One hundred years ago, Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf, said that there were two ways to heal the world when humans were facing a crisis in the future -- one was agriculture, and the other was education. The problem we face now is that education and agriculture are in trouble.
The final speech on day three of the Good Food Heroes Summit was filled with the philosophy of food and education. We first discussed the philosophy of “food” to “heart”, then we discussed about “future evolution” with Ms. Drolma, from the Happy Mandala Group Co.,Ltd. I can't help but think of the theme of the summit -- "The Menu Leading The Evolution". What is the driving force behind changes? Step by step, Drolma revealed the answer behind it -- happiness itself is the path.
Next, we will focus on some key words mentioned in Drolma's speech and hope that these profound words will lighten our way to the future.
To fully understand good food, we should consider the nominal nature of "food" and view the verbal nature of "food": how to eat? What effect will it have on the body and mind after eating? The four foods mentioned in Buddhist scriptures show a complete process of "eating": chewing, touching, thinking, and knowing. The Buddha used these four simple words to accurately explain the relationship between man and his mind, nature, society, and future universe. The phase which discussed during the summit is “chewing food”and “touching food.”
What is the source? The fundamental of medicine is Qi. Our ancestors told us that everything we ate was Qi. Qi is energy. In quantum physics, it is fluctuations. When we say what we're eating, we can also say: we are what we eat. According to I-Ching, everything must have property, all property must be counterproductive, and the counter must be turned. From the point of view of energy conservation, what you eat becomes a part of yourself.
The cognition of "food" in eastern philosophy is that man is one with nature and the universe, supported by “Dao”.
The first is the method of acquisition, whether it is organic and humane. The second is the method of cooking, whether the body and mind are fully engaged. The third is the method of eating, whether the food is consumed in a way that benefits the body, mind, and soul. The fourth is the method of mind, which is rarely used in modern education. People always feel that there are endless problems waiting to be solved in this world without deep mindful thinking. When facing food issues and other issues, people should be aware of where our problems are rooted and address the root cause. According to I-Ching, one should first know himself and what he needs, and then look for it in the natural environment.
For example, salt is related to our consciousness's awakening, acidity is associated with restoring a person's vitality, and sweetness represents happiness. Modern adults who overeat sugar can make their taste buds lose their sense of judgement. If a child overeats sugar, his taste buds and nervous system will be significantly affected, lose the sense of judgment, and cannot grasp whether the food is nutritious for the body.
Human beings should think deeply about sustainable development. A person needs to be mentally and physically healthy and balanced internally and externally to achieve a truly healthy state. Humans cause the current dire situation of the planet. If one cannot become sustainable and green on the inside, they cannot act sustainably and green on the outside.
Before 1960, the relationship between human beings and the earth was balanced. Industrialization began in 1947. Food began to breed fundamental problems, education was also in trouble globally. After World War II, to provide talents for troops and large-scale industrial production, our education began to transform from a small-scale education to mainstream education in the West.
The most significant difference between traditional eastern and western education is that the latter breaks the whole into several parts, while the former integrates all the pieces.
We often break things into so many pieces that we finally break ourselves.
Due to cognitive limitations, changing is very difficult.
Our cognition of the earth and nature, even our thinking habits are all set around the interests of people. We do not treat each other equally from heart. We look at animals, natural landscapes and even the earth with bias. The society created by humans is only a small part of the planet. There are many other kinds of creatures on the planet--both known and unknown. The economy is only a small part of society. Only an economy based on promoting the everyday happiness of all living beings is sustainable.
It is impossible to solve the present problems if we use the same thought process that is causing the problems.
The only solution is through education.
Bhutan's fourth king proposed in 1972 that national happiness was more important than national economic indicators. The so-called happiness index (GNH) starts from the original intention of people to achieve happiness. It then rebalances the relationship between material and spirit to achieve balanced development in all aspects of life.
Bhutan's tourism minister once said to Zhuoma: happiness for the Bhutanese is not only one's happiness but also the happiness of all beings. This is their philosophy of life.
Though Bhutan is a small country, it is a living example. How they live, how they treat themselves, their family animals, and nature are the best examples. People don't need to invent new ways to solve problems there. Many problems have already been solved.
The Second Good Food Heroes Summit is over. Most people have left Chengdu, returned to their cities, and continued to work hard for their inner goals. Here, the Good Food Fund team would like to thank each participant, thank you for your enthusiastic dedication, and hope that you will continue to cheer with harvest and hope!
Finally, after being graded by the judges, the five delegates and projects that received small grants for this summit are:
Liu Shuman: Vegetarian Experiences in Guangzhou
Ouyang Huiyu: Vegetarian Food Festival in University Canteen
Wang Yiping: How to Eat is the Healthiest?
Chen Chen: A Survey on Dining Orientation of College Students
Cui Xue: Delicious Drama Camp
Congratulations to the five delegates above!
Hope to see you again next year!
Click to watch the video of Good Food Summit 2018
