Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

A place to discuss health and fitness, healthy diets. A fit body makes for a fit mind.
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altar
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by altar »

one of the most delectable suttas, i recall a young monk in england posted on e'sangha, the buddha recommends conjee and honey.
rowyourboat
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by rowyourboat »

[3] "'The perception of loathsomeness in food, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. It gains a footing in the Deathless, has the Deathless as its final end': Thus was it said. In reference to what was it said?

"When a monk's awareness often remains steeped in the perception of loathsomeness in food, his mind shrinks away from craving for flavors, bends away, pulls back, and is not drawn in, and either equanimity or loathing take a stance. Just as a cock's feather or a piece of tendon, when thrown into a fire, shrinks away, bends away, pulls back, and is not drawn in; in the same way, when a monk's awareness often remains steeped in the perception of loathsomeness in food, his mind shrinks away from craving for flavors, bends away, pulls back, and is not drawn in, and either equanimity or loathing take a stance. If, when a monk's awareness often remains steeped in the perception of loathsomeness in food, his mind inclines to craving for flavors, or if non-loathing takes a stance, then he should realize, 'I have not developed the perception of loathsomeness in food; there is no step-by-step distinction in me; I have not arrived at the fruit of [mental] development.' In that way he is alert there. But if, when a monk's awareness often remains steeped in the perception of loathsomeness in food, his mind shrinks away from craving for flavors, bends away, pulls back, and is not drawn in, and either equanimity or loathing take a stance, then he should realize, 'I have developed the perception of loathsomeness in food; there is a step-by-step distinction in me; I have arrived at the fruit of [mental] development.' In that way he is alert there.

"'The perception of loathsomeness in food, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. It gains a footing in the Deathless, has the Deathless as its final end': Thus was it said, and in reference to this was it said.http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Trying to note the disgusting quality of food.

With metta

Matheesha
With Metta

Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
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Ben
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by Ben »

Hi David,
David N. Snyder wrote:Actually, the Buddha was sort of the party-pooper:
We will eat in moderation. Reflecting wisely we will not eat for fun, for amusement or for physical attractiveness but only for the maintenance and continuance of this body, for allaying the discomfort of hunger, for assisting in living the holy life and with the thought “I will end the old desires and not give rise to new ones and thus be healthy, blameless and live in comfort” ’ (M.I,273)
Anagamis (non-returners) and Arahants have eliminated all sense desires and have no problem with eating just for sustenance.

I like sweets occasionally (but not as much as my younger days) and spicy foods.
I agree. And on retreat, I eat only for sustenance.
Part of my work role is to cater for lots of people. Some of whom are hedonistic sensualists - and I have a serious problem with the continual lusting after food and drink you see in the 'foodie' phenomenon. What I do find disagreeable is to adopt a dietary practice to give one the appearance of being a more serious practitioner. If one wishes to eat only for sustenance as a result of Dhamma practice and it happens naturallly - all well and good. If however, one is attempting to adopt the outward signs of Dhamma as a means to impress others or oneself - that I find curious.
kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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bodom
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by bodom »

rowyourboat wrote:Trying to note the disgusting quality of food.

With metta

Matheesha
This from the Visuddhimagga:
The pleasant drink, the pleasant food,
Hard, soft, whatever it may be:
Through one door it is loaded in,
Through nine it trickles out again.

The pleasant drink, the pleasant food.
Hard, soft, whatever it may be:
Man may in company enjoy,
Yet in discharging it, he hides.

The pleasant drink, the pleasant food,
Hard, soft, whatever it may be:
Man may enjoy with full delight,
Yet in discharging, feels disgust

The pleasant drink, the pleasant food,
Hard, soft, whatever it may be:
The whole, after one single night,
Will reach a state of loathsomeness.

- Vism XI, 23
http://books.google.com/books?id=kLQzuaw3xUYC&num=10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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manas
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by manas »

When food has a pleasing taste, I always digest it better than if it tastes bland. So, I also aim for a balance between health and taste.

Plus I've given up a few other things I used to like doing, for the sake of the dhamma...so to also deny myself tasteful foods, when as a layperson I don't have to, seems, well...unnecessary.

I've found that for me, fine chocolate, coffee, and the occassional pizza cause no problems whatsoever, but rather, give much comfort! :thumbsup:

Edit: and while eating the chocolate, I aim to know only 'taste'...so yes, I still try to eat meditatively, even while enjoying the pleasing flavour. I try not to be heedless...
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
rowyourboat
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by rowyourboat »

Some people have told me that when they ate what they thought to be delicious food mindfully, it turned out to be less delicious than they thought- so even simply being mindful while eating helps. Overcoming senduality is a valid (albeit not popular) part of practice. :anjali:

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Matheesha
With Metta

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ground
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by ground »

rowyourboat wrote:Some people have told me that when they ate what they thought to be delicious food mindfully, it turned out to be less delicious than they thought- so even simply being mindful while eating helps. Overcoming senduality is a valid (albeit not popular) part of practice. :anjali:
That seems to be implied by appropriate practice of mindfulness:
unsustained by (not clinging to) anything in the world
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Attachment (clinging) thus is shown to be inhering in experiencing "deliciousness"

Kind regards
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Ben
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by Ben »

TMingyur wrote: Attachment (clinging) thus is shown to be inhering in experiencing "deliciousness"
Do you have anything to support this notion?
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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ground
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by ground »

Ben wrote:
TMingyur wrote: Attachment (clinging) thus is shown to be inhering in experiencing "deliciousness"
Do you have anything to support this notion?
If you mean a sutta where the Buddha says "Attachment (clinging) is inhering in experiencing 'deliciousness'" then no, I do not have such a sutta reference.

Kind regards
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tiltbillings
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by tiltbillings »

TMingyur wrote:
Ben wrote:
TMingyur wrote: Attachment (clinging) thus is shown to be inhering in experiencing "deliciousness"
Do you have anything to support this notion?
If you mean a sutta where the Buddha says "Attachment (clinging) is inhering in experiencing 'deliciousness'" then no, I do not have such a sutta reference.

Kind regards
In other words, it is an idea of your making.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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ground
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by ground »

tiltbillings wrote:In other words, it is an idea of your making.
What is not "an idea of our making" if expressed in words and terminology?

Actually I looked up the meaning of "deliciousness" in a vocabulary and presented my conclusion.


Kind regards
Sanghamitta
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by Sanghamitta »

Its just not that complicated...sigh.
If you have a bowl of wholesome food that has been garnered with a minimum of suffering to sentient beings just eat it gratefully.

The centipede was happy , quite
until a toad in fun,
said "pray, which leg goes after which ? "
which worked his mind to such a pitch
he laid distracted in a ditch
considering how to run.

:anjali:
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by tiltbillings »

TMingyur wrote:Attachment (clinging) is inhering in experiencing 'deliciousness'
TMingyur wrote:
tiltbillings wrote:In other words, it is an idea of your making.
What is not "an idea of our making" if expressed in words and terminology?

Actually I looked up the meaning of "deliciousness" in a vocabulary and presented my conclusion.
There is no inherent reason that attachment must arise from the experience of "deliciousness." That would present some serious problems, if true.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Ben
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by Ben »

TMingyur wrote:
Ben wrote:
TMingyur wrote: Attachment (clinging) thus is shown to be inhering in experiencing "deliciousness"
Do you have anything to support this notion?
If you mean a sutta where the Buddha says "Attachment (clinging) is inhering in experiencing 'deliciousness'" then no, I do not have such a sutta reference.

Kind regards
Tell me Ming, if one discerns a vedana as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, does it infer that one is experiencing clinging, aversion or indifference towards that vedana?

kind regards

Bne
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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ground
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Re: Do you eat for taste or nutrition?

Post by ground »

Ben wrote:Tell me Ming, if one discerns a vedana as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, does it infer that one is experiencing clinging, aversion or indifference towards that vedana?

kind regards

Bne
No.

In the case of the experience of "deliciousness of food" as soon as vedana is discerned the "deliciousness of food" fades away which is simply because consciousness cannot have two objects (vedana and alleged delicious taste of food) at the same time.

Kind regards
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