🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Buddhist monks are famously known as "ascetics," living simply and frugally, yet many enjoy long lives. Abbot Fa Liang of Guangzhou’s Liu Rong Temple summarized the Buddhist approach to health preservation in one sentence: "Preserve health by first cultivating the mind."
Peaceful Mind in Life’s Peak Moments
When visiting Liu Rong Temple, Abbot Fa Liang was leading monks in chanting scriptures. The entire temple exuded serene and melodious Buddhist music, surrounded by lush trees and quiet visitors, instantly bringing clarity to mind and body.
Meeting Abbot Fa Liang, the reporter was astonished by his youth—appearing barely in his thirties, with balanced physique and serene face. Yet he revealed he was 39 years old and had been ordained nearly twenty years ago.
Abbot Fa Liang explained that Buddhism views life, aging, sickness, and death as illusory—everything is empty—but this does not negate reality. On the contrary, because life is respected, Buddhism has always emphasized mental and physical harmony. Buddhists believe everything has cause and effect; one’s physical condition relates closely to mental state, lifestyle, and environment. Adjusting mindset is the foundation of health preservation. Buddhism advocates "concentrating all thoughts into one, purifying the heart and clearing the mind" and "few desires, contentment, contentment brings lasting joy." Desire is inherent, but coming to this world is not for pleasure but gratitude. Thus, one must restrain self and be generous toward others.
Abbot Fa Liang believes the Five Precepts of Buddhism—abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants—are also instructive for ordinary people. Abstaining from killing reduces cruelty and fear of life-threatening situations; abstaining from stealing reduces fear of punishment or losing possessions; sexual misconduct harms body, mind, society, and family; abstaining from lying fosters honesty and integrity; abstaining from intoxicants helps resist psychological emptiness and temptations.
Sleep No More Than Necessary, Eat No More Than Satiated
Abbot Fa Liang compares humans to musical instruments: strings too tight break, too loose produce no clear sound. Thus, one must constantly adjust the strings. Once the mind’s strings are tuned, how to tune the body’s? Fa Liang says regular routines are key. Monks at Liu Rong Temple follow strict schedules—bedtime no later than 11 PM, wake-up no earlier than 6 AM, meals on time, never overeating, balancing work and rest.
It is well-known that Buddhists abstain from meat. Fa Liang explains that a plant-based diet benefits health preservation. Buddhism teaches "cultivating compassion, refraining from harming living beings." Compassion leads to peaceful mind and body harmony.
Psychological Health: Four Key Elements
Regarding "not eating to excess," Buddhism has special practices. Fa Liang says he usually eats three meals regularly, but when feeling bloated or indigestion occurs, he sometimes skips dinner. Correspondingly, reduce evening activities, focusing on stillness. He once maintained this for up to three months; some monks in the temple do so long-term. This keeps the body light and comfortable, though unsuitable during busy periods.
Reducing Stress for Modern People: Work the Body, Not the Mind
Regarding modern ailments caused by excessive work pressure and fierce competition, Fa Liang says this mainly stems from overwhelming mental stress. Physical fatigue recovers easily, but mental exhaustion accelerates bodily decline, allowing disease to invade.
Worrying excessively about personal gains and losses, regretting the past, and fantasizing about the future are the main causes of modern stress.
Hidden 10 Mistakes in Health Preservation
Abbot Fa Liang summarizes the principle of "working the body, not the mind": "Carry the courage of a man, hold the heart of a child." In real life, take responsibility and face reality boldly. Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect—whether joyful or sorrowful, all outcomes stem from one’s own actions. For ordinary people, one should maintain childlike innocence in mindset, be tolerant, avoid petty disputes, and refrain from harming others for personal gain.
Spring Kite Flying and Health Preservation
Liu Rong Temple receives over one million visitors annually. As abbot, Fa Liang is busy with duties. To the average person, secular affairs and spiritual practice seem contradictory, but the abbot says wisely: "There is no such thing as 'secular affairs.' To me, every task, big or small, is part of practice." Each morning, he sits in meditation for one incense-burning duration to adjust his mind.
Buddhist Hundred-Character Health Preservation Formula
Abbot Fa Liang introduced the Buddhist Hundred-Character Health Preservation Formula: Rise before dressing, sit quietly for one incense stick; after dressing, begin morning walk; sleep no longer than necessary, eat no more than satiated; receive guests as if alone, be alone as if Buddha is present; speak sparingly, words bring joy to all; do not retreat when facing challenges, think before acting; do not dwell on the past, do not obsess over the future; carry the courage of a man, hold the heart of a child; lie down as if covered by a coffin, get up as if removing shoes; treat others with respect, conduct oneself with magnanimity.