Taoists say that if you can give up the desire of men and women, you will live as long as the heavens. Covetousness for women can not only cause the body to lose its vitality, but also easily lead to shortened lifespan, poor fortune, and vulgar knowledge. If a cultivator keeps having desires, he will be entangled in bad karma and will not be able to reach heaven. Long Zun, a Buddhist layman in the Ming Dynasty, recorded the views and practices of many ancient people on food and lust in his book "Shen Yan", and encouraged people to abstain from sex and abstinence. The current selection of abstinence part one and two:

The eminent monk Wei from Chang'an in the Jin Dynasty once met a woman who claimed to be a fairy and came to stay. She said: "Because the eminent monk is moral, God sent me here to express his gratitude." It means encouragement and reward. "Monk Wei is determined and unmoved. Said: "My heart is as gray as death, don't tempt me with your stupid skin." The woman then flew into the sky and flew away. When he was leaving, he looked back and said: "The sea water can grow, and the Vajra base can fall. That great monk has an unwavering heart." There is no joy, the stinky skin is filled with excrement, and the accumulation of pus and blood. The balsam on the outside is only smelly and filthy, and unclean things flow out. It is a place where worms and maggots live. You should stay away from it, just like hiding from resentment. Like thieves. Therefore, smart people regard it as a poisonous snake and would rather be close to a poisonous snake than to a woman.”

Shang Yangzi, a famous Taoist in the Yuan Dynasty, said: “Only lust is the first of many evil deeds.” Those who want to get rid of it should first give up. Changchun Zhenren replied that lust is the first thing that should be given up. "Taiwei Lingshu" lists lust as the first of the ten defeats. The rest is very easy."

Shang Yangzi also said: "People in the world think that it is difficult to give up sexual desire. This is a very foolish view for beginners. Give it a try. In a place where he acts alone, sleeps alone, and abstains from drinking, he often reads alchemy scriptures during the day, and maintains a pure state of mind at night. The environment in front of him is quiet, and all random thoughts do not exist. The slightest obstacles set by external demons can strengthen his will. "Faith."

Shao Guizi, a Jinshi in the Song Dynasty, once said to a monk: "If a practitioner continues to eliminate lust, his spiritual roots will not be strong, his energy will be thin, and his vitality will decrease day by day. It will gradually dry up and eventually die." The Zen monk replied: "If you don't stop lust and learn to understand Zen, it is like steaming sand to cook. Even if it lasts for thousands of eons, it can only be called cooked sand and cannot become rice. However, this matter must be done with a pure heart and a clear mind." Wang Changshou, a Jinshi of the Southern Song Dynasty, was able to force the desire to sprout, but it could not last long. Lu Jiuyuan once said: "You can only force it from the outside, but cannot explore the reasons from the inside. That is a lack of self-cultivation. If people understand from the heart what is right, why force control. And if I talk here, if there is a sudden When a beautiful woman appears in front of you, brother, you must not have any desire to love women. If you can always maintain this mentality, why force yourself?

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