Why improve the environment around us?

Deyufang Sophie Why improve the environment around us

Why improve the environment around us?

It's Not That It Doesn't Get Dirty, We Just Can't See It

We often deceive ourselves into thinking that something isn’t dirty just because we can’t see the dirt. However, that’s not the truth. For example, when we talk about “cleanliness,” many people associate it with white socks. Whether in Western cultures or ancient Chinese dramas, white socks often symbolize cleanliness. Yet, starting from my grandparents’ generation, white socks were criticized as “hard to keep clean,” leading many to wear black socks instead. But does wearing black socks mean they don’t get dirty? No, it just means we can’t see the dirt. So, does unseen dirt cease to exist?

In tea ceremony practice, there is a strict rule: you must wear white socks to enter the tea room or step on the tatami mats. This rule reflects the emphasis on absolute cleanliness in the tea room. External cleanliness mirrors internal purity. Cleanliness is not a luxury; it is a hallmark of elegance. When your heart and mind are pure, you naturally desire your surroundings to reflect that purity.

Some may ask: isn’t this a form of attachment? Indeed, distinguishing and choosing is an initial phase of spiritual practice. Through external discipline—what some may call “pretending”—we train ourselves to ultimately transcend such distinctions. Without these preliminary steps, abandoning attachments too early may lead to indulgence, hindering self-improvement.

Our environment plays a pivotal role in shaping who we are. Improving our environment is the first step toward forming good habits. Our diet, daily routines, social circles, and activities—all constitute our ecological environment. By gradually optimizing these, our hearts and actions naturally elevate. Therefore, to cultivate better habits, start by transforming your environment, step by step, toward a better state.

它不是不变脏,只是我们看不出来它变脏了

我们常常会自我欺骗,以为看不见的污垢就不存在。然而,事实并非如此。比如,当谈到“干净整洁”时,很多人会联想到白色的袜子,无论是西方人还是我们古装电视剧中的人物,白色袜子似乎总与干净联系在一起。然而,从我的爷爷奶奶那一辈开始,白袜子被认为“不耐脏”,于是很多人开始穿黑袜子。但穿黑袜子真的能让它“不变脏”吗?不,只是我们看不出来而已。那么,看不出来的脏就不算脏了吗?

在茶道练习中,有一个严格的要求:进入茶室或踩踏榻榻米时,必须穿白色袜子,否则无法入内。这是因为茶室是一个讲究绝对洁净的空间。而这种外在的洁净,也正是内心纯净的映射。干净不是一种奢侈,而是一种高贵的体现。保持内心的洁净,就会不由自主地希望周围的一切都洁净。

然而,有人会问,这样的分别取舍是否违背修道的初衷?事实上,分别取舍心是修道的初级阶段。只有通过外在的“作”(装作的作)来训练,最终才能达到“不作”的境界。如果一开始就放弃这些细节,就可能堕入放纵,无法自我提升。

环境对一个人的影响极大,改善环境是养成好习惯的第一步。我们的饮食、作息、交际圈、活动,这些都构成了我们的生态环境。通过逐步优化这些生态环境,我们的内心和行为才能随之改变。因此,要改变自己,就要从改变环境开始,循序渐进,逐步提升