Monastic Habits: Countering Worldly Defilements

There is a saying: What the Way values, the mundane world devalues; what the mundane world prizes, the Way avoids. Cultivating the Way is precisely an act contrary to worldly ways. Only by opposing the mundane can one break free from its constraints and attain liberation. If one merely conforms obediently, this is not cultivating the Way; it is no different from the mundane world, and one cannot transcend the mundane to enter the sacred.

Due to long cultivation over countless kalpas, practitioners develop unique habits distinct from the tendencies of worldly people, such as frugality, diligent cultivation, not cherishing the body, and not indulging in gluttony, excessive drinking, oversleeping, or indulgence. Most of their actions may seem contrary to those of worldly people, causing many mundane individuals to find it strange, uncomfortable, and perceive the practitioners as incorrect, thus wanting to correct them.

If one becomes accustomed to the life of a practitioner, the practitioner's habits no longer seem strange. Instead, the worldly, greedy tendencies of ordinary people begin to appear strange. Opposing the mundane is normal; conforming to it is abnormal. Looking at it now, who is truly normal and who is abnormal? What is normal?

Those accustomed to worldly life unconsciously conform to worldly ways in everything. This actually indicates they have not yet reached the stage of possessing the ability for self-reflection. When worldly people crave, they crave along with them without realizing it is craving. When worldly people cling, they cling along without knowing it is clinging. When worldly people enjoy indulgence, they enjoy it too, thinking it perfectly normal — yet this is abnormal. Being too accustomed to worldly ways, having not the slightest thought of opposition, feeling everything is natural — such a person is still very, very far from true practice. When interacting with practitioners, if one feels they do not conform to worldly norms, lack human warmth, or even constantly wants them to conform to one's own worldly habits — such a person is still very, very far from cultivating the Way. Once a person makes even slight progress on the path, they begin to feel that worldly ways are not quite right, sensing an awkwardness. Only then does a glimmer of awakening begin.

"The belt loosens and the person grows gaunt" — this is an ancient description of those who practice meditation and cultivate the Way. When one truly applies effort in practice, the body is inevitably affected — eating less, drinking less, resting less, even staying awake all night, diligently cultivating the Way. Only then can the effort in meditation become continuous, progress become swift, and one day, the mind may become clear and enlightenment attained. People nowadays cherish their bodies too much, unwilling to let them suffer. Consequently, they only cause their minds to suffer — suffering life after life, an unbearable torment.