The Buddha taught us, “Resolve to look deeply into four types of consumption: edible foods, sensory impressions, volition, and consciousness to avoid consuming harmful things.”
“Consumption” often brings to mind eating and drinking. However, in reality, we consume a wide range of products every day, including the songs we listen to and the movies we watch.
Firstly, there is the matter of dietary consumption. You have probably heard about fresh and healthy meals, and that is what we can do. Nutrition experts have helped us greatly in discerning which foods to eat, which to consume in moderation, and so on.
Next, to keep our minds and spirits in a positive state, we need to choose movies, songs, stories, or art with wholesome content. Perhaps each of us has experienced the feeling that when we listen to a song with a mournful melody and heartbreaking lyrics, we become deeply saddened. Such emotional states are not conducive to inner well-being. Especially with the ever-advancing technology, people have greater access to these products online. To love oneself and nurture oneself properly, we need to make wise choices in the products we engage with.
Love and hatred are also a form of consumption. Seeds watered with love and affection will undoubtedly grow stronger than those nurtured in coldness or indifference. Humans are similar; we should recognize joy and live fully with it, not letting ourselves be consumed by external conflicts. Even the internal turmoil within us needs to be discarded. We shouldn’t let past negative emotions haunt us or fret about the future to the point that it disrupts our present serenity. Happiness in the present is the foundation for a happy past and a prerequisite for a promising future.
Exercise is yet another form of consumption. Can you share with us what you do daily to engage in this type of consumption?
