Taming the Mind

as in Taming the Elephant

驯心若驯象

Taming the mind is like taming an animal. When the mind is desolate and in despair, we should practice how to face suffering and transform adversity into courage and determination on the path to liberation; when it is immersed in pride and carried away by success, we should contemplate all things are impermanent and all defiled phenomena are suffering to overcome arrogance. We must avoid the two extreme states of mind and abide in the middle at all times.

调伏内心，就像驯服动物一样。当它孤独绝望、颓废失落的时候，就修如何面对痛苦的法，把痛苦转化为力量，鼓励自心，给心以勇气，让它重新站起来，走上解脱道；当它洋洋得意、不可一世的时候，就观修诸行无常、有漏皆苦之类的法，以克制过度的傲慢。让心不走入两个极端，始终处于中立、正常的状态当中。

Only the Buddha knows the most complete and effective way to tame the mind. This is a singular approach that scientists, philosophers, non-Buddhist yogis with miraculous powers, and self-proclaimed masters have not grasped.

唯有释迦牟尼佛，才知道最彻底、最有效的调心之方法，这是其他所有的科学家、哲学家等专家，神通超人的外道，以及那些自以为了不起的成就者、神仙都没有掌握的独门绝技。

There is a story in the sutras:

佛经中讲过一个故事：

During the Buddha’s time, many monarchs of the small kingdoms in India were devout followers of the Buddha; however，one king did not understand Buddhism and was not a follower.

释迦牟尼佛住世的时候，印度很多小国家的国王都是非常虔诚的佛弟子，但有个国王因为不了解佛教，所以没有信仰。

On one occasion, the king acquired a very precious elephant. To train the elephant, he found a trainer who was well known for his skills. Using many different techniques, the trainer eventually succeeded in taming the elephant. He then invited the monarch to confirm his effort.

一次，国王获得了一头非常珍贵的大象，他找到一位驯象技术远近驰名的驯象师，让他驯服这头大象。驯象师施展了各种技巧，最终把这头大象驯服得非常驯顺、调柔。大功告成之后，他便请国王来当场鉴定。

The king and the trainer rode together on the back of the elephant and set out to see the sights. Suddenly, the elephant started to go wild; charging forward, it crossed one mountain after another, completely ignoring the trainer’s instructions. When the elephant came to a forest, the trainer — who was helpless at this point — quickly called on the king to grab onto a tree branch, thus bringing him to safety. Meanwhile, the elephant continued to charge ahead with complete abandon.

他和国王一起骑在大象背上，四处巡视溜达。突然，大象开始疯狂地往前冲，翻了一山又一山，根本不听驯象师的口令。当大象跑到一座森林里面的时候，无计可施的驯象师连忙叫国王抓住一根树干，这样才脱离了象背，大象仍然不顾一切地拼命往前狂奔。

Once out of danger, the king went into a rage. He pointed to the trainer and shouted, “How dare you lie to me! You put me on the elephant’s back without having trained it, what is your motive? I will have you beheaded in public!”

脱离险境的国王气急败坏、怒火冲天。他指着驯象师说道：你胆大包天，居然敢欺骗我！你根本没有驯服大象，却让我坐在大象背上，居心何在？我要把你的头砍下来示众。

Feeling wronged, the trainer answered, “I have indeed tamed the elephant. If you do not believe me, please wait another three days. The elephant will return by itself, and you can see for yourself.”

驯象师委屈地回答说：我确实是把它驯服得服服贴贴了，如果您不信，就等两三天，大象自己肯定会回来，到时候就可以一见分晓了。

Although the king was still angry, he was nonetheless curious and reluctantly replied, “I will give you a few more days and wait for the elephant to return. If things do not turn out as you say, I will definitely have you beheaded.”

国王虽然怒气未消，但禁不住好奇心的驱使，便勉强回答说：再给你几天时间，等大象回来，如果不是你说的那样，就一定要砍掉你的头。

After three days, the elephant returned just as the trainer had predicted. To demonstrate he had tamed the elephant, the trainer placed a red-hot steel ball in front of the elephant and instructed it to grab the ball with its trunk. Without hesitation, the elephant got ready to carry out his instruction. At this instant, the trainer turned to the king and said, “Because the elephant has been trained, it will grab the steel ball; however, it will die immediately upon grabbing the ball. If this elephant is important to you, you must stop it from touching the steel ball before it is too late.”

过了两三天，正如驯象师所言，大象的确自己回来了。驯象师为了证明大象已经被自己驯服，便将一个烧红的铁球放在面前，并给大象下了一个口令，大象当即毫不犹豫地准备用鼻子去抓那个烧红的铁球。驯象师立刻对国王说：因为它已经被我驯服，所以一定会去抓这个铁球，但抓了以后，它一定会马上死掉。国王您看着办，如果您需要这头大象，就一定要制止它去触摸铁球，否则就来不及了。

The king’s initial skepticism turned to belief when he saw the elephant head toward the steel ball. He quickly called the demonstration to a halt. But he was also puzzled and proceeded to ask, “Why did the elephant go wild the other day and disobey you? Why is it obedient today?” The trainer said, “I can only train the elephant’s body, but not its mind. It was the scent of a female elephant in its mating period that drove the elephant wild. Under the circumstance, the elephant could not possibly have followed my instructions. Today the elephant is willing to follow my instructions because it is behaving normally.”

起初还将信将疑的国王看到大象真的扑向铁球时，不得不相信，连忙出手制止大象的愚莽之行。但国王同时也百思不解，便好奇地问驯象师：为什么那天你一再下口令，它却充耳不闻、一路狂奔，今天却如此服贴呢？驯象师说：我只能驯服大象的身体，却无法驯服大象的心。因为大象闻到母象发情时的气味，所以生起贪心，在贪心的驱使下，就会失去理智，又怎么会听从我的口令？今天它恢复常态，所以才会对我言听计从。

The king was convinced after listening to the trainer. He then asked, “Is there anyone who can tame the mind?” The trainer said, “Yes, Buddha Sakyamuni can.” The king instantly developed incomparable faith in the Buddha and set out to take refuge and make offerings to the Buddha.

国王听了驯象师的陈诉，才心服口服。之后若有所思地问道：天下有没有人能够驯心呢？驯象师说：有，那就是释迦牟尼佛。国王顿时对佛陀生起了无比的信心，连忙前往释迦牟尼佛座前皈依、供养。

This story tells us that however effective the laws in this world are in governing our speech and actions, they cannot subdue the mind. The only teacher who can tame the mind is the Buddha.

这个故事告诉我们：虽然世间强制性的法律法规，可以控制人的部分语言和行为，却无法调伏人心；驯服内心的唯一导师，就是佛陀。