Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.
Some chapters in the Book of Life tell of tragedy, others of triumph. Some chapters are dull and others are exciting. The key to being a success in life is to never stop on a difficult page, to never quit a tough chapter. Champions have the courage to keep turning the pages because they know a better chapter lies ahead.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
The cosmos is interesting rather than perfect, and everything is not part of some greater plan, nor is all necessarily under control.
Do not take this material world so seriously because it is always changing. Something terrible that you take so seriously today is going to change tomorrow.
