With an eater as disturbingly picky as my six year old, I am always looking for anything positive to add to our mealtime. I like this and am going to borrow it for the time being. Here is our new family grace…..
- I reflect on the work that brings this food before me; let me see whence this food comes.
- I reflect on my imperfections, on whether I am deserving of this offering of food.
- Let me hold my mind free from preferences and greed.
- I take this food as an effective medicine to keep my body in good health.
- I accept this food so that I will fulfill my task of enlightenment.
This is borrowed from the Shojin Ryori and shared in the book by Naomi Moriyama, Japanese Women Don’t Get Old Or Fat. Moriyama explains, “Shojin” means “perseverance and devotion” and “Ryori” means “cooking” or “cuisine”. The theory behind Shojin Ryori is that food should enhance spiritual growth. Nothing is wasted. I like that last idea a lot.
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