The Direction.
Have you thought about it?
I don’t mean the direction of putting the delicious food in your mouth, that’s clear enough. But the direction in which you sit, while you are eating food.
The ancients, and not so ancients — for this knowledge ran in some families till very recently — did.
The elders say while eating :
Facing east, gives a long life
Facing west, brings wealth
Facing north, honesty to life to relations
Facing south, fame
The choice is yours. Which direction do you choose? That determines your goal, and perhaps it’s outcome.
For, you see … food is never eaten to be finished. It is eaten to be savoured.
Traditionally we sit and eat. Never stand. For sitting, we relax. Then, of course, we begin by praying to your lord.
After that knowing the direction we have chosen to eat in, our mind reinforces the idea offered to us — a long life, wealth, fame, honesty … morsel by morsel, bite by bite.
Knowing अन्न , food is God. And knowing, food also creates the mind (refr to Chandogya Upanishad for a detailed account on this)
अन्नमशितं त्रेधा विधीयते तस्य यः स्थविष्ठो धातुस्तत्पुरीषं भवति यो मध्यमस्तन्मांसं योऽणिष्ठस्तन्मनः
When we eat food, it divides itself into three parts. The grossest part of it becomes excreta; that which is less gross becomes our flesh; and the finest part becomes our mind.
When this mind believes in a thought, “Facing south and eating, I will be more honest, find truthful relations in life.” And it keeps reinforcing that thought day after day, meal after meal … the chances of its manifestation are high.
Modern psychology concurs, for we get more gung-ho about it happening.From the sky to the earth, the detailing of our ancients. The intricate weaving of psycho spiritual tools with everyday action. Truly, truly remarkable. If one can see, that is. Else, it’s all just bunkum. To each, their own. Opinion. And yes, Direction!