Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

textures of the food, regarding it as medicine to keep the
body fit for meditation practice. If one thinks of it in the
ordinary worldly way, then it is like poison. Think of
the grace of the patron who has so generously given this
food for one's maintenance.
There is a hymn in Chinese which is always repeated
before taking food:
Though from a patron I accept
One grain of rice, there's cast
A dharma-burden on my back
That weights like mountain vast.
Oh, if I do not practice well
And thus sambodhi gain,
May I become my patron's hen
And suffer grievous pain.
This is the Hinayana idea. The Mahayana follower
reflects, "Whatever food I take is only for
accomplishing the first three paramitas and for the
realization of sunyata. If I had practiced very diligently
then I would be able to get food from meditation, and
there would be no need for me to worry about worldly
foods; because of this, I am ashamed to take food from
my patrons. As I take their food, I will also take on
myself the fruits of their misdeeds, at the same time
increasing their good deeds by accepting their food
offerings."
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