如法居士—Dhammika

當時，佛陀居住在Savathi的Jetavana寺院裏。有一次，佛陀在一場開示的法會中，提到了在家弟子Dhammika的善行及善報。

Dhammika是佛陀標準的在家弟子，平時樂善好施，而且定期都會以四事親自供養以佛陀為首的僧團，即使例假日也不例外。

他很有福氣，有七個兒子和七個女兒，他們一家人都很善良而且熱心公益。Dhammika年紀大了，免不了要經歷老、病、死的人生必經路程。在臨終前，比丘們在他床前為他誦念《大念處經》，提醒他要保持正念，以及他生前的諸多善行。這時，Dhammika在床上突然看見空中降下六道祥和無比的光芒，其間還慢慢飄落許多美麗無比又清香的花朵，這六道光芒中有六輛來自天界的華麗馬車前來邀請他，但Dhammika擔心會打擾比丘念誦經文，於是叫他們稍等一下。

怎知，比丘們誤會Dhammika要他們停止念誦，於是便停了下來。過了一會兒，Dhammika便告訴他的兒女們說欲界六天的天使都來邀請他加入天界的生活，他決定去第四欲天兜率陀天（Tusita），並吩咐他的兒子將花環往空中拋，他的兒子照著作，結果花環奇蹟似的高掛在空中，但眾人都看不見馬車，Dhammika說花環已掛在兜率陀天派來的馬車上了，又說：「孩子們，如果你們也想和我一起在來世於兜率陀天中快樂的生活，那麼，你們千萬別再懷疑，要把握時間和機會，趁你們都還健康的時候，多多佈施和持戒，你們就可以在來世和我一起快樂的生活。」說完，Dhammika便闔目安詳的去世了。

當諸比丘們回到精舍時，佛陀便問：「比丘們啊，Dhammika在臨終前可有聽到佛法？」

比丘們回答：「有的，世尊。但是中途他卻叫我們停下來，然後，他的子女們就開始哭泣，我們也就離開了。」

佛陀說：「比丘們啊，你們都誤會了，Dhammika並不是對你們喊停，他是對諸天說話，不希望他們打擾你們念誦佛法。」

While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered Verse (16) of this book, with reference to Dhammika, a lay disciple.

Once there lived in Savatthi, a lay disciple by the name of Dhammika, who was virtuous and very fond of giving in charity. He generously offered food and other requisites to the bhikkhus regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in fact, the leader of five hundred virtuous lay disciples of the Buddha who lived in Savatthi. Dhammika had seven sons and seven daughters and all of them, like their father, were virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was very ill and was on his death-bed he made a request to the Samgha to come to him and recite the sacred texts by his bedside. While the bhikkhus were reciting the Maha satipatthana Sutta, six decorated chariots from six celestial worlds arrived to invite him to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for a while for fear of interrupting the recitation of the Sutta. The bhikkhus, thinking that they were being asked to stop, stopped and left the place.

A little while later, Dhammika told his children about the six decorated chariots waiting for him. Then and there he decided to choose the chariot from the Tusita world and asked one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Then he passed away and was reborn in the Tusita world. Thus, the virtuous man rejoices in this world as well as in the next.

Verse 16: Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices; one who performed meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences. He rejoices and greatly rejoices when he sees the purity of his own deeds.