Dear Friends,
Namaste!
When we say our diet has to be balanced, it is, to say the least, stating the obvious! However, ‘balanced diet’ is easier said than eaten!! Therefore, it would not be too out of place to discuss a few key points surrounding this topic.
And let’s start with the most important one...
Two Zen apprentices were sitting and chatting below a pole on which a flag was hoisted. The weather was serene and a cool breeze was blowing. The flag was merrily fluttering away...
One of the aspirants looked up and said, “Look, the flag is moving.”
The other one said deprecatingly, “The wind is moving!”
Their Zen master, who was passing by and happened to overhear the conversation, came near them, put his hands on their shoulders and said, “My dear fellows, the mind is moving!!”
By the same token, as per Yoga Shastra, food that is consumed in a balanced state of body, mind and intellect (in other words, all our faculties) constitutes balanced diet! We can worry about our diet being balanced later. First question to ask is ‘Are we balanced while eating?’
1. Body Balance - Our body needs to be in a proper Yogic posture (“Asana”) while eating. “Asana” is defined by the great Sage Patanjali as any posture that is comfortable and steady. (“Sthira Sukham Asanam” – Steady Comfortable Posture). There are standing, sitting and lying down Asanas but while eating, it is recommended that one should assume a sitting posture that is steady and comfortable. One should sit on a mat or a wooden block (a bad conductor of heat – body heat) with legs crossed and eat. Munching away while walking is surely forbidden! Sitting on a chair may not be forbidden but is not ideal. Breathing must be relaxed, even and deep. We must neither eat immediately after heavy physical activity (because we must settle down) nor should we undertake heavy physical activity immediately after eating our meals (we must allow the food as well to settle in our body).
The eating place should be clean, dry, tranquil and full of light and breeze. It must neither be too hot or too cold. As far as possible, we must eat in the same place. Our body must get so used to the place of eating that the digestive juices should automatically start flowing as soon as we enter the place!
2. Mind Balance – We must not eat when agitated or otherwise emotionally disturbed. The adrenalin should not be flowing. (Digestive juices should!). Therefore we should minimize talking while eating. It hurts us in two ways. For one, we end up gulping too much air than is good for digestion if we keep chattering. We have seen that we should not have more than a quarter of our stomach full with air during the process of digestion. The extra air gives a bloated feeling. The body tries its best to expel it (through burps etc.) but it does disrupt digestion. For another, ranting creates thought ripples on our mind’s pond that again interfere with digestion.
The mind must not distract the body by diverting life-force in doing anything other than just eating. Concentration of the mind must be consummate. Hence the beautiful quote, “Whenever the Buddha eats, He eats!!!” We must savour the food, relish every morsel. The pure joy of eating should be able to blank out any other thought!
But when eating is considered to be part and parcel of socialising and merriment, how do we avoid company and chit-chat? The practical solution appears to be to minimize, if not eliminate, other activities. If we cannot avoid company, at least we can choose good company. This applies to not only the company of people around us (not only while eating but actually even otherwise) but also our thoughts.
‘The secret of life full of harmony
Is always being in good company
What better company to be sought
Than the company of a noble thought’
For this very reason, just like in case of physical activities, we must avoid ‘heavy’ emotional stuff immediately before or after meals.
3. Intellectual Balance – So, if we, as common or normal people, cannot avoid thoughts while eating (only very advanced practitioners of Yoga are able to do so), we should at least try to control the same and ensure we think only benevolent thoughts.
Now we know why our elders have taught us to always begin a meal with a prayer! A prayer comprises the right thoughts that give us the right perspective and set our mind-frame right for the delightful ritual of eating.
We shall discuss this aspect in more detail in the next article and also look at a few more tips to get us fully balanced.
Till then - live, laugh, love!
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