築堤 Dam

〖築堤〗

在定力的訓練里，是去修行以使心能安定和堅毅，這能帶來心的平靜。通常，我們這顆心是搖擺不定的，要控制它很困難。心隨著感官外馳散亂，就像水到處流竄一樣。雖說如此，人類卻懂得如何控制水，而使它更益于人類。人類很聰明，他們知道如何築堤防水，興建大型水庫和渠道——這一切都只是為了治理水，使水能更充分地被運用而不致于到處亂竄，最後流到最低處，而浪費了水的功能。

同樣的，這顆已經「築堤」、被控制、經常訓練的心，將會獲得難以計量的利益。佛陀自己教導說：「已被控制的心，會帶來真正的快樂，因此，為了最大的利益，你們得好好訓練你們的心！」相同地，我們周遭所看到的動物——大象、馬、水牛等等，在它們能被利用來工作之前，都必須先受過訓練，也唯有在訓練之後，它們的力量才能帶給我們利益。

同樣的道理，已「築堤」的心將帶來比一顆未經訓練的心還要多倍的福澤。佛陀和他的聖弟子們，和我們都一樣在同一個方法下起步——有一顆未經訓練的心。但是，看看他們後來是如何成為我們所尊敬的對象，並且看我們能從他們的教化中得到多少的利益。真的，看看從這些曾經體驗心的訓練而為了達到解脫自在的人們身上，到底帶來了什麼樣的利益給整個世界。在所有的職業中或任何的情形況下，一顆受過控制與訓練的心是套更好且能幫助我們的設備，訓練過的心可以保持我們的生活平衡，使工作更得心應手。並且要發展和培養理性，以便控制我們的行動。只要我們追隨這顆訓練得宜的心，最後，喜悅也會隨著增長起來。

Dam

The training in concentration is the practice to make the mind firm and steady. This brings about peacefulness of mind. Usually our minds are moving and restless, hard to control. The mind follows sense distractions wildly, just like water flowing this way and that. Men, though, know how to control water so that it is of greater use to mankind. Men are clever. They know how to dam water, make large reservoirs and canals - all of this merely to channel water and make it more usable, so that it doesn’t run wild and eventually settle down into a few low spots, its usefulness wasted. So, too, the mind that is dammed and controlled, trained constantly, will be of immeasurable benefit. The Buddha himself taught, “The mind that has been controlled brings true happiness, so train your minds well for the highest benefits.” Similarly, the animals we see around us - elephants, horses, buffalos, and so on - must be trained before they can be useful for work. Only after they have been trained is their strength of benefit to us.

In the same way, the mind that has been trained will bring many more blessings than an untrained mind. The Buddha and His Noble Disciples all started out in the same way as us - with untrained minds. But, afterwards, look how they became the subjects of reverence for us all. And see how much benefit we can gain from their teachings. Indeed see what benefits have come to the entire world from these men who had gone through the training of the mind to reach the freedom beyond. The mind controlled and trained is better equipped to help us in all professions, in all situations. The disciplined mind will keep our lives balanced, make work easier, and develop and nurture reason to govern our actions. In the end, our happiness will increase accordingly as we follow the proper mind training.