A habit is an action performed so repeatedly that it becomes ingrained — repeated in what manner? From morning to evening, from childhood to adulthood. Once something has been done so frequently that it takes hold, one will feel restless and ill at ease if one does not do it again. That is when it has become a habit.
To be clear: “anything done so repeatedly that it becomes ingrained — if it does not take hold, then so be it.” How does one know it has taken hold? “If one feels restless without doing it again — it has taken hold.”
If what has taken hold is unwholesome, one must give it up — for it constitutes unwholesome kamma, closing off the path to heaven and to Nibbāna. Whatever unwholesome attachment one has, it must be relinquished. If it is not, harm will follow in one matter after another: addiction to alcohol is one such harm; addiction to cigarettes is another; addiction to boastfulness yet another.
