On Being an OM-nivore

I read this article in the Times today about the role of food in the American yoga community. The debate about vegetarianism is ongoing – can you really live on the yogic path if you eat meat? One of the first moral principles listed by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras (one of the foundational texts of yoga, dating back about 2000 years) is that of ahimsa, or non-violence. It means not causing harm to other sentient beings.

It’s unfortunate that the condition of the meat industry is such that we can’t eat meat with a clearer conscience. The result of our meat consumption is violence done not only to the animals, but also the environment, the laborers, and our own bodies. It is no wonder, then, that some avid meat-eaters feel a need to defend their decisions with an attitude of “I don’t give a shit, vegetarians are pussies.”

That said, I love bacon. And cheeseburgers. And cheeseburgers with bacon. These are temptations that my body doesn’t need the same way it needs leafy greens, though, so I only eat them every now and then. That’s my decision. A monthly cheeseburger tastes better than a weekly cheeseburger, anyways.

I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who wants to take up a meat-free diet. It does make a difference. For the rest of us, I’m going to make my usual argument: If we make choices mindfully, staying open to the truth of our actions, this awareness will contribute not only to our own well-being, but to the well-being of the world at large.

You eat to fuel yourself, but what are you fueling yourself towards? Everyday you take nourishment, likely shipped from far-away places for your consumption. Chances are there was some suffering involved in the process of providing you this food. What do you give in return?

At Thich Naht Hahn’s monastery in France, they recite the following Five Contemplations before every meal. Although this particular mindfulness practice stems from a Zen tradition, it is not unlike the Christian tradition of “saying grace.” I’ve posted them on the wall beside my kitchen table as a daily reminder that the ability to eat – no matter what we are eating - is not as simple or mundane as we might take for granted.

This food is a gift from 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 unskillful 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.

Bon appetit!