The saying that the body should be likened to a doormat refers to the simple fact that an ordinary doormat, when someone wipes their dirty feet upon it, never complains — not once. No doormat in any household has ever been known to protest. The elders of old employed this simile with the deliberate intention of reminding us that whatever work one does, one should give it one’s full effort, be a person free of pride and self-importance, and not be selective about one’s work — so long as that work is an honest and lawful livelihood, one should simply get on with it.
Khun Yay Ajarn would often say that from the time she was a child, if the occasion arose that she had to hire herself out to empty and wash chamber pots, she would do so — for it was an honorable livelihood. But to go and steal from others — even at the cost of life and limb, she would never consent to it.
To treat the body as a doormat — to endure whatever hardship or rough treatment may come — for the sake of earning an honest living, but to absolutely refuse to deceive or exploit others merely for the sake of beautifying oneself: this is the point.
Therefore, whoever is able to treat their body as a doormat will find that it reduces physical friction and conflict, bringing the mind to a state of peace and calm — this being the third level.
Source: Warm-hearted Family, page 30
