Buddhism and food.

Yacababy

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the monks tradition of eating very little or not eating flavorful( sensual ) foods. I know I could google it and I intend to but if anyone had any firsthand accounts I would be interested in hearing. thanks everyone.
With love, Jen

SherabDorje

It's my understanding from general reading that monks must take whatever they are given and express some sort of gratitude for it and eat it. This could involve so-called "sensual foods", but since it was given on their alms-round they must eat it. Apparently people cook non-sensual foods for monks to be able to observe that part of their practice.

Apparently monks also only eat one meal per day and must complete that meal before noon. From my general reading, it's primarily to keep them from "going back for seconds" and to preserve general order while they make their alms-rounds and eat, that is, to make a minimal impact on the people that they recieve alms from.

Yacababy

Yea it makes sense. I was curious because it came up in another thread that monks often eat very little. So I was just curious to know a little more. I would imagine it is the same for nuns. But then again I have imagined some strange things in my day ( bad joke ) thank you for the contribution.

vinlyn

Well, if by sensual foods you mean spicy foods, then in Thailand the monks eat sensual food. When living in Thailand I either took food to monks a number of times (more about that in a minute) or saw the food that Thai friends took to monks. The key was that it was to food made or bought especially for the monks...in other words, no "leftovers". Most of my Thai friends would go to the local market and buy street food for the monks...same old "sensual", spicy food all the other Thais ate. Same with the women who would cook food for the monks -- not leftovers, but the same recipes for chicken with cashew nut or laab kai or sweet and sour pork that the rest of the family ate.

Generally, in Thailand monks collect their food during the alms rounds in the morning. But for a while I lived near a temple where the tradition was very different. Around 10:30-11 a.m. you would take food to the temple where you would be introduced to a specific monk, go to his kuti (little house) and there would be blessings of the food, then he would eat and chat with you.

compassionate_warrior

Apparently monks also only eat one meal per day and must complete that meal before noon.

This depends on the tradition. In Zen, there's a light evening meal of broth. In TB there are two meals/day, including one sometime after noon, or more, depending on what the monastery can afford, AFAIK.

hermitwin

Dutanga practice is where thai monks voluntarily undertake very severe
practice such as fasting , not speaking etc.

hermitwin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhutanga

ok my mistake.

Yacababy

Thanks guys. I am sure the traditions vary greatly. I just wanted to get an idea strait from peoples heads because after a while books hurt my eyes.

Malachy12

The Thai monks I interviewed for school were eating cupcakes. I brought them apples because I thought they were vegetarian. They weren't. They said it differs depending on the traditions and cultures of different Buddhists. They did eat once a day, although I don't understand the value in eating only once. I used to eat once a day when i had a really busy work schedule... and I did not become a profound person. My guess is that this was their tradition in order to avoid gluttony, or attachment to food. They eat what they are given and thankful. They eat small amounts to live simply.

ThailandTom

Yea monks and nuns, (I don't know why most people speak about monks and forget there are also nuns out there) will eat anything that is edible and put into their bowls once given to them apart from meat, with few exceptions. They are grateful for the majority and most monks do not eat after midday. Some eat once a day and some twice a day.

The buddha said that one should not find a taste disgusting, but also should not find it pleasing.

Malachy12

@ThailandTom "The buddha said that one should not find a taste disgusting, but also should not find it pleasing."

I love that. When I have kids one day... I'll tell them that when they try to spit out their carrots.

ThailandTom

He spoke of it including all of the 5 senses. Smells, sights, touches, sounds and tastes should all be taken as neutral. People will probably come over the top of me and say, well I can find this food so pleasing but not be attached to it... Well I am just going by what the buddha said, an enlightened being

Victorious

Monks are allowed to own only eight things one of which is the begging bowl. Anything they get they give blessings on no matter what the food is. It is considered merituous to give alm to monks so everybody is given the chance to contribute.

Once a day the begging monks leave the monestary to gather alms. Not all monks follow this tradition and it may vary during the year and phases of amonks life or which monastary they live in.

Monks practice what is called "Guarding the sense doors" when they are out of the monastary and they do so eating too. The practice is as Tom describes it. Not attaching to pleasent or unpleasent sensations arriving through any of the sense doors.

Monks normally accept all kinds of food both meat and other in order that all people should have a chance to gain merit by giving alms. When the alms is given a short recitation, blessing and thanks is performed by the monk often accompanied by reverence to the monk by the lay people.

If a big Dana is going to be given for say a baptising or funeral then a number of monks will be invited to the house.

In accordance with the traditions of my country, their feet will be washed at the entrance (at feasts all guests feet are washed and dried by the hosts if I remember correctly). Then there will be white sheet covered seats prepared for the monks to sit on.

After Bana the food will be served in accordance to custom to the monks first befor the lay people eat. (All guests you want to show courtesy are treated that way). And the Dana is served before noon. After noon they do not eat until the next morning preserving that time for cultivation so as not to be distracted from their training.


Hope it was some help. I am from Sri lanka previously. My account might be a bit flawed because it was long time since I saw the practice.

/Victor

ThailandTom

Yes here in Thailand my friends massage and therapy shop got blessed by 9 buddhist monks, I was there for the occasion. We set out food, water, and a mat for each monk, there was incense and then a lot of chanting. They spread gold leaf in parts of the building, handed out little buddha pendents to people, and that was that.

Yacababy

Thanks guy . I ask because I have the intention of becoming a nun so I want to have an idea of what the life is like.

Mr_Serenity

The first time I ate with zen monks they had;
India style spicy soup (pumpkin, squash, peppers, really good soup), garlic bread, vanilla ice cream, and I think pound cake. They had a cook who was not a monk.

I was thinking damn these monks eat better than me everyday.