Dhammapada verse #36
此心隨欲轉，微妙極難見。智者防護心，心護得安樂。
The mind is very hard to see
and find, it falls on what it wants.
One who’s wise should guard the mind,
a guarded mind brings happiness.
☆☆☆
【第36偈的故事】
從前舍衛城有一位銀行家的年輕兒子，向到他家化緣的比丘請教，應該如何做才可以解脫生命中的苦難。那位比丘告訴他把錢財分成三部份：一部份投資做生意，另一部份做家庭支出，最後一部份做慈善。他遵照比丘的話去做，然後，他又問比丘下一步要如何做。比丘告訴他，第一要皈依三寶、守五戒，第二要守十戒，第三要出家修行。他也一一奉行，最後也出家。
出家為比丘後，一位教師教他阿毗達摩（論），另一教師教他戒律，但他卻覺得要學得東西太多了，戒律又太嚴、太多，又沒有足夠的自由。它因此認為世俗生活比較好。由於有這樣的懷疑與不滿，他覺得鬱悶，疏忽職責，同時日漸消瘦、羸弱。佛陀知道這件事後告誡他說：「如果可以控制心念，就沒有什麼事情需要再控制了，所以努力攝受心念吧！
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a young disgruntled monk who was the son of a banker.
While the Buddha was in residence at Sàvatthi, a certain banker’s son approached an elder who resorted to his house for alms and said to him, “Venerable, I desire to obtain release from suffering. Tell me some way by which I can obtain release from suffering.” The elder replied, “Peace be unto you, brother. If you desire release from suffering, give alms-food, give fortnightly food, give lodging during the season of the rains, give bowls and robes and the other requisites. Divide your possessions into three parts: with one portion carry on your business; with another portion support son and wife; dispense the third portion in alms in the religion of the Buddha.”
“Very well, Venerable,” said the banker’s son, and did all in the prescribed order. Having done it, he returned to the elder and asked him, “Venerable, is there anything else I ought to do?” “Brother, take upon yourself the three refuges and the five precepts.” The banker’s son did so, and then asked whether there was anything else he ought to do. “Yes,” replied the elder, “Take upon yourself the ten precepts.” “Very well, Venerable,” said the banker’s son, and took upon himself the ten precepts. Because the banker’s son had in this manner performed works of merit, one after another, he came to be called Anupubba. Again he asked the elder, “Venerable, is there anything else I ought to do?” The elder replied, “Yes, become a monk.” The banker’s son immediately retired from the world and became a monk.
Now he had a teacher who was versed in the Abhidhamma and a preceptor who was versed in the Vinaya. After he had made a full profession, whenever he approached his teacher, the latter repeated questions found in the Abhidhamma, “In the religion of the Buddha it is lawful to do this, it is unlawful to do that.” And whenever he approached his preceptor, the latter repeated questions found in the Vinaya, “In the Religion of the Buddha it is lawful to do this, it is unlawful to do that; this is proper, this is improper.” After a time he thought to himself, “Oh what a wearisome task this is! I became a monk in order to obtain release from suffering, but here there is not even room for me to stretch out my hands. It is possible, however, to obtain release from suffering, even if one lives the householder’s. I should become a householder once more.”
The Buddha said, “Monk, are you discontented?” “Yes, Venerable, I became a monk in order to obtain release from suffering. But here there is not even room for me to stretch my hands. It is possible for me to obtain release from suffering as a householder.” The Buddha said, “Monk, if you can guard one thing, it will not be necessary for you to guard the rest.” “What is that, Venerable?” “Can you guard your thoughts?” “I can, Venerable.” “Then guard your thoughts alone.”
出家為比丘後，一位教師教他阿毗達摩（論），另一教師教他戒律，但他卻覺得要學得東西太多了，戒律又太嚴、太多，又沒有足夠的自由。它因此認為世俗生活比較好。由於有這樣的懷疑與不滿，他覺得鬱悶，疏忽職責，同時日漸消瘦、羸弱。佛陀知道這件事後告誡他說：「如果可以控制心念，就沒有什麼事情需要再控制了，所以努力攝受心念吧！
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a young disgruntled monk who was the son of a banker.
While the Buddha was in residence at Sàvatthi, a certain banker’s son approached an elder who resorted to his house for alms and said to him, “Venerable, I desire to obtain release from suffering. Tell me some way by which I can obtain release from suffering.” The elder replied, “Peace be unto you, brother. If you desire release from suffering, give alms-food, give fortnightly food, give lodging during the season of the rains, give bowls and robes and the other requisites. Divide your possessions into three parts: with one portion carry on your business; with another portion support son and wife; dispense the third portion in alms in the religion of the Buddha.”
“Very well, Venerable,” said the banker’s son, and did all in the prescribed order. Having done it, he returned to the elder and asked him, “Venerable, is there anything else I ought to do?” “Brother, take upon yourself the three refuges and the five precepts.” The banker’s son did so, and then asked whether there was anything else he ought to do. “Yes,” replied the elder, “Take upon yourself the ten precepts.” “Very well, Venerable,” said the banker’s son, and took upon himself the ten precepts. Because the banker’s son had in this manner performed works of merit, one after another, he came to be called Anupubba. Again he asked the elder, “Venerable, is there anything else I ought to do?” The elder replied, “Yes, become a monk.” The banker’s son immediately retired from the world and became a monk.
Now he had a teacher who was versed in the Abhidhamma and a preceptor who was versed in the Vinaya. After he had made a full profession, whenever he approached his teacher, the latter repeated questions found in the Abhidhamma, “In the religion of the Buddha it is lawful to do this, it is unlawful to do that.” And whenever he approached his preceptor, the latter repeated questions found in the Vinaya, “In the Religion of the Buddha it is lawful to do this, it is unlawful to do that; this is proper, this is improper.” After a time he thought to himself, “Oh what a wearisome task this is! I became a monk in order to obtain release from suffering, but here there is not even room for me to stretch out my hands. It is possible, however, to obtain release from suffering, even if one lives the householder’s. I should become a householder once more.”
The Buddha said, “Monk, are you discontented?” “Yes, Venerable, I became a monk in order to obtain release from suffering. But here there is not even room for me to stretch my hands. It is possible for me to obtain release from suffering as a householder.” The Buddha said, “Monk, if you can guard one thing, it will not be necessary for you to guard the rest.” “What is that, Venerable?” “Can you guard your thoughts?” “I can, Venerable.” “Then guard your thoughts alone.”
☆☆☆
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯
