Why Do We Eat The Way We Eat?

We are often told that we are what we eat, we are what we think, we are what we intend, and we are what we do. So, there are many of us in one of us, sometimes working at cross-purposes and at other times but rarely, all of us in me are working in perfect synchrony, creating an incredible symphony that may be as fleeting as the sizzle on a sizzler or the glow of a firefly. But certainly, there is this tantalising possibility of total convergence, when you are one with yourself and with existence, with the cosmos, and with well, everything.

Coming to the specific subject of food, we normally binge during festive seasons like Deepavali, Christmas, New Year and special days like birthdays, anniversaries and commemorations. Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn famously explained the need to remember where and how the food we eat, came from - its origin, journey, process, distribution and so on until it finds its way on your plate and eventually into your stomach, and from thence in other avatars to other parts of the body. But not before our gut bacteria have a go at it. Eating, whether for pleasure or for survival, is not as simple as it seems.

The monk asks us to spend time with the food we eat; every minute of the meal should be happy. Because food nourishes not only the body, it also nourishes the mind. First, express your gratitude for the food on your plate. Second, be aware of and contemplate on all that went into making this possible. Third, chew mindfully, savouring every bit of what you eat. Fourth, maintain a pleasant state of mind with no negative thoughts and emotions - at least, while you are eating. Following these simple steps may improve your digestion, inspire you to eat less, avoid unhealthy snacks, be grateful and cultivate compassion, all of which are enabling inputs for a healthy body and mind. Tell me what and how you eat and I'll tell you who you are, said the Buddhist monk. "Slow down, breathe in, and savour every bite," he says.

Go, eat your food with gladness, says the Holy Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:7.

The Gita points out that one who overeats and one who does not eat, they are both not fit for meditation and contemplation. The right way to eat is to eat in moderation. One who remains hungry cannot focus, just as one who is intoxicated by food. An alert mind and fit body are nourished by moderation.

Why are you a glutton? First ask, "What am I hungry for?" advises Deepak Chopra. Beyond craving fatty food and sugary snacks, what is it that you are truly hungry for? He says, "Our overeating is often a symptom of inner starvation - a hunger for love, self-esteem, happiness and security. By changing our approach to eating, we can heal our bodies and minds to achieve permanent weight loss; a longer, happier life and spiritual well-being." The hole you feel in your tummy despite eating enough, perhaps indicates an emptiness that arises out of listlessness, anxiety and doubt. Embracing a few spiritual practices could well turn the tide here, for then, both mind and body have more exalted dimensions to look forward to.

Authored by: Narayani Ganeshganeshnarayani@yahoo.com