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Just as philosophy advocates the rule of occasional and temporary retreats as being helpful to practise meditation, pursue study, and clarify the mind, so it advocates the rule of temporary asceticism as being helpful to purify desire, fortify will, and discipline the body. This is a component of its moral message to the present age just as total retreat and total asceticism was the right rule for former ages. Such a difference is of vast magnitude to the individual concerned and of vital importance to the society in whose midst he dwells. It is often a personal convenience to combine the two--the retreat with the asceticism--and thus keep any disturbance of social life to a minimum.

-- Notebooks Category 3: Relax and Retreat > Chapter 1 : Take Intermittent Pauses > # 114