10 Buddhist Teachings on Health

10 Health Principles from Buddhism (불가(佛家)에서 말하는 건강(健康) 10訓)

1. Less Meat, More Vegetables (소육다채 (少肉多菜))
This means eating less meat and more vegetables.
While Buddhism generally forbids meat consumption,
lay Buddhists are encouraged to avoid meat as much as possible,
and if they do consume it, to eat only a small amount.
Instead, they are encouraged to eat plenty of vegetables to supplement the easily deficient
vitamins and minerals.

2. Eat Less, Chew More (소식다작 (少食多嚼))
This means eating as little as possible and chewing thoroughly.
The secret to longevity is eating less.

The Book of Changes (주역) also states, '복육분천수', meaning
if you consume only 60% of your food, you can live as long as Heaven has granted you.
Similarly, it is recommended to eat less, and to do so simply, without meat.

Eating less clears the mind and prevents lifestyle diseases,
which is a principle of modern medicine.

3. Less Salt, More Vinegar (소염다초(少鹽多酢))

This means eating less salt and more vinegar.
Modern medical interpretations suggest that salt is harmful to the body in many ways,
and recommend reducing salt intake.

To make food palatable with less salt,
a little vinegar can be added,
meaning even with less salt, the food can still taste good.

4. Less Clothing, More Bathing (소의다욕(少衣多浴))

This means wearing less clothing and bathing frequently.
Wearing too many clothes weakens the body's ability to fight off diseases,
so it's recommended to wear less and,

bathe frequently to promote blood circulation.
This is a very obvious suggestion.

5. Less Worry, More Sleep (소번다면(少煩多眠))

This means worrying less and sleeping soundly.
Life has its ups and downs.
There will be difficult times as well as good ones.

If you don't quickly relieve stress such as worry, anxiety, uneasiness, and nervousness,
it can lead to illness, so it's important to forget your worries as soon as possible.

On the other hand, nothing is better than sleep for recovering from fatigue.

6. Less Desire, More Giving (소욕다시(少慾多施))

This means having less desire and giving more to others.
Desire is endless.
The more you desire, the more worry and
anxiety you will experience.

That's why the secret to a healthy and long life is to empty your mind, isn't it?
We are born empty-handed and will eventually leave empty-handed.
Shouldn't we just have enough to live on?

The Buddha's compassion is like that, and Jesus' love is like that.
Unconditionally giving to others will reach Heaven and
bring blessings and prosperity, it is said.


7. Less Sugar, More Fruit (소당다과 (少糖多果))

This means eating less sugar and more fruit.
Sugar is the root of many diseases, including obesity, so reduce your sugar intake,
and eat plenty of fruit to
ensure sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals that are easily deficient in our diets.

8. Less Car, More Walking (소차다보(少車多步))

This means driving less and walking more.
Isn't walking exercise in itself?
Ultimately, this is about driving less and moving more, encouraging walking as exercise.

9. Less Talk, More Action (소언다행(少言多行))

This means talking less and acting more.
There's a Korean proverb that says silence is golden.
Talking too much can lead to mistakes and
give the impression that one is frivolous.
Instead, focus on action rather than words,
and you'll make fewer mistakes in daily life and
gain respect from others.

10. Less Anger, More Laughter (소노다소(少怒多笑))

This means getting angry less and laughing more.
Getting angry not only harms others,
but also damages your own health.
On the other hand, laughing a lot is good for your health,
and brings harmony to your family and brightness to your workplace.
Source: https://myear.tistory.com/512 [Tina's Story: Tistory]