"Here there is no talk of the world's affairs - those matters that make wild the hearts of men." Chia Tao (779-843); trans. Mike O'Connor

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Dec. 13, 2008 - Buddhism and Obesity

This may be a contrary statement given America's obsession with physical appearance and image, but obesity is only a problem if you believe it is so. If you are happy and filled with equanimity and have compassion toward others, then it does not matter what you weigh.

The popular image of Bodhidharma - the happy and fat 'Buddha belly' guy - is an example of a person who was at peace with himself and the world. He lived many years and served countless thousands who were suffering. It wasn't his weight that dictated his life, it was an attitude of peace.

If your weight troubles you and causes you to suffer, you may want to look into the root cause of that suffering. If your weight is causing physical or mental distress, then a change in your weight is certainly appropriate and beneficial. But if you are upset and stressed because you feel you don't measure up to others' opinions about what is healthy then you are making the opinions of others more important than your own.

The Buddha said, "All that we are is a result of what we have thought."

If you believe your weight is harmful or a cause for depression, you will gain that result. If you think you are a loving and compassionate person who is joyfully independent of the opinions of others, you will be that as well.

May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

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