I spent a day and half in total rebellion. “What do you mean I can’t talk while eating,” I asked my friend as she pointed to the sign that said silence spoken here. We had taken a retreat to the monastery only for me to find out that I had some habits to be reckoned with. I had to eat in silence, chew slowly, eat mindfully, and simply learn to relax.
Eating in Silence.
God said let there be vegetation on the land and it was so. These plants were to be eaten by us to give us life. As God gave life, a part of Himself into these living things, we, too, would exchange with nature the life of the Divine. Energy! We become more aware of this spiritual exercise-the nourishment of our physical beings, when we learn to eat silently and mindful of what we eat.
Chewing Slowly
In addition to eating silently, the art of chewing slowly must also be mastered. One nutrition and medical expert, Dr. Cousens, says food should be chewed 40-100 times. I must admit the thought of chewing even 40 times leaves me in empathy with a cow, but I could not ignore that emotionally, physically, and mentally how better I felt. For “thorough chewing,” elaborates Dr. Cousens, helps the “enzymes to work more efficiently” and thus improves digestion.
Preventing Overeating
As a result of chewing slowly, fewer calories are consumed. The stomach takes approximately 20 minutes to send a message to the brain that it is full. Chewing slowly, then, also aids in weight loss and weight management.
Restoring the Sanctity of the Dining Room
For many homes, it is customary to eat in front of the television or in the presence of the sound of the TV. As a result, the ritual of eating together as a family at the dining room table grows extinct. Like zombies in front of the demi-god, each family member enjoys their own meal and television program. Instead, dinner time is an opportunity for us to bond with our loved ones in this family ritual.
Praying Before Each Meal
For some, saying a prayer before a meal is simply a ritual reinforced in childhood. However, it is one that we do as we become more cognizant of God’s love in the form of life built in the foundation of the earth. We pray, as a symbol of our spirit of gratitude for what is provided before us.
Reference:
Cousens, Gabriel, Conscious Eating.
