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Re: Is rejecting food after noon sometimes wrong?

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:36 pm
by Goofaholix
This precept is practised as part of a set of either 8, 10, or 227 in a monastic context only.

I don't see the point in trying to do it outside of that.

If you are living alone and don't socialise/work much then i guess it would be achievable, but doing what you're doing is only going to give your family the impression that you're rude and/or have gone off the religious deep end.

Re: Is rejecting food after noon sometimes wrong?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:23 am
by Digity
Jump to 42:40 in the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR0w_6F8xDs

Ajahn Brahm talks about refusing to eat his girlfriend's food and regretting it.

Re: Is rejecting food after noon sometimes wrong?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:44 am
by kmath
Many have suggested the OP just explain his decision not to eat to his family. But I haven't heard the explanation myself. To the OP, why are you keeping the 6th precept? That precept for monks was made so as not to inconvenience the laity. That is, instead of going for all alms three times a day, it's easier for the laity if the monks just go once. So to me, I just don't see the rational for it as a lay person, especially when you are upsetting people by it.

Also a personal anecdote: I had been living at a Western Forest Monastery for three months keeping the 8 precepts and went home to visit family, with the intention to come back and ordain. I asked the abbott if he had any advice for me going home. He said keep the 5 precepts, not the 8! He said refusing food just creates unnecessary problems and in my opinion he's right.

:anjali:

Re: Is rejecting food after noon sometimes wrong?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:25 pm
by EmptyCittas1by1
kmath wrote:Many have suggested the OP just explain his decision not to eat to his family. But I haven't heard the explanation myself. To the OP, why are you keeping the 6th precept? That precept for monks was made so as not to inconvenience the laity. That is, instead of going for all alms three times a day, it's easier for the laity if the monks just go once. So to me, I just don't see the rational for it as a lay person, especially when you are upsetting people by it.

Also a personal anecdote: I had been living at a Western Forest Monastery for three months keeping the 8 precepts and went home to visit family, with the intention to come back and ordain. I asked the abbott if he had any advice for me going home. He said keep the 5 precepts, not the 8! He said refusing food just creates unnecessary problems and in my opinion he's right.

:anjali:
I'm following the 8 because (after creating this thread and starting "normal" eating) I found that it was easier to be mindful since I was less likely to develop cravings for food wrongly. I'm going to follow the 8, but I'm going to eat food whenever dinner is cooked or whenever I exercise. If no dinner is cooked, then no food. I haven't seen any problems from that so far :D

Re: Is rejecting food after noon sometimes wrong?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:10 am
by Goofaholix
EmptyCittas1by1 wrote: I'm following the 8 because (after creating this thread and starting "normal" eating) I found that it was easier to be mindful since I was less likely to develop cravings for food wrongly. I'm going to follow the 8, but I'm going to eat food whenever dinner is cooked or whenever I exercise. If no dinner is cooked, then no food. I haven't seen any problems from that so far :D
Good plan.