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Preserving Vital Energies and Nourishing Joy with Sangha
There are three main sources of energy to preserve—sexual, breath (speech), and spirit (thinking)—and we learn to economize each by
- refraining from unnecessary talk, thinking, sexual activity, or strenuous physical movement;
- getting enough sleep or, when sleep is elusive, practicing deep relaxation, non-thinking exercises (walking meditation, mindful breathing, contemplation), and nourishing positive “seeds” from our store consciousness (pleasant memories, sights, sounds);
- pausing demanding work when energy is low, saving concentration for what truly matters.
When deep sorrow or despair arises, don’t force vipassana; instead, embrace your suffering through in-breath and out-breath, the beauty of sky and trees, or the collective energy of Sangha. Throw yourself into the Sangha’s peace and joy—“like a drop becoming the river”—and rely on brothers and sisters to support you in recognizing and smiling to habit energies before they push you into destructive words or deeds.
True pleasure and joy fuel our spiritual path, but we must look deeply at what we consume—air, tea, coffee, or wine—to see if it sustains long-term happiness or harms ourselves and others. Practice the Fifth Mindfulness Training out of Mahāyāna compassion (protecting children, society), and carry that same spiritual dimension into every arena—even politics—so that loving-kindness becomes the guiding force in our personal lives, our Sangha, and our world.