A Buddhist Diet?  

Sometimes, people come to the Center with questions about food and the Buddhist path.  Perhaps they come with strong opinions about what a Buddhist would/should  or shouldn't eat, they have health-related dietary restrictions, or they're hesitant to become involved for fear of trying to live on white rice.   

Sometimes, they don't like our answers:  

1) avoid clinging to opinions;      

2) health is important; and   

3) rice is nice.  

Answer 1) isn't always said out loud; consider it a given. 2) Food served at Desert Zen Center is vegetarian and varied in culture and taste.  We usually have low fat/no-or-low sugar options, some brought by health-concious or vegan members, some cooked in our kitchen. Some might be brought by you, if you have a health restriction; however, please discuss this with Su Co before any retreat (planned communal meals are an essential part of that practice!).  And, just in case 3) worried you, we don't always serve white rice, although we love it.  Sometimes we serve brown, red or wild rice... one of these days, we're going to try black rice. (Sometimes we serve pasta, potatoes, peas, porridge... pies!)

Opinions and our answers -- both of which have been known to change -- aside, it's been said that most of what we think we "know" about Buddhism is cultural and has little or nothing to do with the Buddha or his teachings. The question of a Buddhist diet fits squarely into that analysis.  Buddhists eat according to custom; Buddhists eat whatever Buddhists eat!  If you take out regional and cultural predispositions, there really is no "Buddhist Diet" -- although many Buddhists have spent much time discussing (and arguing) about various practices and beliefs (despite Buddha's teachings on nonattachment).   

A lot of suffering, both pain and dissatisfaction, is connected to our attitudes and habits around food and eating.  Think of the difference that might be possible if the time spent debating whether or not the Buddha was a vegetarian or if certain foods are inherently more/less conducive to practice were actually put into practice of the 8-fold path?*  Learning to eat with one's opinionated mouth closed is good manners and good practice.