Why one meal a day?

A place to discuss health and fitness, healthy diets. A fit body makes for a fit mind.
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timmbuktwo
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by timmbuktwo »

lojong1 wrote:yes
which part are you having difficulty with?
metta_noob
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by metta_noob »

is there another thread that explains why no eating after mid-day when you're observing the 8 precepts? I've always wanted to figure out the real reason why midday.
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

The Pāli says just "eating at the wrong time" (vikāla bojjhanā).
If making a rule then you need a limit. Since there were no clocks in the Buddha's time, between dawn (first light) and midday was easily observable.

Should any bhikkhu chew or consume staple or non-staple food at the wrong time, it is to be confessed.

Plenty more food for thought at the above link, and some helpful standards applicable for lay people observing the eight precepts, e.g. you can take juice, honey, or sweet drinks at any time, but not milk.
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metta_noob
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by metta_noob »

Thank you for the link bhante. Unfortunately, I haven't found the reason for the rule there. I'm sure there's a good reason for it and I guess it'll be an itch that won't go away.

I've been to the local temple and observed danas. The lay people would very enthusiastically offer lots of food to the monks (to accumulate merits, I guess) and many times I'm amazed at the volume of food they consume in one sitting. At the local temple, the monks have morning and lunch dana ie 2 meals. I've noticed that most of the monks are not exactly slim and trim. And some monks have told me that diabetes is a common problem. Hence my curiosity about the reason for the rule. I understand about moderation and eating for sustenance but I always wondered if the rule might inadvertently encourage a "stockpiling" eating pattern.

Btw, one chinese monk explained that the Buddha forbade eating after midday because their alms rounds were in the mornings and the excess food unconsumed would go bad later in the day because there was no refrigeration then. He said that there was a case where a monk ate the left over food later in the day and fell ill. Hence the rule. Sounds logical but is that the real reason for the rule? Or even the only reason for the rule?
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DNS
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by DNS »

The Buddha praised moderation in eating (Sn.707) and encouraged this in his monks and nuns. To this end and for reasons of health, he made a rule that they should not eat after noon.

‘I do not eat in the evening and thus I am free from illness and affliction and enjoy health, strength and ease’
(M.I,473).

The Buddha also suggested to his disciples that they recite these words as a reflection before eating. ‘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).

Taking the 8 precepts is sort of like going on a mini-retreat where there is more intensive practice. To this end, following some of the bhikkhu / bhikkhuni precpts is advisable to have better concentration, tranquility for the practice. In addition:

1. It is good for health, to consume all the food at once and walk (exercise it off later).
2. It places less of a burden on lay people who will only need to provide food for one meal, instead of many meals.
3. It allows for more time to be spent on the practice and teaching of Dhamma.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Why one meal a day?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

An interesting article I encountered that reminded me of this topic...

Eating one meal per day may promote positive changes in health
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... n27263642/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know from personal experience that I don't do enough physical exercise to justify the consumption of three meals each day... I suspect the same could be said for many other people whose work often has them sat in front of a computer.

:coffee:

Metta,
Retro. :)
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Nori
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Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by Nori »

I am just wondering if anybody on the forum has followed the precepts of not eating after mid-day or avoiding lofty beds (most standard beds are considered "lofty beds") continuously for many years?

If so, it would be nice if you can share your experience on how it brought some benefit or how it may have changed your disposition.

(Also - does hunger in the evenings go away after some period of time?)
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ground
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by ground »

Nori wrote:...continuously for many years?
I am wondering too, if there is anybody like this here :smile: Perhaps asking like this isn't the best way to get a response at all ...

Or you expect replies from ordained people only ...

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befriend
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by befriend »

ive heard from people that if you skip dinner enough you get used to it. its done to keep the mind light, think about how you mind is after thanksgiving dinner. hard to meditate.
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by daverupa »

befriend wrote:ive heard from people that if you skip dinner enough you get used to it. its done to keep the mind light, think about how you mind is after thanksgiving dinner. hard to meditate.
A more restful night's sleep also.
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    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by Zom »

I am just wondering if anybody on the forum has followed the precepts of not eating after mid-day or avoiding lofty beds (most standard beds are considered "lofty beds") continuously for many years?
I don't use "lofty bed" for some last years, there is no problem with that (unless you prefer to sleep on a floor without a bedding -). Eating once a day is harder to observe - at first I found it almost impossible to keep. At the present time I've realized for myself that eating once a day is more than enough and that hunger is partly (or even may be "largely") produced by pure mental desire to eat something. Yes, it is true that hunger disappears when you practise this precept for quite a long period of time (even a month can be enough). The good idea is to eat after 5 hours since you get up in the morning (no matter at what time exactly you get up). And you should eat a lot of food, not little (right amount depends on each person, so this should be figured out by yourself). If you want to be ritualistic and follow the rule as it says "eat before noon" - then this will be a good idea to get up early, so to keep these 5 hours before taking food. And of course, it this case you'll have to go to bed earlier too (otherwise you will fight with hunger in the late evening).

Also, in the beginning you can practise like that: eat once a day, and then have a tea with cakes or candies or chocolate or cheese in the evening. After some time you will manage to drop cakes & candies ,) Tea is no problem - you can keep it - this is not a food -)

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DNS
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by DNS »

Hunger goes away, as long as you get enough to eat during the one meal. I have been doing the one meal program for several years and feel much better, sleep better, and it keeps the weight off.

See also this thread: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3045" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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ground
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by ground »

I think it is very challenging (if not impossible) to get enough calories to cover basic caloric needs with one meal only. I would suggest to have two meals before mid-day.
I am underweight and once gave it a try for a few days only and still lost too much weight with two meals.


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bodom
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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by bodom »

TMingyur wrote:I think it is very challenging (if not impossible) to get enough calories to cover basic caloric needs with one meal only. I would suggest to have two meals before mid-day.

Kind regards
As Bhante G says "Eat your breakfast like a king, share your lunch with a friend, and give your dinner to your enemy."

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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.

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Re: Precepts: Not eating after mid-day / Avoiding lofty beds

Post by Nori »

I think in the Tipitaka, in almost all cases, the Buddha wakes up early in the morning and goes for alms (anyone know what time that is, btw?). I am assuming that he will eat what he was given not too long after in the morning..

I am wondering if it is the case that monks will generally eat once in the morning and then once again before noon? Or is it strictly once a day? (if so, closer to morning or midday?) Is it specified in the Vinaya?
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