Stop SMOKING

In England, there was a health campaign held on October, which was

dubbed as “Stoptober” to stop smoking.

—– I was talking with a local man, who remember me used to smoke.   As he has been

trying to stop smoking, asked me how I managed to give-up, “Was that thanks to Zen ?”

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My smoking seemed to be a mystery to others, long time. = How a Zennist who doesn’t

drink alcohol, never take drug, even managed to give-up woman, still keep smoking ? ? ?

My joke was “I’m perfectly clean Holy-man except smoking.   So, if I stop smoking

Lord Buddha wants me to work there. It’s mean, I will be called up straight.

—– in other words, me to stay in this dirty world, I was forced to smoke = if I stop,

I would be just gone.” —– then other friend advised me “If you need one vice to stay

in this world, change smoking to woman. It’s would be much healthier and exciting”

“I know, but to have a woman is much more expensive  :-D”

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The local man (in fact he is a musician) asked me what sort of mind-set needed to

stop smoking ? —– I answered, there was non. I just stopped. That’s all.

—– people seemed to have a misunderstanding such as

= [To Stop Smoking, it needs a firm determination and lots of efforts] —–

utterly contrary to popular belief, such mind-set has opposite effect.

= People think, [Stop Smoking] is [TO DO Stop Smoking] hence strong will and

the proper mind-set is needed = IT MUST BE a matter of Mindfulness.

—– is utterly wrong.   And it is not Zen.

[Stop Smoking] mean, [Smoking is no longer exists] = Just disappeared. 

Put a Mind or Effort to a thing which is not exists = is nothing but a delusion.

If you need to DO, you have to deal with it with your Mindfulness and the effort.

But, when you deal with a thing which is not exist = you do nothing

(can you DO anything ? ) = you don’t even notice it.

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So that, when I stopped smoking = I just stopped.

The last packet on the desk was still containing 4 cigarettes.  (I still remember  😀 )

Technically I could have re-started any moment = anyhow there was no obligation,

nobody watching me still, no such thoughts came up —– because, the notion of

smoking itself had been disappeared = when the target is not there where to put an effort ?

I didn’t need to have such high tension in my mind at all.  The harder, it will crack.

= So, it’s better to be relaxed. —– (easy, easy, it’s only about smoking 😀 )

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People has been inventing lords of excuse “Not to Stop Smoking” before-hand, such

as it is addictive etc etc.   Therefore, when they try to stop, they put so much Preparation

and the “Determination” —– from many Rituals (such as to destroy all the related objects,

ashtray, lighter, etc etc) to Declaration to others — 😀

In reality, the more you put Effort or Ritual kind, they stack to your mind and

remind you again and again = prevent you to get rid of the notion of SMOKING.

As long as the notion of Smoking is in your mind = it IS viable CHOICE to DO.

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So, the best tactics is, just stop it, even to take notice of it = when you see a

cigarette —– “What is CIGARETTE ?”

In Zen term, this is Mushin.

= vacates the Mind, not mention any related thinkings.

If you need to stop smoking = JUST DO IT IN THIS WAY

= You will succeed.

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