—for the body cannot keep going except by whatever is poured into it. Once that burden has entered the vessel, it is all the same. I therefore took from it whatever food and drink came easily and rejected whatever was troublesome. In the measure that I relieved myself of the vessel’s cost and the palate’s pleasure, I became like a man who used to make ash from aloeswood, sandalwood, and other expensive sticks; when the expense of that grew heavy, he began to make ash from dung and cheap firewood, and so the load became light for him.

Next I considered the burden of the private parts and discovered that they, together with the eyes, are linked to the heart: the gate of the eye irrigates desire, and both join forces in destroying the body, while the pleasure they supply is soon cut off, no matter how long one lives. I was on the point of casting them away, saying, “Their ruin and removal are easier for me than the ruin of my whole body.” Yet I feared that doing so might damage the entire body, so I pondered and reflected until I found nothing better for them than seclusion from people.

What made my former house detestable to me was the thought of staying among those who understand nothing but the affairs of this world. I felt estranged at living in their midst, so I withdrew from them to this abode. Thus the gateways of sin were shut against me; I have severed myself from four pleasures, and I have cut them off by means of four traits.