The Supreme Master Ching Hai tells the Buddhist story “King Pasenadi of Kosala,” in which a king has an enormous appetite. Because he cannot overcome his drowsiness caused by excessive eating, the king is unable to quiet down even in front of the Buddha. Thus the Buddha cautions his disciples that if they eat too much, they will become drowsy and unable to think or meditate, so they will have to reincarnate again and again. The Buddha reminds his disciples, “If a man is ever mindful and moderate in his food intake, his suffering will be but slight, and he will age slowly and stay healthy.” In addition, Master also recalls what her grandmother said: “The less you eat, the longer you'll stay full; the more you eat, the sooner you'll get hungry.” Due to her moderate eating and the fact that she kept working throughout her life, Master’s grandmother was able to remain healthy and live to the age of 105.

1. Why do people sometimes want to eat or drink excessively?
2. If we’re moderate in our food intake, we can reduce our suffering, slow the aging process, live longer, and stay young.
3. Why does Master always do her own cooking, cleaning and laundry? Master says that if a spiritual practitioner only sits and eats, no matter how much he eats, he’ll feel drowsy. Thus, we should exercise moderately. Work is a kind of practical exercise.
4. The Buddha gave King Pasenadi of Kosala the following words of wisdom: “A fool who binges on food will feel drowsy, and while he sleeps, he will toss and turn like a fat pig stuffed with greasy food. He will also enter the womb and be reincarnated again and again.” What does this stanza mean? What other suggestions did Buddha give to King Pasenadi of Kosala?
5. Thanks to Xuanzang the monk, who brought many precious sutras from India to China, modern people can read these marvelous texts. Master also explains the symbolic meaning of the characters Sun Wukong (the monkey disciple of Xuanzang) and Zhu Bajjie (the pig disciple of Xuanzang) in the classic Chinese story The Journey to the West.
6. Master enjoys sitting in a warm room and listening to the rain on rainy days. She says that on these occasions she feels warm, safe, lucky, and full of gratitude. Master also describes her childhood memories of living in a thatched hut in difficult times and the effects of war on her family. What wise guidance did Master receive from her father in those days?
7. Wars not only cause injury, but their aftermath also brings suffering of all kinds. Now in Europe people are experiencing history’s largest exodus of refugees, and many people are suffering and losing their lives. Therefore, Master again emphasizes that war is a bad thing!