Ch'an Buddhist diets

[alakso]

Greetings again my friends. Would anyone be so kind as to tell me about the HFYWC Ch'an Buddhist diets? What foods, herbs, etc. promote spiritual harmony? What foods, herbs, etc., are to be avoided? Woliwon...alakso

[JamesHFYofAZ]

Alakso, Welcome.

I would think that within Buddhism diets exist for the purification of the body, most of which are vegetarian based diets.
There are plenty of elixirs made from herbs that assist with healing ones body, clearing the mind, and restoring both external and internal chi.
Meditation is probably the biggest assist that Buddhist has for purification, cultivation, and enlightenment.
But all these aspects, I would think, are a personal chose in ones own development in life.
Gotta run.

[Hungman]

In the East, the majority of Buddists are not strict vegetarians. In any case, there are parts of the world where lack of good land for the cultivation of crops makes a vegetarian diet very difficult.

The Buddha simply pointed out that all creatures fear death and seek to avoid suffering and pain. The positive side of the first precept is the cultivation of loving- kindness and compassion towards all living things. On the other hand, food should not be wasted if a monk or nun is offered food that includes meat or fish, the general principle is that it should be eaten. In truth, many Lamas are not strict vegetarians.

[JamesHFYofAZ]

I agree,
Here's a good read on the traditional buddhist (old school I guess) dietdiet link (http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/Buddhist%20Diet.htm)
food should not be wasted if a monk or nun is offered food that includes meat or fish, the general principle is that it should be eaten.
A book out called "Buddhism Plain and Simple", good book by the way, talks about this very thing!
Here is some other sites I use, herbs and such, enjoy!
Herbs link (http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/)
herbs link 2 (http://www.chineseherb.com/) Tea link (http://www.cookscorner.net/Tea.html) raw herbs link (http://www.asiachi.com/rawherbs.html) formulas link (http://www.taoofherbs.com/categories/67.asp?source=google&keyword=TCM) heath and safety link (http://www.happyherbalist.com/chinese_herbs.htm)

[Armin]

Hi!

Weren't the monks of Shaolin allowed by one chinese emperor to eat meat and drink wine?

We all try to get aware of our true nature - fact is, we are humans. Our ancestors did eat both meat and plants, so it's our nature to eat both. Why bother about eating meat? IMO it is more important to bother about the way of treating animals - that's the real shame/sin.


Armin.

[Hungman]

Not taking life is the first of the Biddhist presepts, and is absolutely fundamental both to Buddhist ethics and to its overall view of the world. This requires the principle of "Ahimsa/Non-violence" towards animals as well as humans.

[Armin]

Same thread, same question - but somebody answers, who you may feel more comfortable to believe to. :(

Look here (http://www.hfy108.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1359)

Thanks for your thoughts.


Armin.

[JamesHFYofAZ]

SS Jeremy always has informative post!

But all these aspects, I would think, are a personal chose in ones own development in life ultimately you have to look at things, examine them from your own conscious, and make your own decision
Hope all the personal views help.

[JamesHFYofAZ]

Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Soups/stews Vegetarian
Chinese
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 qt Water
1 lb Pumkin or butternut squash
- peeled & cut into
- large chunks
1 Sweet potato
- peeled & chunked
1/2 c Raw peanuts -- shelled and
- skinned. Soaked 30 min,
- drained & roughly chopped
1/3 c Dried mung beans
- soaked 30 min and drained
3 tb Vegetable oil
1 Square of bean curd
1 qt Coconut milk
1/2 oz Cellophane noodles,
- soaked 20 min, drained
- & cut into 1 inch sections
~- Boil the water and drop in the pumpkin/squash, sweet potato, peanuts and mung beans. Cook on medium heat for 35 min. While making the soup, prepare the bean curd by heating the oil in a frying pan and cooking the curd until light brown on both sides. Slice lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips and set aside. After the 35 min, check the mung beans for softness. If they're soft, add the coconut milk and a touch of salt. Bring up to a boil and throw in the cellophane noodles and fried bean curd.
Serve with rice and Buddhist Nuoc Leo.
BD link (http://www.free-diet-info.com/Buddhist_cuisine.php)
BD description (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cuisine)
Great place for asking questions (http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?showtopic=8740)
Enjoy!

[alakso]

Thanks for all the great info/personal opinions and links everybody. I appreciate it very much. I have a couple of quick questions that I'll ask now. Then later today I'll post more of my thought on this subject.

Did the Budda eat meat after he became "Awakened"?

Does his Holiness the Dali Lama eat meat?

[Armin]

Hi alakso,

to answer your question in a simple way: Buddha was Buddha. The Dalai Lama is the Dalai Lama. You are you. All three are different from each other. All have different needs, all have a different background and a different history.

Don't compare yourself to others, whoever it is. You are unique!

You said, as far as I understood, that you will have problems making a living - for you and your family - without going hunting. Wouldn't it be far more better to go hunting, get food four your family and be (hm, don't get the right words), well, thank the animal that it helped you and your family to survive? Look, you don't kill for fun.

Somehow this discussion reminds of the "buddhism vs. martial arts"-discussion. Buddhism states you shouldn't heart anybody and martial arts teaches you how to hurt people. But there's alway this idea of judging between a bigger unjustive and a smaller unjustice. If you have to do a smaller unjustice to prevent a bigger unjustice, well, than the case is clear: go ahead.

Maybe you should try this: try to be aware of your decision not to hunt. What or who else will be affected, too?


Armin.

[alakso]

Greetings my friends. I appreciate everybody input.

I'm very sorry if I implied I was comparing myself to the Budda or his Holiness the Dali Lama. That was NEVER my intention. I'm just very curious about how they felt/feel about this subject. I don't have a teacher I can go to so I thought I'd ask here. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with these questions.

I'm divorced, my oldest son just graduated college and is making 42K a year to start. And my youngest son is in the Army Infantry and is stationed in Hawaii training to go to Iraq. So the only ones I need to support is my German Shepherd Xena and myself. I didn't mean to imply I have a problem with making a living or surviving. With it being just the two of us it doesn't take much. I meant that I won't have any disposable income to travel, take lessons, etc..

Do Buddhist believe in food enegetics? I know from my Taoist studies that they have foods associated with various energies. The Taoist also have many spiritual herbs used for various purposes. Is this also true for Buddhist?

[Armin]

Hello alakso!

Originally posted by alakso
Greetings my friends. I appreciate everybody input.

I'm very sorry if I implied I was comparing myself to the Budda or his Holiness the Dali Lama. That was NEVER my intention. I'm just very curious about how they felt/feel about this subject. I don't have a teacher I can go to so I thought I'd ask here. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with these questions.

Huh?! I think, you relate to my last post - I wasn't offended!!! I'm very sorry, if you got that feeling! Let me try other words: you are as worthy as everybody else, even as Buddha, Jesus Christ or even me. I didn't mean to tell you, that you mustn't compare yourself to both, because you are just a human and they weren't (in fact they were ;) ).

Look, comparing yourself to anyone else is like comparing apples with pears - it doesn't make sense. As I said - you are unique in his world, as Buddha was, as Jesus Chist was, als everybody else is.

BTW: That's the first thing my grandmother taught me - it doesnt' matter what others do. You do it your own personal way and that's the only correct way for you.

Originally posted by alakso
I'm divorced, my oldest son just graduated college and is making 42K a year to start. And my youngest son is in the Army Infantry and is stationed in Hawaii training to go to Iraq. So the only ones I need to support is my German Shepherd Xena and myself. I didn't mean to imply I have a problem with making a living or surviving. With it being just the two of us it doesn't take much. I meant that I won't have any disposable income to travel, take lessons, etc..

Well, sorry again. My English is not too good. Misunderstandings are part of my English-module V. 1.3 - I have to update that one someday. ;) :D

But to be honest - I don't see a problem in that. Everybody here is very kind and nice, there should be reasonable solutions to such problems. Right, guys???

Originally posted by alakso
Do Buddhist believe in food enegetics? I know from my Taoist studies that they have foods associated with various energies. The Taoist also have many spiritual herbs used for various purposes. Is this also true for Buddhist?

I think it depends on wether you mean the "Indian Buddhism" or the "Chinese Buddhism". As far as I understand, the Chinese took what came from India and put it together with what they already knew. So, there may be a great chance, that your question can be answered with 'yes'.


Greetings from Germany,

Armin.

[alakso]

Hello My friend Armin. Thank you very much for your thoughts. I understand what your saying. I also understand the limitations of expressing oneself through this medium. So please excuse my limitations of language and semantics.

Sounds like your Grandmother was a very special lady. You are very lucky to have such Love and guidance in your life.

Woliwon (thanks in Penobscot)...alakso