Methods of Treatment (2)

However, Su Ziyang felt that, given Fairy Li's personality and temperament, she was definitely good at coaxing people.

Ren Qushun he saw Fairy Li nod. Then he began to talk about how people can correct their temper and personality.

It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. If you want to change your personality, you should first change your bad habits:

They eat well, drink well, and wear gold and silver to show off their wealth.

Smoking, drinking, gambling, etc.—if you don't change your habits, you can't change your temperament and personality.

During the Neo-Confucian period of the Song and Ming dynasties, the famous Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi said, "Preserve the heavenly principles and eliminate human desires."

However, what we hear most now are criticisms of this statement, saying that Zhu Xi deprived people of their natural instincts, but this is all due to taking things out of context.

In Volume Thirteen of "Classified Conversations of Master Zhu," Zhu Xi gave examples to illustrate what the principles of Heaven are and what human desires are.

"Eating is a natural principle; delicacies from land and sea are human desires; marriage is a natural principle; having multiple wives and concubines is also human desires."

This teaches people to deal with human desires rationally.

Therefore, we must cultivate our habits, refine our inherent nature, and perfect our innate qualities.

For example, Zengzi said, "I examine myself three times a day: Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?"

We don't need to make it so complicated; let's just ask one question.

When I wake up in the morning, I ask myself if I can be a good person (in all my roles) today?

Ask yourself the question, and you'll answer: Yes! Then ask yourself again tonight: Did I do well today?

Have you been mindful, agitated, lost your temper, or gotten angry? Have you made things easier for your parents? Have you fulfilled your filial duties? Have you done what you should have done? And so on.

If you persist for a long time, your temperament and personality will naturally change.

Another very important thing is lust.

There's a saying in traditional Chinese medicine, "When the spirit is full, one doesn't crave sleep; when the essence is full, one doesn't crave lust; when the qi is full, one doesn't crave food."

It is generally believed that the more vital energy a person has, the less they will have thoughts about that kind of thing.

Why?

You could say it's like a half-full bottle making a lot of noise.

If the bottle is full of water, there will definitely be no ripples. But if the bottle is not full, any slight external stimulus will definitely cause splashes.

He has a strong lustful desire and is constantly plagued by lustful thoughts. He cannot control himself from committing sexual misconduct, which makes him irritable and harsh on his girlfriend.

This mental state stems from resentment. It's because one's temper is out of control and one's thoughts are not aligned.

At this point, the person loses their sense of righteousness and lacks correct values.

This problem arises from consciousness.

If you can't control yourself, your mind will wander, and you'll stray into a wicked thought. Once you stray into a wicked thought, you've planted a seed. What you sow, you reap.

Now that you know you were wrong, you must control your thoughts.

It is said that preaching the Way is easy, but upholding it is difficult; one must exert absolute effort to restrain oneself.

When you are sick, the first thing to do is to reflect on yourself and correct your mindset. Even if you are not completely cured, you will be more than half cured.

If illness always originates from qi (vital energy) and fire.

Even after you recover, you still need to take good care of yourself. You must be mindful of yourself at all times. Ask yourself every day if you have any grievances against anyone. Reflect on yourself three times a day to see if you have fulfilled your responsibilities.

This is one of the most important methods for ordinary people to check their health.

That is, the verse by Master Shenxiu at that time:

The body is a Bodhi tree,

The mind is like a clear mirror.

Wipe it clean frequently.

Do not let it get dusty.

Since one's level of understanding is not high enough to achieve sudden enlightenment, one should practice gradual enlightenment, constantly polishing the mirror.

Cleanse your heart. Examine yourself carefully. Do things little by little, quietly, to fulfill your filial duties and loyalty.

Sincerity (not falsehood) is essential for a righteous mind; a righteous mind leads to self-cultivation (and a righteous mind ensures good health).

Cultivating the mind: having no malice or evil thoughts in one's heart, and having equality and compassion for everyone.

Self-cultivation: Correcting one's bad habits.

Extravagant eating, drinking, and dressing; smoking, drinking, gambling; and other vices—if these habits are not eliminated, one cannot cultivate one's mind or body.

Because if I can't have you, I'll get angry and upset, and my sex life will suffer.

It's easy to learn, but hard to do.

After studying Buddhism for a year, Buddha is right before your eyes; after studying Buddhism for two years, Buddha is far away; after studying Buddhism for three years, Buddha has vanished like smoke.

You can only pray to Buddha, you can't become Buddha.

You'll only drift further away from your goals. You need to remind and examine yourself every day, reflecting on yourself morning and night. Changing your nature is very difficult and painful.

You can't do it without making a firm decision and gritting your teeth. Change starts with changing your habits. The first step in spiritual practice is to find the good in others and acknowledge your own faults.

Repent. Show remorse, admit your mistakes, correct your past errors, start anew, and resolve to change your ways and never repeat them. If you do this, the illness will never recur. But remember, even after you recover, there will be tests from the devil, which may come as soon as you step into your home.

Let's see if you can hold on. You make a big resolution, but as soon as there's an exam, you lose that resolution; it just sinks to the ground.

Some people say they've decided not to act rashly, so why can't they control themselves when something happens?

One must have unwavering resolve, unyielding to any hardship, and undaunted by any adversity. One must possess such determination. One must have the self-control to remain steadfast through countless trials and tribulations, even unto death.

To recover from this illness, one must sincerely repent and thoroughly reform one's conscience. One must truly recognize one's shortcomings and faults, identifying the root cause. This requires comparing oneself to each scene, as if entering a different world. Recall carefully, starting from the very beginning.

You must not stray from this path in your walking, sitting, or lying down.

If you constantly reflect on your own mistakes, without talking about your merits or virtues, but only about your faults, that's called opening the path to heaven. Looking for the good in others is called closing the gates of hell.

Because when you find good in others, your yang energy enters your body. Acknowledging your own faults releases the yin energy you feel when you're angry. This is called "removing yin and drawing yang," clearing away yin energy. It's about cleansing your internal organs through virtue. Bowing your head to admit your mistakes, weeping and shedding tears.

Truly mastering the Tao is to obtain life's priceless treasure. If you can utilize it well, your family will be harmonious, your body healthy, and everything you do will go smoothly. Who doesn't want everything to go well, wealth to flow in, a harmonious family, and good health?

You need to have a joyful mindset. Here's a method: just see everyone as good, everyone as a Buddha, and you will become a Buddha in the future.

Look at everyone, they all look like ghosts, you're even more ghostly than a ghost. You're so critical of others that you'll become sick yourself, you'll become a ghost too. Now you understand, hurry up and turn back.

The saying "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot" and "Turning back is the shore" exemplify this principle.

"Buddhist principles, Buddha-nature, Confucian principles, Confucianism and Daoism."

Su Ziyang nodded, agreeing with what Ren Qushun said.

"Take note, and reflect on yourself more in the future." Fairy Li pouted and smiled at Su Ziyang.

What should I reflect on?

Su Ziyang was taken aback by what Fairy Li said.

"If you think my cooking is bad, then you're wrong. You haven't been a good boyfriend or husband, and all you do is criticize my cooking."

Ren Qushun watched the two bickering and couldn't help but laugh.