么度化你们以为最卑贱的人，而我度人不论贫穷富贵，一视同仁。你想问的这个比丘正是尼提，他已经证悟了罗汉果，你见的就是他。”
 
波斯匿王听完佛陀的开示之后，称赞佛陀的威德，佛法的无量慈悲，度众人脱离苦海。