Authentic Spiritual Cultivation Is Like Rumination

During the day, the old ox stands and walks while grazing; at night, it quiets down, lies down, and ruminates, digesting and absorbing nutrients to sustain the needs of its physical body.

Consciousness extensively absorbs various kinds of knowledge through the activities of the Five Aggregates, while the mental faculty, during moments of stillness, carefully ponders and reflects to digest and absorb this knowledge. As a result, meditative concentration and wisdom increase, and progress is made along the Path. Genuine practice should be applied in this manner. One should not be content with the coarse theoretical knowledge absorbed by consciousness, which fails to nourish the mind. Knowledge alone does not nurture the Path; genuine cultivation is the true principle, and realization is the true Path.