Cattāri Brahmavihārā

So, my intermittent fasting has now developed into a pretty steady one meal a day (OMAD) routine which means there is plenty of time later in the day when I’m feeling hungry. But, it really does seem like this body was made to perform optimally under stress (read dukkha). My blood sugar is better at fasting, I’ve lost at least four pounds and yet it can be a struggle.

What I find so interesting is how the mind begins to obsess over food around the twelfth hour and how it becomes progressive engrossed with the theme. Coupled with this is the mind’s insistence that the body is too weak to do prostrations. Too weak to meditate. It seems to me that what is now lacking is a clear quality of resolve. Time to cultivate and activate aditthana parami I suppose.

So, rather than spending my entire morning session fantasizing about what I will eat, I will try to remember that this body is breaking down. That there is no refuge here and that to waste my precious time beautifying or pampering it is counterproductive. I am reminded of quote by Seneca where he said that The “pleasures of eating deal with us like Egyptian thieves, who strangle those whom they embrace.”

How true is this? I waste the greater part of my day intoxicated by the idea of food only to overindulge myself in fifteen minutes. Foolishness. May I resolve to take better care of myself so that I can learn to be truly happy.