Subduing the Mind
學佛不是求佛，是求己，求己先制心。
制止三毒的侵襲，自然啟發明慧，但三毒非慧不能制。
有人問曰先制心乎！抑先求慧乎！此一疑問，非先後之別，能制三毒，即是發慧，二者相因，不必有先後。
今先止心得定，由定可以發慧，在定則依法，法中即含有戒。一切念佛禪觀，都是法、亦都是戒，總歸是制心。
古人云： 「制心一處，無事不辦」
佛說一切法，為度一切心；
我無一切心，何用一切法。
資料來源：心靈甘露(四)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
Subduing the Mind
Learning how to be a Buddha is not to ask a favor of Buddhas, but to ask a favor of oneself. Before one asks a favor of himself, he has to subdue his mind first.
If one can prevent the Three Poisons from invading, he will naturally develop his wisdom. Without wisdom, the Three Poisons cannot be subdued.
Someone has asked if we should subdue our minds first or pursue wisdom first. Actually there is not an order of priority. Being able to subdue the Three Poisons means developing wisdom. Each of the two is the cause of the other without priority.
After the mind has calmed, stability will be attained, and from stability one will develop wisdom. In stability, principles are followed and include precepts. Being mindful of Buddhas, cultivating the Dharma, and Zen observations are all principles and precepts as well. All in all, they aim at subduing the mind.
An old saying tells us that if we can wholeheartedly subdue the mind, then everything can be accomplished.
The Buddha lectured on all dharmas in order to transform all kinds of minds.
Since I don’t have all kinds of minds, why should I use all dharmas?
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. IV), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.