MESSAGE #622 EATING MEDITATION…

“We could say that meditation doesn’t have a reason or doesn’t have a purpose. In this respect it’s unlike almost all other things we do except perhaps making music and dancing. When we make music we don’t do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. And exactly the same thing is true in meditation. Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.”
-ALAN WATTS

I really like that quote.

Meditation is such a key component in relaxation/stress reduction, and it helps us all reach peak performance in whatever we do.

At least once today, try one of my favorite forms of meditation – the eating meditation.

EATING MEDITATION

First, let’s just say you are eating a turkey sandwich. Pick a place where you won’t be bothered (or looked at weird).

Before you even pick up the sandwich, notice how it looks on the plate, like the colors, the smell, the shape. Also, notice how hungry you are, either very hungry, moderate, or not so hungry. Notice your posture, and your breathing.

Next, reach for your sandwich, but reach slowly and notice the muscles in your arms tightening and your fingers extending.

Now take a bite of your sandwich and feel the texture of it, the sounds, and the smells. Focus on your teeth coming down, chewing the food, and then how your tongue helps push the food down. Feel the food going down your throat and into your stomach.

Appreciate how the food got to your table, like the workers in the bread company, and the truck drivers.

Continue with this eating meditation for the rest of your meal. How do you feel?

The more you meditate, the more you are able to stay in the moment. This will relieve stress, which will make you healthier, and it will help you enjoy life more. I think it actually slows life down. I’d love to hear your thoughts…



Thanks for reading.