How to Eat (Mindfulness Essentials, #2)

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Throughout the meal, try to live the Five Contemplations.

THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS 1. This food is a gift of the Earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard and loving work. 2. May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive this food. 3. May we recognize and transform unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation. 4. May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that reduces the suffering of living beings, stops contributing to climate change, and heals and preserves our precious planet. 5. We accept this food so that we may nurture our brotherhood and sisterhood, build our community, and nourish our ideal of serving all living beings.

It is very important not to overeat. If you eat slowly and chew very carefully, you will get plenty of nutrition. The right amount of food is the amount that helps us stay healthy.

To eat with moderation means to have a light, healthy body.

We are determined to ingest only food that has no toxins for our body and our consciousness, food that keeps us healthy and nourishes our compassion.

The fifth contemplation reminds us to be aware that we receive food in order to realize something. Our lives should have meaning, and that meaning is to help people suffer less and help them to touch the joys of life.

1. This food is the gift of the whole universe: the Earth, the sky, the rain, and the sun. 2. We thank the people who have made this food, especially the farmers, the people at the market, and the cooks. 3. We only put on our plate as much food as we can eat. 4. We want to chew the food slowly so that we can enjoy it. 5. This food gives us energy to practice being more loving and understanding. 6. We eat this food in order to be healthy and happy, and to love each other as a family.

Look at a peach deeply. Don’t put it into your mouth right away. Look at it and smile to it,

Then, when you eat it, please be sure to chew only the peach, and not your projects or your worries. Enjoy eating your peach. The peach is a miracle.