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BOOK REVIEWS | EASTERN HORIZON
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Chapter 5 is about mindful eating. She highlights the five contemplations as five
mindfulness practices during mealtime. We practice being mindful of the causes and
conditions and the kindness of others by which we have received our food. We take
care to ensure that our mind remains virtuous while we eat, without letting it stray into
complaining, attachment, or confusion. We remember to regard the food as wondrous
medicine that nourishes our body. We are mindful that having nourished our body, we
want to use it as the vehicle to accomplish our ultimate goal – Buddhahood.
Chapter 6 is about why we should go for a meatless diet. As Buddhists we avoid eating
meat out of compassion for all living beings; hence, by being a vegetarian, we reduce the
killing of animals, which bring direct suffering to the animals. By eating meat, we also
plant the seeds of the non-virtuous action of killing on the mindstreams of those who
killed them. Venerable Chodron then explains how killing animals for food has harmed
the environment. This chapter also clears the misconception that being vegetarian is not
healthy as we do not get a balanced diet. The author cites her own example of being a
vegetarian for the past 45 years and yet it has not harmed her health.
Chapter 7 is about dedications and reflections after meals. After finishing their lunch,
monastics and guests at the Abbey chant verses that encapsulates the practices of making
offerings, purification, and dedication. These verses are all in Tibetan but with English
translations after them. There is also a short write-up on the popular practice of feeding
the hungry ghosts, both from the Chinese Buddhist perspective and the Tibetan Buddhist
perspective.
Chapter 8 provides sound advice on how to eat in moderation and not to be attached
to the food we like. We can do this by reciting and contemplating the verses for offering
our food to the Three Jewels as this will help to decrease our attachment. This is a skilful
approach because we will not be easily attached to food if we have offered them to
someone as noble as the Buddha, Dharma and his ariya Sangha.
Chapter 9 talks about Buddhist precepts and customs regarding food. The Buddha
advocated some forms of discipline when eating, but not harsh ascetic practices. For
instance, some monastics have the precept not to eat solid food after mid-day. Yet eating
is allowed in certain circumstances such as when the monastics is sick, traveling, doing
manual labor, or caught in some severe weather. The Buddha was practical in laying out
these rules as he also emphasize the need that monastics should take care of their health.
Chapter 10 is about the stories of two members of Srasvati Abbey who share their
experiences and thoughts about food. One of them is a dietician who had his own
struggles with food as a youth, while the other member is an enthusiastic dharma
practitioner who used to suffer from an eating disorder. The chapter concludes with a
nurse practitioner who’s also a monastic at the Abbey sharing suggestions about healthy
eating habits.
The book is highly readable, concise and provides a good guide for one who wishes to be a
vegetarian or is already on a meatless diet.EH