The Monks, the Cigarettes, and the True Meaning of Meditatio
Two young monks lived in the same monastery.
Both were sincere in their spiritual practice…
And both, from time to time, enjoyed a quiet smoke.
One day, an elder monk gently reminded them:
“Smoking isn’t encouraged in the ashram. It distracts from the path.”
So, they each decided to ask the Master — hoping for permission.
The next morning, one monk was seen sitting peacefully under a tree, eyes half-closed in meditation… gently puffing on a cigarette.
The other monk was stunned.
“I asked the Master if I could smoke while meditating,” he said.
“And he told me — ‘No! That’s bad for meditation.’
How are you doing this?”
The meditating monk smiled.
“I asked… if I could meditate while smoking.”
“And the Master said — ‘Of course. You can meditate anywhere. That is a good thing.’”
At first, it seems like a clever twist.
But hidden inside this story is a subtle truth — one that’s often missed.
The first monk was focused on smoking.
His intent was to indulge, even during his practice.
Naturally, the Master saw through it.
But the second monk’s heart was anchored in meditation.
He wasn’t trying to escape life.
He was trying to bring awareness into it.
And that’s why he was free.
It’s said that a true yogi may live in the world — marry, raise children, work a job — and still remain untouched by it.
While another, who lives like a monk, might still secretly crave what they’ve renounced.
So if you're thinking about smoking…
First, make sure your meditation is perfect.
True freedom isn’t about what you give up — it’s about what no longer binds you.