Discomfort Is a Lump of Shit: Do We Swallow It or Spit It Out?

The person who compared inner displeasure to a lump of shit was my fellow disciple, Master Xianshu at Beijing Longquan Monastery. Master Xianshu said that many people know full well that discomfort is a lump of shit, yet still have the nerve to swallow it. If we have not yet seen through this mortal world, we are bound to encounter far too many uncomfortable moments in life. When an uncomfortable moment comes, do we swallow the lump of shit or spit it out?

Swallowing it will certainly make you feel nauseous for a long while, yet some people still swallow it, holding their anger inside, punishing themselves, moping around, until their precious health is impaired. That is simply not worth it. Spitting out the lump of shit at once and rinsing the mouth immediately is the best choice; swallowing it and holding it in the heart to torment oneself is the stupidest course.

Of course, the better way is to regard all comfort and discomfort as nothing, to see through these illusory things. But this is not something ordinary people can do. If one can consciously cultivate in this direction, read more, think more, not get swept into the torrent of desire, and wisely step aside from every affair, these discomforts will simply not arise in life.