There are many different processes of mind and body which go on while we eat. It is important to become mindful of the sequence of the processes; otherwise there is a great likelihood of greed and desire arising with regard to food. And when we are not aware, we do not fully enjoy the experience. We take a bite or two and our thoughts wander.
The first process involved when you have your food is that you see it. Notice “seeing, seeing.” Then there is an intention to take the food, a mental process. That intention should be noticed. “Intending, intending.” The mental intention becomes the cause of the arm movement. “Moving, moving”. When the hand or spoon touches the food there is the sensation of touch, contact. Feel the sensation. Then the intention to lift the arm, and the lifting. Notice carefully all these processes.
Opening the mouth. Putting in the food. Closing the mouth. The intention to lower the arm, and then the movement. One thing at a time. Feeling the food in the mouth, the texture. Chewing. Experience the movement. As you begin chewing, there will be taste sensation arising. Be mindful of the tasting. As you keep on chewing, the taste disappears. Swallowing. Be aware of the whole sequence involved. There is no one behind it, no one who is eating. It’s merely the sequence of intention, movements, taste, touch sensations. That’s what we are – a sequence of happenings, of processes and by being very mindful of the sequence, of the flow, we get free of the concept of self.
Joseph Goldstein
The Experience of Insight
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