Question

I do not practice Zen, though in my way, I'm one of your disciples.

I feed much on information gathered on the Internet and I've attended various indigenous spiritual practices (I live in Colombia). I've stopped smoking for two months, about one year ago. I then understood how important self-control was and realized its consequences on our lives. However, I became addicted again after a single whiff. I wish I would stop again, but definitively, but after a week of struggle, I dive for it again. I know I must, but I'm to weak to keep on struggling. Can you advise me?

Answer from Master Kosen

The worst is to be at odds with ourselves. At the same time, we're addicted and anti-addiction. We wish we would stop, but we enjoy smoking too much. Eventually, we do not do anything thoroughly.  If you smoke, enjoy it. Think that maybe you'll be dead tomorrow and that it would be too bad not to enjoy it.  If you stop, see the benefits of not smoking and enjoy the improvements you get everyday.  Master your decisions.

Kosen

 

 


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