We gathered in the courtyard to taste one bite of food, read two poems and be with friends.
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn
by Wu Men Hui-k’ai
Author of the Zen/Chan collection The Gateless Gate first published in 1228
Ten thousand flowers in spring,
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
We did an experiential exercise to taste one bite with all the outer and inner senses with “beginner’s mind.” We were offered the invitation to explore enjoying a meal with direct experience as a practice to free a clouded mind and self monitor how hungry or full you are.
First notice if you feel hungry or full, with 0 being not hungry at all and 10 being very full. Keep checking in on this body sensation along the way.
Put the fork / utensil / food down between bites, savor with the senses. See what arises, and passes away. Possibly face wanting, not wanting, mind wandering, etc. Begin again with beginner’s mind.
Robert mentioned teaching of the Buddha to King Pasenadi that Robert learned from Bhikkhu Analayo in a paper he wrote “Overeating in Ancient India.” The teaching was to help the king learn to discern “good measure,” what is gratifying and what is not, what is beneficial versus what is harmful, what is wholesome or unwholesome.
Mindful eating is a practice that can offer a clear lens for how we are in the world and in sitting practice, to notice craving and aversion. The constancy of desire to “keep feeding the craving mind” can be seen in news feeds, social media feeds, email feeds, streaming media feeds, entertainment, shopping, smoking, drinking, ruminating, etc.
Tea
by Thich Nacht Hanh
You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.
Only in the awareness of the present, can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.
Only in the present, can you savor the aroma, taste the sweetness, appreciate the delicacy.
If you are ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea.
You will look down at the cup, and the tea will be gone.
Life is like that.
If you are not fully present, you will look around and it will be gone.
You will have missed the feel, the aroma, the delicacy and beauty of life.
It will seem to be speeding past you. The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go.
The future is not even here yet. Plan for it, but do not waste your time worrying about it.
Worrying is worthless.
When you stop ruminating about what has already happened, when you stop worrying about what might never happen, then you will be in the present moment.
Then you will begin to experience joy in life.