Donut Trees and Apple Stores

Transcription

1 The Way of Martial Arts MONTHLY INTERACTIVE LESSONS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR DAILY LIFE B Y M A S T E R E R I C S B A R G E Lesson 30 Donut Trees and Apple Stores Have you ever driven past a donut orchard or grown a donut tree in your back yard? When s the last time you were in an apple store that specialized in selling Golden Delicious and Fuji apples instead of ipods and laptops? You never see donut trees, yet you see tons of donut stores. Conversely the countryside is full of fruit trees, but you rarely find stores specializing in fresh fruits. The point is, stores and shops sell what people want regardless of what God or nature seemed to intend for us to have, and regardless of what we need. We need fresh, wholesome, vitamin-and-enzyme-laden fruits and vegetables. What do we instead go out and buy? Chemical-andgrease-laden junk foods like donuts that lack any nutrition and serve only to weaken and fatten us and wreak long-term havoc on our bodies. Boy, they must taste good! THE SHAOLIN SENSIBILITY AND EATING HABITS The Shaolin lifestyle is one of self-discipline, self-respect (and respect for others), and self-cultivation. Our eating habits and choices play a major role in our practice of the Shaolin Way. Ask yourself: Do you eat in a manner that demonstrates self-discipline, respect for your body (and respect for the environment and other creatures), and that helps you cultivate a more aware and enlightened mind and spirit? What and how we eat, individually and collectively, plays a huge role in our well-being and quality of life, so in this lesson I ll cover sever-

2 al important guidelines for healthy eating based on both traditional Shaolin values and modern environmental awareness. I m not a fanatic when it comes to these guidelines and I don t suggest you should be either, but I hope you will make a sincere effort to follow most of these guidelines most of the time. EATING GUIDELINES 1. Eat foods in their most natural state. There s a huge difference between a fresh-picked apple and a Dunkin Donut with apple filling. One s alive, the other s dead. One gives you chi and helps you stay alive, the other sucks the life out of you. 2. Cut way down on eating out or buying prepared foods. Understand that there is a logical price to pay for everything and convenience is no exception. Restaurants and stores that sell prepared foods make their money by satisfying people and they know that people are generally satisfied by taste/price/convenience ratios, not by health/energy/conservation/environment/taste/price ratios. Restaurants, with few exceptions (there are no exceptions that I m aware of in Charlotte at the time I m writing this) do not follow all or even most of the guidelines I am spelling out here because customers don t want them to. Customers either remain ignorant about good eating principles, or feign ignorance to satisfy poor but comforting dietary habits. 3. Choose organic foods whenever available. Organic foods have not been grown with pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics and the like that not only damage your body, but seriously damage our environment. Organic foods taste better and have more nutrients. True, organic foods often cost more, but when you eliminate many of your unwise costly eating habits, such as eating out or buying pre-packaged foods, the extra cost for organic foods can often be made up. 4. The fresher your food, the better it is for you. Locally grown produce is usually freshest, and reduces the environmental costs of transportation. 5. Avoid sugar and especially corn syrup and artificial sweeteners whenever possible. Reduce the number of sweets you eat. Pay a few extra cents for raw honey, real maple syrup or occasional real cane sugar if recipes require sweetening. -2-

3 6. Avoid processed foods. Nutritionally empty white flour and white rice should be replaced with whole wheat flour (or flour from other grains) and brown rice which naturally retain vitamins, nutrients and fiber. 7. Remember that if food comes out of a can or box, it s probably processed and it s certainly lost its vital chi that only fresh foods can offer. 8. Avoid pre-packaged or frozen meals. Cooking from scratch does not have to take an inordinate amount of time, knowledge or skill, and it s a good opportunity to practice a positive, mindful activity. 9. If you must select canned, boxed or pre-packaged foods, read the ingredients. The fewer ingredients, generally the better. If the ingredients have long scientific names that you aren t familiar with, they most assuredly aren t good for you. 10. Eliminate or reduce eating meat, poultry and fish. Raising farm animals for food may have made sense when there were a billion people on earth but it is no longer ecologically viable for six billion people. (Did you get a chance to read the book Diet for a New America that I recommended in Lesson Thirteen?) Oceans, lakes and rivers are rapidly being depleted of fish, and the fish that remain are often riddled with toxins. Fish farms, where much of today s fish are raised, use feeds and chemicals that make the fish unhealthy for human consumption. Finally, animals and fish have souls and suffer just like we do, which is the primary reason Shaolin monks choose to avoid eating flesh. 11. Skip all soda or artificial juice. Drink fresh, organic fruit juice in moderation, and all the fresh vegetable juice you wish to. If you like, drink moderate amounts of organic tea and coffee as well as beer and wine. As a general rule remember to get your nutrition and energy from food, and drink pure (filtered) water. 12. Eat smaller quantities, and fast periodically. This boosts your metabolism and helps your body process nutrients most efficiently, in addition to the obvious benefit of helping you avoid gaining excess weight. To help with eating less, practice being mindful while eating. 13. Avoid late night meals, and only snack if you feel low on energy. Keep healthy snacks like fruit or nuts available all day, so you aren t tempted to buy unnecessary junk food if you must eat. -3-

4 14. Avoid going on diets. They create long-term nutritional imbalances, and are unnecessary if you subscribe to the general guidelines outlined here. 15. Be appreciative of whatever food you are blessed with. Following all these guidelines may not make you live a day longer than if you ignore them, but I guarantee they will make you feel better and happier for each day you are alive. And that is what the Shaolin Way is all about. EXERCISE ONE From the above list, tally how many of these guidelines you typically follow and how many you ignore or were unaware you should follow. EXERCISE TWO For each of the guidelines you are not currently following, focus on one each week and try to change your habits so that you can adhere to the guideline. Steady, incremental change is always better than trying to change everything at once which isn t natural. ASSIGNMENT Explain what you think is meant by the following saying: Food is meant to nourish the body, not the mind. Send your thoughts to me at lessons@thepeacefuldragon.com. Please put Lesson 30 in the subject line. RECOMMENDED READING The Omnivore s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals By Michael Pollan This New York Times Bestseller author has written several excellent books on the broad topic of food, including his popular In Defense of Food. But I think The Omnivore s Dilemma is his best book to date. It deals with personal choices, and global consequences. As The Washington Post put it, Pollan s book is an eater s manifesto, and he touches on a vast array of sub- -4-

5 jects, from food fads and taboos to our avoidance of not only our food s animality, but also our own. His approach is steeped in honesty and selfawareness. His cause is just, his thinking is clear, and his writing is compelling. Be careful of your dinner! Or to quote from the Seattle Times review, If you ever thought What s for dinner? was a simple question, you ll change your mind after reading Pollan s searing indictment of today s food industry and his glimpse of some inspiring alternatives. I just loved this book so much I didn t want it to end. SSSS Every month a book or article will be suggested by Master Sbarge. Reading about topics related to the arts you are training in will help you get the most out of your practice. Just remember that reading can never replace your practice! Each month s recommended reading is purely optional, though Master Sbarge may on rare occasion ask that you do read a particular book. For additional reading suggestions by Master Sbarge, go to For any book or other item you purchase through The Peaceful Dragon website s link to Amazon.com, a percentage is automatically sent to The Peaceful Dragon. We appreciate your support of our school. Note: All Peaceful Dragon students are urged to complete monthly assignments because they are important for you to fully benefit from your training. -5-