I am wondering if there should be an update to Buddhist terminology or subjects - I mean, way back in the Buddha's own day, 'intoxicants' may have been the worst substance one could consume - however, these days, there are far worse in the manner of foods that can distort, irritate, and interfere with one's practice.
This pondering comes from personal experimentation. I have checked each level of my mind that I currently use, and can find that they all function well enough after a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. Perhaps if I were fasting and then took an enormous glassful of sherry or port styles wine, I may find otherwise, but I can see no damage to my practice from a daily post/pre-dinner drink.
What I have recently found to be a problem is gourmet jelly beans. I have noticed that a small packet of 50g taken as a dessert DOES affect my mind disfavorably.
I have made several healthy changes to my diet as a whole over the past few years, now eating a vegetarian diet and only 1-1.5 meals per day, usually. Maybe the fact that I seldom eat high-sugar foods or foods with coloring/flavoring added has led to the occasional treat as backfiring on me. Otherwise, it might be that I now use different levels of my mind and have a different lifestyle and attitude. These may not function so well with gourmet jelly beans as with my usual food.
Whether it is the ingredients directly or indirectly, I shall not be buying another 50g pack of gourmet jelly beans again. I certainly do not want to ruin my progress by munching an occasional unhealthy treat. Therefore, I am wondering if perhaps there should be an update - that 'intoxicants' should now refer to foods that are toxic to the mind levels, as well as the more usual meaning of alcohol and drugs. Many of the modern foods that a lot of people regularly consume are laden with these artificial ingredients or high sugar levels - perhaps these should also come into this category, because they definitely affect my mental processes disfavorably - including the ones that I use for my practice.
Creamy Potato Soup
7 years ago
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