Hebrews 13:9- "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them."
From Rappler.com of the Phillipines, which has 45 articles on mindfulness http://www.rappler.com/?option=com_rappler&task=search&q=mindfulness, "mindful eating" is clearly described as Buddhist and focusing on the creation instead of the Creator in this one article among the lot. Apparently, in the heavily "Catholic" Phillipines which has had the benefits and influence of American culture since World War II, a mixture of paganism, Buddhism and Catholicism is still the norm. Here is the article:
http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/29068-mindful-eating, with excerpts below. Bold emphasis ours:
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MANILA, Philippines - How do you eat? Do you shove food into your mouth in huge spoonfuls, chew a bit, then swallow? Do you nibble at small portions, picking your way through the food on your plate? Or do you eat mindlessly, talking, texting, watching TV, or reading while “eating”?
Venerable Miao Jing, head abbess at Mabuhay Temple (Fo Guang Shan Philippines), talked about eating meditation in "Food for Thought, Thought for Food: Eating as a Meditative Experience." The event was part of FGS Philippines’ Buddhist Lecture Series 2013 and also featured a simple tea ceremony to demonstrate the sacred ritual of preparing and sipping tea.
The head abbess emphasized the importance of using all of our senses to experience, appreciate, and contemplate the food that we eat. Due to our attachment to habit, she says, we fail to do these things and we continue to survive to eat, and not eat to survive.
“We need a new perspective to eating,” says Venerable Miao Jing.
The 5 contemplations
Written by Thich Nhat Hanh, this is a version of the grace said before meals. “The practice of reciting these contemplations before eating is a way to foster mindful eating, and helps promote inner peace through food.”
(Comment: Inner peace is NOT promoted through food, but through salvation in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior).
1. "This food is a gift from the earth, the sky, the universe, numerous living beings, and much hard work."
(Comment: non-Christian worship of the creation instead of the Creator).
2. "May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive it." (Comment: Gratitude to whom?)
3. "May we transform our unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation."
(Comment: As Christians, we believe we can NOT transform our sin nature and/or redeem our minds, hearts and souls by our own efforts).
4. "May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of all beings, preserve our planet, and reverse the process of global warming."
(Comment: This is a globalist, liberal, ecumenical, Christ-denying one world religion)
5. "We accept this food so we can nurture our brotherhood and sisterhood, strengthen our community, and nourish our ideal of serving all beings."
(Comment: Eating mindfully does nothing to save people from their sins like Jesus Christ would, but has a collectivist goal).
Eating as meditation: Venerable Miao Jing in her talk mentioned that “eating is meditative training.” When there is silence during meals, eating can become a more meaningful experience.
(Comment: This is contemplative mysticism whether practiced in the East or the West, and has no place in the life of a true Christian believer).
1. Go beyond the taste. If you are mindful, the head abbess says, everything will taste the same.
(Comment: If everything tastes the same, then why eat mindfully? All the God-given enjoyment of savoring foods is lost!).
2. Don’t take too much of the food that we like. And don’t ignore the food that we don’t like.
(Comment: Romans 12:2- "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
3. When preparing food, do so with sincere thoughts. Fill the food with positive vibrations and love. These will be served to others as you share the dishes you made.
(Comment: This is totally devoid of prayerful thanksgiving to the one true God of the Christian faith through Jesus Christ, our one high priest and mediator with the Father God).
4. When you are 70% full, stop eating. If you fill your tummy a hundred percent when you eat, your metabolism will slow down and all your energy will be used in digestion. This is why we feel sleepy after a heavy meal.
(Comment: How does one measure when one is 70% full?).
5. When you are full, don’t meditate. The stomach should be only 30 percent full when meditating.
(Comment: Again, how does one know when one is 30% full?).
6. Eat only the right amount of food at the scheduled time of meals.
(Comment: How much is right?).
7. Don’t be angry if you get too much or too little food.
(Comment: If one is being silent and mindful, then how does anger enter into the mix? Must be a failure associated with mindfulness or the person then).
8. Always be grateful for the food given to you, even if you are not happy with the taste.
(Comment: If everything tastes the same as a result of mindfulness, then you might have reason not to be happy with the taste! Yes, thank the host and/or the preparer, but also be grateful to God in all things, even if the taste is all the same or not to your liking).
9. Whatever it is you’re doing — not only while eating — contemplate and appreciate. Be mindful.
(Comment: Christians contemplate on, and are mindful of, the Word of God in the Bible and appreciate what He has done to save us from our sins by sending Jesus Christ to atone for us. Acts 14:17- "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.")
10. Do not waste food. Finish whatever you have on your plate. It has been said that one grain of rice is equal to one bead of a farmer’s sweat. So clean up your plate!
(Comment: Luke 12:23- "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing." As a Christian, you take only as much as you can finish, being guided in all things by the Holy Spirit and eating in moderation. Buddhism is worried about offending a farmer's efforts, but Christianity is concerned with the salvation of sinful people. John 6:27- "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." 1 Corinthians 8:8- "But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse."
Related topics you can follow (on Rappler.com):
Buddha•Buddhist•Buddhist Lecture Series 2013•Fo Guang Shan Philippines•Food for Thought•Mabuhay Temple•Spirituality•Thich Nhat Hanh•Thought for Food: Eating as a Meditative Experience•Venerable Miao Jing•Wellbeing•Wellness•Meditation
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