5 Contemplations

The four-fold community of monks, nuns, lay men, and lay women of Plum Village, home of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh have released a new version of the 5 Contemplations before eating.

I really liked an even older version, which began, “This food is the gift of the whole universe – the earth, the sky and much hard work.”

But, we know that all things are impermanent, even the 5 Contemplations. The new version is

5 Contemplations

1. This food is a gift of the earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard and loving work.
2. May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive this food.
3. May we recognize and transform unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation.
4. May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that reduces the suffering of living beings, stops contributing to climate change, and heals and preserves our precious planet.
5. We accept this food so that we may nurture our brotherhood and sisterhood, build our Sangha, and nourish our ideal of serving all living beings.

This version of the 5 Contemplations adds a few ideas that may be confusing to some people who have never seen them before. For example, the statement, “so as to be worthy to receive this food,” has the possible interpretation that some people are not worthy to eat. This seems totally wrong to me.

It is possible that it is left over from a time when the monks and nuns had to beg for their food, as they still do in some parts of the world. Perhaps this idea came from that time when the monks and nuns felt some obligation to compensate for the fact that they did not work for their food, but begged for it instead. In our case, in Plum Village and other practice centers of Thich Nhat Hanh around the world, everyone now works for their food by helping in the kitchen, gardening, washing toilets (which I have done 🙂 ), and performing other cooperative tasks that keep the practice center functioning.

I would like to see this shortened to, “May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude.

“May we take only foods that nourish us and prevent illness,” instead of all of number 4. It is good to keep in mind our contributions to climate change and help preserve our planet. It is also laudable to help reduce the suffering of others. Are these statements actually needed in the 5 Contemplations before a meal?

Finally, in number 5, I prefer the old rendering: “We accept this food to realize the path of understanding and love,” for its simplicity. Referring to our brotherhood and sisterhood as well as our sangha might have a connotation of inclusiveness, although I am sure that none is intended.

Here is the older version that I like so much in full:

1. This food is the gift of the whole universe – the earth, the sky and much hard work.
2. May we eat in mindfulness so as to be worthy to receive it.
3. May we transform our unskillful states of mind, and learn to eat in moderation.
4. May we take only foods that nourish us and prevent illness.
5. We accept this food to realize the path of understanding and love.

Which version do you prefer? Why? What are your thoughts about the new version? Please share.