30 Times

Today is Day 11 of my Candida Diet. I am acclimating well. I have lost 6 pounds. My skin looks good. My co-workers are telling me that I look healthy (in comparison to two weeks ago when they said that I looked tired and worn out.) Most importantly, I feel good...which feels GREAT! I actually get out of bed with a spring in my step now. And I've realized that I feel like myself again (i.e. happy and light hearted.)

I might be following this diet for quite a while. Most sources recommend adhering to it for four months. I'm ok with that. Honestly, it feels good to be so focused on my own health. We are eating so well!

Yesterday I came across the following from Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk who is also a prolific writer and peace activist:

"In Buddhist monasteries, we eat our meals in silence to make it easier to give our full attention to the food and to the other members of the community who are present. And we chew each morsel of food thoroughly, at least thirty times, to help us be truly in touch with it. Eating this way is very good for digestion.

"Before every meal, a monk or a nun recites the Five Contemplations: 'This food is the gift of the whole universe -- the earth, the sky, and much hard work. May we live in a way that is worthy of this food. May we transform our unskilful states of mind, especially that of greed. May we eat only foods that nourish us and prevent illness. May we accept this food for the realization of the way of understanding and love.

"Then we can look at the food deeply, in a way that allows it to become real. Contemplating our food before eating in mindfulness can be a real source of happiness. Every time I hold a bowl of rice, I know how fortunate I am. I know that 40,000 children die every day because of the lack of food and that many people are lonely, without friends or family."

- Living Buddha, Living Christ

I read that to D last night over dinner. I was amazed how quickly I forgot to be mindful and fell into my habit of shoveling food into my mouth. D, conversely, brought me back to the lesson again and again. He was counting as he chewed. He would mention how hard it was to chew 30 times (we were eating brown rice, kale with cannellini beans and garlic & fried chicken (no skin or breading). He brought it up three times before I was also engaged in the practice.

As I masticated I noted the marked difference between 30 times and my usual feeding frenzy. I came to understand that I don't really chew my food. I mean, I do. But I don't utilize my mouth as the digestive starting point that it truly is.

Here I am, shopping, cooking and eating with the intent and purpose of reversing the GI issues that seem to be getting worse. And somehow, it hadn't occurred to me to completely chew my food!

Simple wisdom is beautiful. I am now working to eat like a monk. I stop to admire my food and to appreciate the sources that contributed to it. Most importantly, I am mindful of how I eat, not just what I eat. For these things are all inter-related.

As the Dalai lama taught last week: There is no independence. There is only dependent origination. We are all - everything - related.