Eating Meditation

[Guest guest]

Hello Friends,

The Organic Garden Cafe's (raw-food and allergy friendly, vegan cafe

near me!!) owner sends out periodic updates and thoughts on health.

Thought some of you might find this interesting.

Enjoy,

Anne

Eating Meditation

As with sitting and walking, eating is a basic activity that we

easily take for granted. We often eat while doing other things such

as talking or reading.

Eating Meditation is a way to learn to eat with a respectful

attention to your food and your body. We can also learn a lot about

the mind by eating without distractions and making it as much of a

meditation practice as sitting and walking. It is easiest to begin

in silence, although with practice you can learn to eat mindfully in

any circumstance.

--- Before you start, I suggest having all of your meal in one

vessel bowl or plate (a nice ceramic 16 oz to 32 oz bowl that you

like the look and feel of - hand made or Asian). You may wish to

layer your food in there Salad on top or even salad on the bottom.

Example I recently ate a meal like this: I was chilly so I put my

greens on the bottom with very quickly sautéed yellow pepper with a

teriyaki sauce, then I piled on some steamed Kale and Asparagus with

Tamari and black pepper and finally topped it all with an avocado

with a little hot chili sauce. Another example: you could put some

brown rice on the bottom (or warmed pearled barley that you have

soaked for 12 hours and heated in a broth of Miso without too much

high heat), then some steamed spinach or kale with tamari then put

your salad on top. As you go through your eating meditation I find

you can be a little more mindful eating one food group at a time in

layers. I also highly recommend using CHOPSTICKS for eating as that

will also slow you down a little, is more natural and fun, and I feel

the wood connects you more to the food ----

To start eating meditation, place your food in front of you and sit

quietly.

- Reflect on the source of the food and recite any simple prayer of

gratitude or blessing that comes naturally. Then be still for a few

moments, possibly with your hands over the food to feel the subtle

vibrations or warmth.

- Look carefully at the food. Be aware of your body and feelings of

hunger, how your feel about putting this particular food into your

body at this moment.

-Notice the smell of the food and any pleasant feeling associated

with it.

In a relaxed way be aware of each aspect of eating:

-Notice the intention to move your hand and take the food. Move a

little more slowly than normal. It can help to close your eyes as you

begin to chew.

-Initially chew more slowly than usual (later you will want to be

able to chew normal and mindful so the technique will be as practical

as it is insightful). Notice the burst of flavor that comes after you

take the first bite. Keep chewing slowly. What happens to the taste

sensations as you keep chewing?

-Be aware of the intention to swallow the food. Also, notice if there

is an intention to take more food even though you might still have

some in your mouth. -Notice if you feel hurried

-Stay aware of the taste and what happens to it as you keep chewing.

You can label the sensations as salty, sweet, sour, hot, and so on.

-Also, notice if there is any difference in the intensity of the

taste depending upon whether you are breathing in or breathing out.

You don't have to remember all that, mainly remember 1) chew well, 2)

taste, 3) notice swallowing 4) and remember to Pause 5) and Breathe

for a moment before the next bite.

Continue with this same mindful attention to everything you eat until

you come to the end.

-Finally, pay attention to the signals from your stomach and your

tongue & eyes as you approach the point of being full. Notice how

these signals can be at odds with each other. Stomach may say you

are full while the tongue and eyes want more. Don't follow old

habits and finish what is on your plate but listen to your whole boy

instead! OR maybe you have not been eating enough and need to have

more?

Eating meditation can reveal a lot about how we relate to pleasant

experiences.

Liberation is experiencing what is pleasant without being gripped by

the force of greed, one of the root causes of all suffering.

Eating meditation helps us realize that freedom.

Even one meal eaten this way is a wonderful reminder of a mindful

life. Try to practice this as often as you can and eventually it

will be second nature!