An introduction to the Zen way of eating

A quick guide to Zen Vegetarian Cooking, using natural and organic foods
by Palma Bellardoni

What did the Buddha eat?

Well… he surely ate good stuff, because at that time there were no pesticides, chemical preservatives and genetically engineered foods (a.k.a. Frankenfoods).

At that time there were also no refrigerators, nor airplanes. So he had to nourish himself with foods that were grown locally and according to the seasons.

That’s right. No pineapples and bananas, had the Buddha lived in Alaska. No buffalo meat, had he lived in Hawaii!

The Zen way of eating follows the cycles of nature and the universal laws of balance of the two opposite and complementary energies, known as Yin and Yang.

Here, you will be given general principles and guidelines as to what you can do to be in perfect harmony with your environment, which is the foundation of good health. That means, when your outer environment and the inner environment of your body are in resonance.

Disease is not an absolute state of being, rather a temporary condition of not being “at ease” with the surroundings (dis-ease).

Of course, times have changed and technology has offered us wonderful ways to improve our lifestyles. Today we do have refrigerators and airplanes that allow the exchange of goods over great distances - we have to take that into account.

However, if you understand the universal principles (beyond time and space) of harmony and balance, you will be able to use your good judgement and still make your own free choices.

That’s why it is preferable to think in terms of a “way of eating”, rather than a “diet”.

Eating in the “NOW” is simple and fun to do and it will bring your body and mind back to an optimal level of balance and healing.

Whole organic foods, mostly of vegetable quality, will purify the vibrational rate of your body. As a result, you will clear your mind.

All the ingredients listed in the recipes can be easily found at health food stores. You can also shop for fresh organic veggies at your local farmer’s market.

It is important to think of food as energy, rather than merely in terms of daily values, calories and percentages. This kind of information can be valuable, but if we fail to consider the “energetic” part of the food we intake, we miss an important part of the equation.

Because we are all “energetic” beings, whichever external energy enters our field, it will affect us one way or the other. By observing Nature we come to be aware of its energy patterns and start to recognize the cycles and correspondences and our place within them.

Are you ready to begin?

Five easy lessons will give you an understanding of what a Zen Chef is all about. If you want to know about how to classify Yin and Yang in the kitchen - and how it can help our bodies - read next!