A tale of moderation

SARA BUBBER shares a Buddhist story on moderation, in honor of World Health Day on April 7. She also offers some easy tips we can start applying to live a healthier and happier life.

The king who tamed wild horses

Once upon a time, there lived a king who was fond of chasing wild horses and taming them. His fellow soldiers enjoyed joining him in this activity. It was fast, strategic, and fun. Some of the soldiers, along with the king himself, enjoyed training the horses after their capture. People from far and wide joined the king’s services to watch this exciting event twice a year.

But lately the king had started feeling lethargic, and the chase was no longer exciting. He would finish the chase just as it began and took no interest in running behind fast horses. One time, the king’s nephew was riding close to him when the king ordered them to stop. The nephew asked him why and the king took it as a personal offense, questioning his orders. He considered it a snide comment on his health and body.

As the king was having lunch, his nephew Sudassana walked in and reminded him that the great teacher, Gautama Buddha, would be delivering a lecture in his kingdom. The king wanted to listen to the teachings of the Buddha, so he finished his lunch and left for the grove with Sudassana. As the Buddha preached on, the king kept pinching himself to stay awake after all he had eaten.

As the crowd cleared after the lecture, the king approached the Buddha, who asked after the king’s well-being. The king complained of his ill health, his inability to do fast activities, and his persistent lethargy throughout the day, more so after meals. Buddha admonished him, saying that if one overeats like a hog, he will never be free from the birth cycle on this Earth, and proceeded to give him a verse to recite whenever he asks for more servings.

The king expressed his helplessness to learn new things due to his poor memory. Gautama Buddha offered to give the verse to his nephew, Sudassana. Every time the king ate a meal and started to overeat, Sudassana would recite the verse given by the teacher, and the king would restrain himself from taking more food. As time went by, the king stopped overeating and Sudassana did not need to recite the verse.

The king began to enjoy his horse chases again, to remember all the things he had to do, and to discharge his duties well. He even stopped getting angry at small things and stopped misinterpreting people’s comments.

A few months later, Gautama Buddha was in his kingdom once again and the king went to listen to his sermon. Afterward, he met the Buddha, who asked after his well-being, and the king thanked him for helping him to be a healthy man. Gautama Buddha was very happy, and explained to the king that health is the greatest acquisition, and contentment is the best happiness one can ask for. The key is to be moderate in all that one does.

Based on a Buddhist story: https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/English-Texts/Buddhist-Legends/15-06.htm

Tips to maintain your health

On April 7, we celebrate World Health Day, because the World Health Organization (WHO) had its first meeting on that day in 1948. WHO spreads the message of good health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

How can we maintain good health?

Health is the greatest wealth we have. We are able to do so many things because our bodies and minds run smoothly. How can we make sure they continue to run like this for as long as possible?

Here are some tips for your daily routine:

Eat well

Food is the fuel for our body. Give your system a light, simple, and balanced diet to keep it effective. Of course you can eat out, but the number of times you eat simple meals should be much more than eating junk food.

Sleep well

Your body needs lots of rest. It repairs itself as we sleep. 
Therefore, giving yourself that eight hours of sleep becomes necessary to stay alert and healthy.

Keep your mind engaged

Keep yourself busy with activities you enjoy:  learning new things, playing new games, and engaging in hobbies keep the neurons firing in your brain and keep your mind active.

Stress-free and time-out practices

Include some practices to manage the stress you gather during the day.  Journaling, playing music, meditating, and reading for fun are activities that reduce stress. Even simple quiet time can help you recharge and re-enter the world with a fresh outlook.

Exercise

Your body is designed for movement, so put on those running shoes and go for a run, play that much-needed game of basketball, or jump into the swimming pool in summer. Even playing tag and catch are good games to keep your body fit and healthy.

Activity: What is your healthy word?

Find all ten words related to health and well-being in the following crossword:

Click here to see the solution.