Thanks to Clive over at https://cliveblogs.wordpress.com/ for nominating me for the ‘Three Quotes for Three Days’ challenge. I’ve decided to incorporate this into my Thursday blogs for the next few weeks, and so here’s the second quote below:
The rules of the challenge are:
- Three quotes for three days.
- Three nominees each day (no repetition).
- Thank the person who nominated you.
- Inform the nominees.
As I read my way through Douglas Abrams ‘The Book of Joy’ (conversations between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu), I find I identify with quite a few Buddhist teachings. I’m going to quote a Tibetan Buddhist prayer that is often said before a meal:
‘I am viewing this meal as a medicine. I shall enjoy it without greed or anger, not out of gluttony nor out of pride, not to fatten myself, but only to nourish my body.’
I find the book quite fascinating, and regarding the above quote, realise my non-religious parents unwittingly brought me up to follow some of the teachings. For example, if I reached for the biscuit barrel as a child, I was not allowed to take any more than three biscuits. If I asked for another piece of cake I was always told no, and that nobody needs two pieces of cake! I accepted this fact, and although I haven’t eaten biscuits for years, the one piece of cake mantra still stands. I was also informed that nobody needs a dinner consisting of three courses, and that we only really need two meals a day as we become older.
The Dalai Lama, now in his eighties, rises at 3am every day to do 5 hours of meditation, and then has breakfast and lunch only, before retiring to bed at 7pm. I know I couldn’t even hope to follow such a strict regime. However, I highly recommend The Book of Joy to all my friends out there in Cyberworld. Give it a whirl – you will definitely learn a thing or two!
I’m going to nominate another 3 people whose quotes I’d be interested in reading:
Frank Parker: https://franklparker.com/
Chris, the Story Reading Ape: https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/
Don Massenzio: https://donmassenzio.wordpress.com/
Stevie Turner 
Thanks for the nomination, Stevie. I’ll do my best. Growing up in post war Britain, we never had much in the way of treats! And none thee worse for that. I remember that a Mars bar was a rarity and had to be shared between 3 of us – Mum, me and my sister. Sadly, Mum did become old and overweight, mostly from lack of exercise due to arthritis. As for me, I’ve been a steady 9 stone for as long as I can remember.
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I never bought Mars bars as a kid. Usually it was penny chews and blackjacks. It’s a wonder I have any teeth left! My little old mum is just over 6 stone and still going strong. She seems to shrink a little more every day.
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An excellent quote! Today’s western society certainly eats too much, causing health problems. One piece of cake is enough. I love that.
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Moderation in everything, that’s how I was brought up. Thankfully it’s stood me in good stead now that I’m older.
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I was brought up similarly and I thank my parents for it.
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My mum always tells it like it is. From an early age she always told me that we can do nothing about getting old, but that we can do quite a lot about not getting old and fat. She drummed it into me never to get old and fat! Dear old Dot, she’s 92 now and still won’t eat cheese or drink full fat milk.
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I don’t think I could ever follow such a strict regime! But I’m happy to stick to the one piece of cake rule, as long as I’m allowed to cut it for myself 😉
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When my sons were younger and they both wanted the last bit of cake, I would get one of them to cut it into two and the other one to pick which piece they wanted.
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My parents used to do that, and I passed it on to mine. A good tactic!
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One son used to take forever to cut the cake, but I let them get on with it.
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