RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
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Sensual misconduct is
unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9)
Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among
sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may engage in
sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct.” (MN 8)
Flavors cognizable by the tongue are of two kinds: those to be
cultivated and those not to be cultivated. Such flavors as cause, in one
who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to
diminish, such flavors are not to be cultivated. But such flavors as
cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and
healthy states to increase, such flavors are to be cultivated. (MN 114)
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How easy it is
for some of us to misbehave among sensual pleasures associated with the
tongue and flavors! We are used to hearing that some foods are better or
worse for our physical health because of their nutrients and/or toxins,
but here we are being told that some flavors arouse unhealthy states
such as greed and hatred, while some do not. We should learn to look at
the impact of what we eat on the mind as well as the body.
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Try looking at your eating experience as a series of choices, not only of what
you eat but also of the quality of mind with which you are eating. An
easy example is eating something that tastes so good that craving for
more arises in the mind. Whether it is raw kale or a sugar doughnut is
not the point, nor is it necessary to stop eating it. What is important
is learning to eat without the co-arising of greed. Try this out in your
own experience.
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Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication
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