I was listening to this dhamma talk by Joseph Goldstein the other day: Factors Of Awakening: Tranquility (2008-04-11). One thing he mentioned near the end is that as tranquility (upekkha) is cultivated desires naturally diminish.
And i realized, looking back, that the times when i felt calmest in my life and practice were also times when i ate well, and was thin. I wonder, is this a relationship others here have noticed as well, that the more tranquil you are the more healthy you feel and the less you find yourself filled with desire for food?
If so, it would seem that dhamma practice, and specifically the cultivation of upekkha (probably in tandem with mindfulness while eating) would be the best way to address diet or weight issues related to unhealthy eating.
Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
- christopher:::
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Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
Hi Chrisopher
Don't forget exercise as well.
metta
Ben
Don't forget exercise as well.
metta
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- christopher:::
- Posts: 1327
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:56 am
Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
Hi Ben.Ben wrote: Don't forget exercise as well.
I've exercised pretty regularly since junior high school, walking daily and working out twice a week at a minimum. The stretches of healthy eating and weight loss did not correspond with greater exercise (or meditation) as far as i can recall so much as greater calm and mindfulness. I did do yoga more regularly though at certain points. I'm trying to recall if that corresponded with the periods of calm and reduction of cravings- it may have....
I've put on weight the last 10 years, while still exercising (minus the yoga), but definitely with an increase in subtle anxiety, less tranquility as compared with the pre-children years...
Has your experience been similar, or different?
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
- appicchato
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Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
Upekkha is equanimity, not tranquility...christopher::: wrote:One thing he mentioned near the end is that as tranquility (upekkha) is cultivated desires naturally diminish.
- christopher:::
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Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
Thank you bhante. I must admit, i do get equanimity and tranquility confused. I'll listen again to the dharma talk. Can you recommend any resources which makes the difference clear, or that discuss the relationship of upekkha or passaddhi with detachment from desires?appicchato wrote:Upekkha is equanimity, not tranquility...christopher::: wrote:One thing he mentioned near the end is that as tranquility (upekkha) is cultivated desires naturally diminish.
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
- appicchato
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- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:47 am
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Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
Hi Chris,
Equanimity is upekkha...tranquility is samatha...pretty straightforward I would think...being equanimous is not the same as being tranquil...(http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/palidict.pdf)...at the moment I can't readily recall any discussions that I've seen pertaining to the second part of your question...
Equanimity is upekkha...tranquility is samatha...pretty straightforward I would think...being equanimous is not the same as being tranquil...(http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/palidict.pdf)...at the moment I can't readily recall any discussions that I've seen pertaining to the second part of your question...
- christopher:::
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Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
That's an excellent resource. I posted a question about this in another discussion.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
Re: Dharma & Diet: Tranquility & Desire
I think it has to do with the lack of stress. if you are peaceful, then you are less stressful, you are not releasing hormones like cortisol in your body that might make you agitated, angry or increase hunger or kill brain cells for that matter. what I noticed is my blood pressure drops when I meditate and my heart rate slows down. So maybe the heart and the body isn't working so hard when you are relaxed, which helps with feeling healthy.christopher::: wrote: And i realized, looking back, that the times when i felt calmest in my life and practice were also times when i ate well, and was thin. I wonder, is this a relationship others here have noticed as well, that the more tranquil you are the more healthy you feel and the less you find yourself filled with desire for food?