--- In [email protected], fudo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Rod Scholl wrote:
> > So would you say a nutritious meal is extra? 1000 calories? 2000 calories? What about gluttonly eating 3 pizzas? 30 pizzas? Or eating the pizza in a spiral pattern (crust first). Or saying mmmm while eating, or eating while juggling, or philosphizing, or worrying? Fudo Wrote: > Dear Rod, > > A Monk once asked his master, "How much should a Monk eat?" > > The Master thought for a moment then said "a Monk should eat less.". I should have spoke up more at the time, that this story seemed, well, unreasonable! Hah! lol. Fudo, I think you often hit at things with a club. I thank you for using a more finely tuned instrument on me. In this case -- this story was an accurately small sewing needle to poke me, and because it was so subtle, I just let it stew a couple months, not sure it had a penetrating thrust behind it. Occasoinally, the words would float back down from my subconscious... "a monk should eat less". I won't bother to retrace what I realized when, in combination with other sources, etc. But today, this phrase is my favorite phrase. I am thankful you chose it for me. As much as an e-bow is worth, <bow> Last night, to lull myself asleep I read a new Kafka story called "the hunger Artist" after reading it was among the author's favorites -- its only 10 pages, so if you can find it on the web, you might enjoy it. It made me think back to this post, and laugh. The story is about a guy who is a "professional" fasting artist for the public, to the marvel of onlookers across the world. He enjoys their attention but his profittering Ringmaster, alwasy stops his fast before the public loses too much itnerest for the following of a celebratory (and lucrative) end to his fast -- the hunger artist doesn't want to eat, but indulges... On his deathbed after fasting unknown lengths because he was forggoten about, he whispers to his uncaring freakshow master (he was down-traded) -- "becaues i couldn't find the food I liked. If I had found it, believe me, I should have made no fuss and stuffed myself like you or anyone else." Then dies without ceremony... he is replaced with a pacing, voracious black panther, which the public presses against its cage marvelling the vivacity. I think Kafka practiced without community. It is sad. A monk should eat less! To think I spent so many years trying to decipher what preciesly perfect amount a monk should eat... or worse, exactly what foods were required for optimum feasting -- what an exercise! Fudo, I have to laugh and agree that your practice in some ways is indeed quite lazy. Now that I am becoming spent of my calculations, you'll have to give me some more tips about pushing away the plate and eating less... (rising from the dining table) The path may be difficult from here -- but I can't possibly guess it is harder to eat less than it is to eat the perfect amount. All my best, Rod ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> It is better to give.... Especially when giving to a child in poverty. Click here to meet a child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/.haQaA/0nhJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
