“ Life my friend cannot only survive because we breathe , to body our organs want nutrition was that. We can sustain our physical form the body . To give the body going we need food and their fore it is important to pay attention to your diet as you go along in life . A balanced nutritious diet is a kay to a long , happy , healthy and fulfilled life .” He explained to me one morning .” Here have tea and thunk and bread , I also have some oranges and apples if you like , or maybe a banana , diet is very important eat ii.” He handed some bread and apples to me .” Yes in the hills you are one with nature , fresh streams of water banked bread and fruits , after all we are use to walking and climbing through out the day , so we have to be fit , only a good diet can make sure we stay fit , without illness .” Tenzing I thought was a bit old fashioned in his ways of explaining the importance of diet and nutrition . In the metro’s the is a major profession , every. Gym , SPA or salon has a dietician , who gives you a diet chart to keep , so that you can achieve your weight and body goals . Tenzing was the more fresh air , waiter and fruit type . “ Water is very important , you need to keep having water , to regulate all the salts and enzymes in your body. Otherwise it may cause malfunction’s .” Tenzing said as he took one more bight of the red and green apple , he closed his eyes to enjoy the crispness and the tangy flavour of the fruit with the juice running into his taste buds almost hanging out of his tongue .
“ You know diet and religion go hand in hand , mean look at all the world religions they forbid their followers not to eat some meats , animals and even vegetable . Hindu’s can’t eat cow , Muslims can’t eat pork meat , Jains can’t have garlic and onion’s and so forth .” I said trying to find a relationship between the two .” Yes you are right diet is so ingrained oil our roots and way of life , after all no food no life .” Tenzing was amazed that I had made a valid and interesting point .I was also aware of the fact that great civilisations and cultures of the past had been ruined and destroyed by famine , drought and lack of water . With out nourishment , crops , foos their is no life and the land will remain barren , water and food are a necessity of life without them we will not sustain as a race .
“ I try to mix things during the day , I like to have fruits in the morning and evening , lunch is always noodles , thunpka , mom’s or just bread . Dinner his when I try chicken and lamb curry , I like it with Paratha , many shops sell this for dinner . Of. Course I like chances nuts , I eat them with dates in the evening with my tea . WE mustn’t forget a glass of milk and eggs thrice a weeks . That should do it .” Tenzing explained his idea of a ideal diet to have a happy upset free life with out sickness .
“ People here like sheep and they eat even yak meat , yak milk is had by the locals of this region , we are nomadic and really aspire for possessions in the world , we travel light just lie you , you are a travel blogger , just a nomad like me .” Tenzing was now trying to form his own connection . He. Had a hearty laugh , which came from his belly and filled his lungs ,his cheeks would stretch upward and his eye would light up in excitement when he laughed . As we kept with our walking schedule , I realised my stamina had incurred and I was able to walk long distances without panting much . It must be the fresh air too that id the trick that bit of extra oxygen just gets you going .” I think we try some Karela Juice with sports and some neem and lemon We sat outside a small park which was a war memorial for the dead soldiers who gave their lives during the Kargil war and the Indo Pak 1971 war . A juice maker was serving diet green juice made of Lauki and Karela and awe are the ones to try it first .” Everything shuts down early here by 8:00 pm most eating joints and dosa joints shut down . What to do so less people here , the higher you go the lesser the people .” My mind rushed to the days I was travelling around Bhutan , it is the most parsley. Populated place on erat , very less people , no doubt it is said they are the happiest country in the world .
“ You see Buddhist monasteries are a storehouse of this of ancient knowledge of the faith , going inside. Monastery is like travelling back in time , The colour’s the old horse carriages , the prayer room with the might buddha everyone arms folded prays to it with essence sticks in hand . I reminqicend about my time in Nepal Kathmandu the sound of OM NAMAYO RINKE KYUN , the buddhist chant . I even saw the young king of Nepal come and pray at one of the monasteries . Silence is the key here , just let everything go .
“ Diet yes! That is most important for a happy and fulfilling life , Buddhism takes you towards vegetarianism , just like the Hindu’s and the jain faith they prefer. Vegetarianism . That is the the way infect the world is moving we are discovering that being vegetarian helps improve life quality and you even live longer . “ Tenzing explains the finer points of a vegetarian diet to me .” Mountains are home to some exotic berries , hers and other plants that can be used in medicine , after all Ayurveda is a term from the hill’s where Hindu mountain hermit this sadhu’s would make potent medical prescriptions .”
Yes the mad monk must be right I mean who the hell would want to mediate and chant on an empty stomach or a poor diet .
No doubt the lesson of a balance diet was something that I could take forward as Za Zen principle , being a non vegetarian I am trying to move towards vegetarianism .