What is really meant by asceticism?
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To many people asceticism
means the prohibition of material things. The less material things
they use, the better they are. This is because they fear that these
external things will fill their passions and lusts. The ascetic person acknowledges that within man there are lusts and passions. He
realizes that from the lust for food to the lust for sex, all sorts of lusts
are inherent in man. Each lust is shared and indulged in by the people
of the world. If anyone desires to be a holy man, he must conquer
these lusts and passions. Therefore, asceticism is outwardly despising
material things and inwardly suppressing lusts and passions.