How a simple reflection transforms your attitude towards food

Is that chanting or just a chore?

When I spent time in Thailand in a monastery (Wat Pah Nanachat), we had our meals just once a day at around 8.30 am. And right before every meal, we sat down and chanted a food reflection in Pali. To be honest, it felt kind of strange and back then, I did not yet fully grasp the full power of this chant. Or maybe it was just the hunger creeping up on me after 23 hours and 30 minutes of fasting that clouded my brains. So here goes the chant in my favorite translated version:

"With wise reflection I eat this food,
not for fattening, not for beautification,
only to maintain this body,
to stay alive and healthy,
to support the spiritual way of life.
Thus I let go of unpleasant feelings,
and do not stir up new ones.
Thereby the process of life goes on.
blameless, at ease, and in peace."

It felt like an empty chore. And I just took it as just one of the things you have to do. A month later I left the monastery and went on a 10 day silent retreat in the Wat Suan Mokh International Hermitage (Friends Of Suan Mokkh). And there he was again. My old and beloved friend, the daily food reflection. This time we chanted it in English instead of Pali. But still it felt like a chore. 

From chore to charme to change

Even though it felt like a chore, these words struck a chord in me. Made me think. Reflect upon food. And finally fall in love with every word of the reflection. But where does this food reflection actually come from? It is said, that the Buddha deemed four requisites for ordained monks necessary: clothing, food, lodging and medicine. And each of those requisites should be treated with the utmost respect.

"Properly considering the robe, I use it: simply to ward off cold, to ward off heat, to ward off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, simply for the purpose of covering the parts of the body that cause shame. 

"Properly considering almsfood, I use it: not playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for putting on weight, nor for beautification; but simply for the survival and continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the chaste life, (thinking) I will destroy old feelings (of hunger) and not create new feelings (from overeating). Thus I will maintain myself, be blameless, and live in comfort. 

"Properly considering the lodging, I use it: simply to ward off cold, to ward off heat, to ward off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun and reptiles; simply for protection from the inclemencies of weather and for the enjoyment of seclusion. 

"Properly considering medicinal requisites for curing the sick, I use them: simply to ward off any pains of illness that have arisen and for the maximum freedom from disease." [OP pp.46-47; (Pali: M. I, 10; A. III, 387)]

Or to put it in other words: a robe is just a robe, food is just food, lodging is just lodging and medicine is just medicine. In a world where every person takes a picture of their plate full of [insert current food trend ;-)] and uploads it right away to instagram to show off and to belong, this truth offers such a relief! Food is just food and nothing more. I am not saying that food shouldn't taste great or that you should not care about what you consume. But at the end of the day food should nourish your body to keep going, and ideally to keep going forth with something good, that leads to your personal development or the development of others. It is not only a change of perspective to what matters, it also opens up the possibility to pause for a moment. To be grateful of what is on your plate. How it found it's way on your plate. Who was involved to make this meal happen for you. Think about the farmer, the truck driver, the grocery store owner, the cashier, your employer and all the other people involved in making this meal possible. How could you not be grateful?

30 seconds of reflection per day is all it takes 

So I would like to invite you to take 30 seconds per day before digging into your food: Look at the plate in front of you, recite the food recollection slowly. And let the magic of daily repetition sink in. You won't regret it. I promise.

Have you tried the food recollection? What has it done for you? I would love to hear your story.