夫世之持斋，往往以斋之说为误，何也？茹素而已，不复知有斋之实事。意谓茹素可以弭灾集福，却
病延年，则谬矣，《玉华子》曰∶斋者，齐也。齐其心而洁其体也，岂仅茹素而已。所谓齐心者，澹志寡
营，轻得失，勤内省，远荤酒；洁其体者，不履邪径，不视恶色，不听淫声，不为物诱。入室闭户，烧香静
坐，方可谓之斋也。诚能如是，则身中之神明自安，升降不碍，可以却病，可以长生，可以迪福弭罪。
《太乙真人七禁文》其六曰∶美饮食，养胃气，彭鹤林云∶夫脾为脏，胃为腑，脾胃二气，互相表
里。胃为水谷之海，主纳水谷，脾在中央，磨而消之，化为气血，以灌溉脏腑，荣养周身。所系最重修
养之士，不可不美其饮食以调之。所谓美者，非水陆毕具异品珍馐之谓也。要在乎生冷勿食，粗硬勿食
，勿强食，勿强饮。先饥而食，食不过饱；先渴而饮，饮不过多。孔子曰∶食 而 ，鱼馁而肉败不食
，色恶不食，臭恶不食，失饪不食，不时不食，凡此者皆损胃气，非惟致病，亦乃伤生，欲希长年，斯
宜深戒，而奉老慈幼，与观颐者审之。
饮食之宜，当候已饥而进食，食不厌细嚼，仍候焦渴而引饮，饮不厌细呷。毋待饥甚而食，食勿过
饱。时觉渴甚而饮，饮勿过多。食不厌精细，饮不厌温热。五味毋令胜谷
味，肉味毋令胜食气。食必先食热，后食冷。
世人持守斋戒，往往认为关于斋的说法是错误的，为什么呢？因为他们只知吃素，不再知晓斋的真实含义。他们认为吃素可以消除灾祸、聚集福报，祛除疾病、延长寿命，这就错了。《玉华子》说：斋，就是齐。使内心整齐并洁净身体，难道仅仅是吃素而已吗？所谓齐心，就是淡泊志向、减少欲望，看轻得失，勤于自我反省，远离荤腥和酒；所谓洁体，就是不走邪路，不看恶色，不听淫声，不被外物诱惑。回到室内关闭门户，点燃香烛静坐，才可以称为斋。如果能做到这样，那么体内的神明自然安宁，气机升降通畅，可以祛除疾病，可以长生，可以招致福报、消除罪过。
《太乙真人七禁文》第六条说：美好的饮食，能养护胃气。彭鹤林说：脾是脏，胃是腑，脾胃二气，互为表里。胃是水谷之海，主要受纳水谷；脾位于中央，研磨消化食物，将其化为气血，用来灌溉脏腑，荣养全身。这关系重大，修养身心的人，不能不通过美好的饮食来调理它。所谓美好，并不是指水陆珍奇美味都具备的意思。关键在于不吃生冷，不吃粗硬，不要勉强进食，不要勉强饮水。在感到饥饿之前进食，吃饭不超过饱腹；在感到口渴之前饮水，饮水不超过适量。孔子说：“食饐而餲（食物变质发臭），鱼馁而肉败（鱼肉腐烂）不吃，颜色难看的不吃，气味难闻的不吃，烹饪不当的不吃，不合时令的不吃。”凡是这些都会损伤胃气，不仅导致疾病，而且伤害生命。想要希望长寿，就应当深深警戒，奉行此道。奉养老人、慈爱幼小之人，以及观察颐养之道的人，都应仔细审察。
饮食的适宜，应当等到已经感到饥饿时再进食，吃饭不嫌细嚼慢咽，仍然要等到焦渴时才饮水，饮水不嫌小口慢饮。不要等到非常饥饿时才吃，吃饭不要过饱。时常觉得非常口渴时才喝，喝水不要过多。吃饭不嫌精细，饮水不嫌温热。五味不要让它们胜过谷物的味道，肉味不要让它们胜过食物的精气。吃东西一定要先吃热的，后吃冷的。
Those who observe vegetarianism in the world often consider the concept of "Zhai" (fasting/abstinence) to be erroneous. Why is this? Because they merely consume a vegetarian diet, unaware of the actual substance of Zhai. They believe that eating vegetables can eliminate disasters and gather blessings, dispel illness, and prolong life; this is a fallacy. *Yuhua Zi* states: "Zhai means Qi (alignment/order)." It refers to aligning one's mind and cleansing one's body. Is it merely about eating vegetables? The so-called "aligning the mind" implies maintaining a tranquil will, reducing desires, valuing gain and loss lightly, engaging in frequent introspection, and staying away from meat and alcohol. The so-called "cleansing the body" implies not walking on evil paths, not looking at ugly sights, not listening to licentious sounds, and not being seduced by material objects. Returning to a room, closing the doors, burning incense, and sitting quietly—only then can it be called Zhai. If one can truly do this, then the divine spirit within the body will naturally settle, the ascending and descending of Qi will be unobstructed, illness can be dispelled, longevity achieved, and blessings invited while sins are erased.
Article Six of *Taiyi Zhenren Qijin Wen* states: "Fine diet nourishes Stomach Qi." Peng Helin said: The Spleen is a Zang organ, and the Stomach is a Fu organ; the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach mutually exteriorize and interiorize each other. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain, primarily responsible for receiving food and drink. The Spleen resides in the center, grinding and digesting food, transforming it into Qi and Blood to irrigate the Zang-Fu organs and nourish the entire body. This relationship is crucial; those who cultivate their bodies and minds must not fail to fine-tune their diet for regulation. By "fine," it does not mean possessing all kinds of exotic delicacies from land and sea. The key lies in avoiding raw and cold foods, avoiding coarse and hard foods, not forcing oneself to eat, and not forcing oneself to drink. Eat before feeling hungry, but do not overeat; drink before feeling thirsty, but do not drink excessively. Confucius said: "Do not eat rice that has become sour or fish and meat that have rotted. Do not eat food with bad color, bad smell, improperly cooked food, or out-of-season food." All these damage Stomach Qi, not only causing disease but also harming life. Those who wish for longevity should deeply guard against them. Those who serve the elderly and show kindness to the young, as well as those observing the principles of nourishment, should examine this carefully.
Regarding dietary appropriateness, one should eat when already hungry, chewing thoroughly; and drink when parched, sipping slowly. Do not wait until extreme hunger to eat, nor eat until overly full. Drink when feeling intense thirst, but do not drink excessively. Food should preferably be fine and refined; drinks should preferably be warm. The five flavors should not overpower the taste of grains; the flavor of meat should not overpower the essence of food. One must eat hot foods first, followed by cold foods.