Health? (A few questions)

kc39850p

Hi, I'm new here. I became familiar with Buddhism in high school, and though I liked the philosophy, was unable to really understand it (sort of I knew the ideas made sense, just didn't seem to work for me). Anyway, I took a religion course in college and ended up reading everything I could on Buddhism, finally after reading "The Art of Happiness" I understood things I was skeptical of as a world weary teen. I've been taking from Buddhism little by little. Meditating, evaluating myself, trying to develop a greater sense of empathy, and trying to remember the many numbered aspects of Buddhism (The only ones I really have down in memory are the 10 non-virtues, the 10 virtues, and the 4 truths, though only superficially).

However, I have a few problems/questions that if anyone would be willing to help me figure out I would appreciate it.

I recently have been attempting the practice of not eating after 12 (well, 1pm, but my sleeping schedule is different than a monk). I can do this mentally, I take my time and think about the food I have and appreciate it, but at the same time, I am worried about the health risks of eating like a monk. I can't find anything on whether this can have negative consequences on health, and at the same time, cannot figure out how monks survive on the diets they have. As a modern person I know the body needs a certain amount of certain nutrients just to function, and eating just a light breakfast and lunch, I cannot imagine eating the calorie requirements in such a short amount of time without gorging. How do monks make up for this dangerous lack of nutrients? Especially when they work so that they can say they've earned their food. It seems the combination of physical work and light eating would cause sickness quickly.

I workout, and do chores/repairs around the house all day and am worried if I try to live like a monk I will hurt myself, which would be a burden on my family and friends. And links of info is appreciated.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if I asked questions that have been asked before.

Javelin

Be careful my friend. There are things, rules etc., that are not meant for lay Buddhists. To eat before noon is for the monks.....

Also about the calories, etc., monks need less because they spend a lot of their time doing non-physical activity such as meditating.

Namaste

SherabDorje

Javelin wrote: »

Be careful my friend. There are things, rules etc., that are not meant for lay Buddhists. To eat before noon is for the monks.....

Also about the calories, etc., monks need less because they spend a lot of their time doing non-physical activity such as meditating.

Agreed. Did you read the dietary books at the library? Maybe they can help you get your calories and exercise in balance. But there's nothing in Buddhism that says you have to put your health in jeopardy. Balance. It's about balance.

Disney

Just sharing -
Professor Li Ping-Nan who is a laybuddhist enjoys one meal a day since 40 years old till 97 years old - Pureland Dharma Master
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/V_VFs8crNP0/

This living buddha is esoteric who was cremated with plentiful of precious stone.
His size seemed not one meal a day, not sure.
http://www.folou.com/space-uid-18254.html
Wow!! More than many thousands of Precious stones after cremation
http://www.folou.com/thread-100549-1-1.html

It depends on your level of pure mind. Well, once or twice a week would be a good start but it ought to be natural, not starving kind or consuming large quantity in one meal like 3 meals into one meal.

Mountains

While I'm not a doctor (I *am* an RN), and I can't dispense medical advice, it is a known fact that people who consume fewer calories tend to live longer. That's kind of a blanket statement, and much depends on your genetics and the quality of the food you do consume. But in general, people in the west, and Americans in particular, consume a good deal more calories than the average body requires. If you're doing heavy work or other physical activity, you'll need more, but in general, if you eat a balanced diet and you're not losing weight, you're consuming enough calories. I'm a fairly small person (5'8", 145 lbs), and I rarely consume more than about 1700 KCal per day.

Mtns

Mani

I think that a few things that are overlooked by some when questioning why many monks are generally pretty healthy and how they can be with their simple diet and seemingly inactive physical lifestyle. I think that there is much to be said about the correlation between body and mind. If one examines some of the traditional medicinal systems of the east, they are quite clear on how different emotions and ways of thinking can have an impact on bodily health. Many of these monks have very calm minds resulting from constant practice and cultivation as well as meditation. This has a great impact on overall health (not to mention the many prostrations, chanting and recitations that are done also!).

So in short, I don't think it necessarily comes down to "eating like a monk", but maybe "practicing like a monk", or as best as we laypeople can anyways...

Now there's some food for thought...;)

GuyC

I was keeping the eight precepts for a while and I had no issues with not eating after midday. I was eating a bigger lunch than I would normally eat though since I knew that dinner didn't exist.

On a side note: compared to the rest of our body's nutritional needs, our brain uses a lot of the energy that we get from food. People who think excessively burn up loads of calories. If the mind is peaceful it doesn't need to eat so much. The stilling of thoughts is one of the benefits of meditation.

The monks that I know live quite physically active lives (probably more active than me) and they are fit and healthy so I don't think it is a problem, especially if you are a dilligent meditator.

JinZhi

Some Buddhist monks do eat after the noon time, it really depends on what activities they do during the day. Even they recognize that if you are doing a lot of physical activity, that your body needs nourishment.
It has been taught that the Buddha sent the monks to do alms rounds in the morning, so that they would not bother the lay people at different times of the day, and the lay people could continue on with their daily life.

Daozen

Unless you are also sitting still and meditating for many hours a day like a monk, following their dietary practice may be unhealthy for you.

Having said that, there's that phrase: eat like a king a breakfast, a prince at lunch, and a pauper at dinner.

Namaste

thickpaper

Low calorie living is just about the only known across the animal kingdom to improve health and longevity; from microbes to humans.

Daozen

thickpaper wrote: »

Low calorie living is just about the only known across the animal kingdom to improve health and longevity; from microbes to humans.

I'm interested in this idea! I've also heard it from friends in casual conversation. Do you have any links?

Namaste

thickpaper

Daozen wrote: »

I'm interested in this idea! I've also heard it from friends in casual conversation. Do you have any links?

Namaste

Oh there is loads about it, research has been going on all last century and before. Maybe start with: http://goo.gl/9mYR

Daozen

thickpaper wrote: »

Oh there is loads about it, research has been going on all last century and before. Maybe start with: http://goo.gl/9mYR

thanks

kc39850p

I've read the opposite of what most are saying. Yes many hours in meditation means less need for calories, but monks also work and do chores. I know in Tibetan Buddhism at least one is supposed to consider whether they have earned the food they have before eating.

But I was always told that without 1200 calories a day most people would become ill, however a heavy meal is usually less than 600, so eating that much in 2 meals seems like a lot. Then again, as it was said, quality of food also comes into play I suppose. I think I'll try just eating something light like fruit or beans or something later in the day to get the minimum I need.

Thanks, and thickpaper I also found the linked search interesting. It's funny though how in all my nutritional studies nothing about calorie restriction ever showed up (except in weight loss), but it's definitely worth knowing, thanks.

GuyC

It is my understanding that Tibetan monks drink a lot of butter tea, surely that has plenty of calories. Theravadins have certain allowable foods after midday, mostly things containing sugar. So there is a bit of flexibility.

FoibleFull

I think that, for Tibetan monks, not eating after noon is part of the sojong on certain days of the month.

However, my sister tells me that pancreatic cancer and diabetes are very common in the population of Tibetan monks. Don't know if it's when they eat or what they eat, or both ... but I'm not sure imitating their eating patterns (especially when you are not ordained and haven't taken a vow to do so) is a good idea in terms of your physical health.

kc39850p

Thanks for the info. I know monks are allowed to have as much tea as they want, but didn't know there were teas that actually had a lot of calories.

Also, I know some Tibetan monks don't eat after noon because of health, and that it's something that the Buddha was said to do. But it's not a strict practice or anything.

Thanks again.