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Food for the Body and Mind
When the wind blows through the treetops, the branches and leaves tremble and are easily broken, but the roots remain steady and unmoved. Similarly, when suffering arises at the “top of the mind,” we are easily wounded, but if we return to the “root”—the breath in the abdomen—we become more solid and stable. Paying attention to the rising and falling of the abdomen as we breathe in and out, or practicing walking meditation with each slow step, reciting “in, out,” “flower fresh,” “mountain solid,” is the path of mindfulness practice, helping the mind to dwell peacefully amid the storms of emotion.
There are four kinds of “nutriments” that nourish body and mind:
- Edible food – what we take in through the mouth.
- Sense impressions – contact through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
- Volition – dreams, aspirations, intentions.
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Consciousness – the mind consciousness as mother earth containing all seeds.
Practicing mindful eating, mindful contact, nourishing wholesome aspirations, and taking care of our consciousness with mindfulness helps us preserve our compassion and transform suffering.
The family environment and our relationships are also “spiritual food”: the passion and irresponsibility of adults (such as alcoholism), the “elephants” of suffering in the living room, conflicts between mother and daughter, or the presence of a third person—all these need to be looked into deeply, contemplated to recognize their roots, to share responsibility, to forgive, and to love. Ending toxic influences, changing the situation, and reconnecting with insight and the Sangha is the path of liberation, so that both family and individual can rediscover peace, freedom, and happiness.
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Volition as a Nutriment We Consume