100.THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE

　　Chapter 12 of the Wise-Stupid (Damamuka-nidana) Sutra tells that while our Buddha, Sakyamuni, was in Sravasti, a monk was practicing meditation in a forest nearby. There he also recited sutras. He had a beautiful voice, so when he chanted sutras, even the birds liked to listen to him.

　　There was one bird in particular that came whenever the monk chanted sutras. It would perch on a branch near by and listen carefully.

　　One day while it was absorbed in the sutra, a hunter killed that little bird.But because it had paid such careful attention to the sutra, after death its soul went to the palace in Trayastrimsas, one of the heavens, where it was reborn as a glorious heavenly being. He had the power to see into past lives. When he realized why he had been reborn in heaven, he brought divine flowers and scattered them about the monk reciting sutras in the forest. Then he kowtowed to the monk, to show his reverence and gratitude.

　　The monk was surprised to see a heavenly being showing such respect to a mere mortal, and asked the reason. When he found out that this was his little listener, the monk was happy for him. He gave him the best gift possible, the gift of wisdom. He told the bird who had become a heavenly being about the truth of the universe, or what we call the Buddhist dharma.

　　The heavenly being was overjoyed with such a fine present. With his new wisdom, he made quick progress, and went back to heaven to continue his studies.

100.最好的礼物

　　贤愚经12章讲到，佛陀即释迦牟尼，在舍卫国时，有一个和尚在附近的树林里修习禅定。和尚也在树林里念经，他嗓音非常动听，连鸟儿都很喜欢听他诵经。

　　有一只鸟很特别，和尚每次念经，它都来。它停在近旁的一只树枝上，专心致至地听着。

　　一日，当它专注地听经时，猎人杀死了它。由于它听经听得非常专注 ，死后灵体上了天，转生为庄严的天人。他能够透知过去。当他知道自己如何生为天人后，它带来仙花，撒向林中诵经的僧人。他向僧人 叩拜，表达自己的敬意和感激。

　　和尚很奇怪看到天人向一个凡夫表达如此敬意，于是问其原因。当他得知他是他的小听众时，非常为他感到欢喜。他给了他一件最好的礼物—智慧，他告诉天人宇宙人生的真相，即我们所说的佛法。

　　天人对这件礼物欢欣无比。有了新得的智慧，他进步很快。之后他回到天上，继续他的修行。