Mealtime Reflections for the Modern World

There is a prayer called Gokan-no-ge that Zen Buddhists recite before eating a meal. The “Five Reflections” are intended to express gratitude for the food that appears before us, as well as the people who made it and the natural resources that provided it.

First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.

(Summary courtesy of thoughtco.com)

It strikes me that living a busy lifestyle in the West where meals are rushed affairs of convenience — almost an afterthought — we have lost the ability or desire to reflect on our food. The spiritual connection to mealtimes is all but consigned to the big showy events; cursory self–flagellation at Lent and the hollow horror show that is Christmas dinner. How often do you hear people talk about mealtimes like it's a daily bugbear, or with their own unrealistic projections of personal expectations?

I don't have time to eat; The service was bad; It's too cold, too slow, undercooked, overcooked; I ate x and I feel y...

Worse still, mindful eating has been coopted into a wellness trend that still betrays our desire to treat food as a projection of our egos. I am too often guilty of the same crimes. So when I find myself questioning, when did it all have to be so complicated?, I take a step back to re-connect to the reason we eat.

Perhaps you will find some meaning in the following; my own reflections for mealtimes in the modern world:

First, let us be seated and luxuriate in the act of eating. Log off from all distractions, and definitely don’t eat while standing or walking!
Second, go hands free. Put your phone away — and just be in the present moment. But also, be hands on; enjoy the tactile experience of eating with both your hands.
Third, turn off the theatre of external music or flashing images. Instead, enjoy the sensory experience in front of you. Listen more to the crunching of vegetables and marvel at the colours on your plate.
Fourth, give thanks. Really say the words thank you. Thank the vegetables, thank the barista, thank your mum for her lovely cooking and thank your dining companions for their company.
Fifth, eat with hearts and stomachs but don’t let food get to your head. Let’s not become emotionally attached, or make food the enemy or comforter. Let’s not project what the food could or should have been. When the meal is done, let it go and get on with your day.