🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Buddhist monks are often called "ascetics" due to their simple and frugal lifestyle. Despite this, many live long lives. Fa Liang, abbot of Liu Rong Temple in Guangzhou, summarized Buddhist health preservation in one sentence: "Health preservation begins with calming the mind."
Peaceful Mind in Life's Journey
When visiting Liu Rong Temple, Fa Liang was leading monks in chanting scriptures. The entire temple echoed with serene and melodious Buddhist music, surrounded by lush trees and quiet visitors, instantly refreshing the mind and body.
Upon meeting Fa Liang, the reporter was surprised by his youth—he looked barely over thirty, with balanced physique and a serene face. But he revealed he was actually thirty-nine and had been ordained nearly twenty years ago.
Fa Liang explained that Buddhism views birth, aging, sickness, and death as impermanent and teaches the emptiness of the four elements. However, this does not deny reality. On the contrary, because life is respected, Buddhism has always emphasized mental and physical regulation. Buddhists believe everything has cause and effect—their physical condition is closely tied to mental state, habits, and environment. Adjusting one’s mindset is the foundation of health preservation. Buddhism advocates "concentrating all thoughts into one, purifying the heart and clearing the mind" and "desiring less, being content, and thus living happily." Desire is inherent, but coming to this world is not for pleasure but gratitude. Thus, one must restrain oneself and be generous toward others.
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 property; sexual misconduct harms body, mind, society, and family; abstaining from lying fosters honesty and integrity; abstaining from intoxicants resists psychological emptiness and various temptations.
Sleep No More Than Necessary, Eat Not Too Full
Fa Liang compares the human body to a lute: strings too tight break, too loose fail to produce accurate tones. 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, timely meals, and never overeat, balancing work and rest.
It is well known that Buddhists abstain from meat. Fa Liang explains that a vegetarian diet benefits health. Buddhism promotes "nurturing compassion, refraining from harming living beings." A compassionate heart leads to peace of mind and harmony between body and spirit.
<<<< Psychological Health Elements
For "not eating too full," Buddhism has special practices. Fa Liang says he usually eats three meals regularly, but when experiencing bloating or indigestion, he sometimes skips dinner. Correspondingly, he reduces 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 illnesses caused by modern work pressure and intense competition, Fa Liang says the main issue is excessive mental stress. Physical fatigue recovers easily, but mental exhaustion leads to premature aging and vulnerability to disease.
Worrying excessively about personal gain, regretting the past, and fantasizing about the future are the primary reasons for modern people’s heavy work stress.
<<<< Hidden 10 Misconceptions in Health Preservation
Fa Liang summarizes the principle of "working the body, not the mind": "Carry the courage of a man, hold the heart of a child." That is, in real life, one should bravely assume responsibility and face reality. Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect—both joy and sorrow are self-sown seeds. For ordinary people, one should maintain innocence, be tolerant in dealing with matters, avoid petty calculations, and refrain from harming others for personal gain.
<<<< Spring Kite Flying and Health Preservation
Liu Rong Temple receives over one million guests annually. As abbot, Fa Liang is busy with daily affairs. To outsiders, secular duties and spiritual practice seem contradictory—but the abbot says, "There is no such thing as 'secular duties.' In my view, every task, big or small, is part of practice." Each morning, he meditates for one incense-burning duration to adjust his mindset.
Buddhist Hundred Characters of Health Preservation
Fa Liang introduced the Buddhist Hundred Characters of Health Preservation: Rise before dressing, sit quietly for one incense stick; after dressing, begin morning walk; sleep no more than necessary, eat not too full; receive guests as if alone, be alone as if Buddha is present; speak not casually, words bring joy to all; when facing opportunities, do not retreat; when encountering issues, think deeply; do not dwell on the past, do not obsess over the future; carry the courage of a man, hold the heart of a child; go to bed as if covered by a coffin, get up as if removing shoes; treat others with respect, conduct oneself with magnanimity.