Food & sex

If food and sex are the two main causes for people craving continuation of samsara, it would be advisable to check one's attitude in relation to these factors. This can help establish how one's practice is progressing, by observing the difference attitudes across the years of practice.

Taking 'food': over the years I have changed m diet regularly. Most changes have been steps in the direction of health, such as eating 95% home-made from-scratch foods and becoming a vegetarian. However, I still seem to put a greater emphasis on taste than health, so there is still much work to do. I need to get to the stage where I can eat only healthy and natural foods and not mourn for the delicious flavors and meals I used to enjoy before I can say I have been successful here.

Taking 'sex': my attitudes ranged through early interest and curiosity, youthful experimentation and anything-goes thrills, middle-aged love-centering, to my current attitude of limitation to its use only for affection and health. I can say that I am over the 'thrill-needing' stage and can currently take it or leave it, providing I can use it on necessary occasion for health purposes - which I am currently developing alternatives for.

It looks like I need to put in more work on detachment from food…