Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

nothing to teach us. Then they tell how the bodhisattva
took a cup of milk and from the strength he gained,
achieved Enlightenment. Now, wisdom-beings and
Enlightened Ones never show an example in vain. This
period of asceticism is to emphasize to us that
renunciation must be complete before Enlightenment
can be attained. Even though we may take many cups of
milk a day, still neither we nor they become enlightened
thereby! How easy would Enlightenment be if this was
all one had to do! But the renunciation comes first—and
before his Enlightenment, Gautama had renounced all
comforts, even clothing, and had very nearly given up
taking any food at all. He took only one or two grains of
rice each day, and after such fasting, even a cup of milk
has very great powers of nourishment.
Mr. Chen added in a note:
After almost two thousand years after the Buddha's
parinirvana, the great Tibetan Milarepa experienced
similar results from his long periods of fasting or near
fasting, having only nettle soup. When he took a single
cup of milk, his median channel was opened. One cup
of milk for the common person has not the highest
power, but for one who over many years has lacked
substantial food, it has a great power to help his
meditation. Readers should recognize this point clearly,
and not be confused by those who talk disparagingly of
these long periods of asceticism.
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