The nature of desire is that it can never be contained. This year’s luxury goods become next year’s necessity which we must possess in order to keep up with the times. In two to three years, the same luxury brands are taken off the shelf.Desire is like a treadmill; our footsteps can never keep pace with the speed of the treadmill. If we continue to feel happy as our desire grows, this may still be understandable since the depletion of resources on earth is a problem that future generations have to deal with, not us. However, the question is whether we can truly be happy if our desire grows with no end in sight. We cannot! As happiness is founded on satisfaction, when we incessantly covet all things, even if we are satisfied, it is only a very temporary feeling.
欲望的特性，就是無限地膨脹。今年的奢侈品，明年、後年就變成了必需品，一定要擁有，否則就覺得跟不上時代、被人輕視。再過兩三年，這些當年的奢侈品就被淘汰了。欲望就像跑步機，我們的腳步永遠跟不上這臺跑步機的速度。如果在欲望無限膨脹的過程中，我們能夠感受到持續性的幸福，那也可以理解，畢竟資源消耗所導致的枯竭是後代的事情，我們暫時還不會面臨這些問題。但問題是，在欲望無限膨脹的過程中，我們自身能不能感受到幸福呢？感覺不到！因為幸福是建立在滿足感的基礎上，當欲望無限膨脹的時候，即使有滿足感，那也是非常短暫的。
For instance, when a new technical device appears in the market, we purchase it at the first instant and feel very pleased.But technology is always on the change with first generation products, second generation products, third generation products, etc. In time, the device we originally took great pride in is no longer fashionable; the original feeling of satisfaction and that of happiness gradually disappear.
比如，一個高科技新產品出來以後，我們第一時間買到了，當時覺得很滿足，但科技卻在不斷更新，不斷推出一代、二代、三代等新產品；這時候，我們原先以為了不起的東西，已經不時興了，原有的滿足感與幸福感，也隨著新產品的問世而逐漸消失。
This is the same with learning the Buddhist teachings. Some people are very excited and serious about the teachings at the beginning; a year to two later, they grow tired of the Dharma and no longer take the practices seriously. All of us have this natural tendency — we always seek new and fresh experiences to satisfy our desire and curiosity.
包括我們學佛也是一樣，有些人剛開始學佛的時候，很興奮、很認真，一兩年過去以後，原有的興奮感被厭倦心取而代之，逐漸地，學佛修行也不怎麼努力、不怎麼認真、不怎麼投入，越來越落後。因為人類的天性就是這樣——喜新厭舊、虎頭蛇尾，總是喜歡追求新鮮的東西，以滿足自己的欲望與獵奇心。
Thus, we must exert great effort in curbing our desire. It is said that 「desire is a driving force for growth.」 This statement is true in principle; without desire, we cannot accomplish anything, including the wish to learn the Dharma. However, when desire is excessive, it is not a constructive force; instead, it becomes a threat to our survival.
所以，我們只能強制性地控制自己的貪慾。雖然「欲望是發展的原動力」的說法，原則上沒有錯。沒有欲望，就不會去做任何事情，包括學佛也需要欲望。但如果欲望過度以後，就非但不是發展的原動力，反而變成威脅我們生存的公害。
Although many recognize this problem, they cannot effectively bring their desire under control. To this end, spiritual practice is necessary. The specific method is to practice meditative concentration.
雖然很多有識之士已經意識到這些問題，但卻無法有效控制自己的欲望，這就需要心靈的訓練。訓練的方法，就是佛教的禪定。