〖筑堤〗

    在定力的训练里，是去修行以使心能安定和坚毅，这能带来心的平静。通常，我们这颗心是摇摆不定的，要控制它很困难。心随著感官外驰散乱，就像水到处流窜一样。虽说如此，人类却懂得如何控制水，而使它更益於人类。人类很聪明，他们知道如何筑堤防水，兴建大型水库和渠道——这一切都只是为了治理水，使水能更充分地被运用而不致於到处乱窜，最后流到最低处，而浪费了水的功能。

    同样的，这颗已经“筑堤”、被控制、经常训练的心，将会获得难以计量的利益。佛陀自己教导说：“已被控制的心，会带来真正的快乐，因此，为了最大的利益，你们得好好训练你们的心！”相同地，我们周遭所看到的动物——大象、马、水牛等等，在它们能被利用来工作之前，都必须先受过训练，也唯有在训练之后，它们的力量才能带给我们利益。

    同样的道理，已“筑堤”的心将带来比一颗未经训练的心还要多倍的福泽。佛陀和他的圣弟子们，和我们都一样在同一个方法下起步——有一颗未经训练的心。但是，看看他们后来是如何成为我们所尊敬的对象，并且看我们能从他们的教化中得到多少的利益。真的，看看从这些曾经体验心的训练而为了达到解脱自在的人们身上，到底带来了什么样的利益给整个世界。在所有的职业中或任何的情形况下，一颗受过控制与训练的心是套更好且能帮助我们的设备，训练过的心可以保持我们的生活平衡，使工作更得心应手。并且要发展和培养理性，以便控制我们的行动。只要我们追随这颗训练得宜的心，最后，喜悦也会随著增长起来。

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.