Mindful Consumption
Doom scrolling? Concerned about your use of technology or other distractions? Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh has written extensively on the value of mindful consumption and offers keen insight into modifying our lives for more peace and tranquility.
An edited and updated excerpt from THE FIFTH PRECEPT: DIET FOR A MINDFUL SOCIETY by Thich Nhat Hanh
The quality of our life depends very much on the amount of peace and joy that can be found in our bodies and consciousness. If there are too many poisons in our bodies and consciousness, the peace and joy in us will not be strong enough to make us happy. So the first step is to identify and recognize the poisons that are already in us. [The Buddha spoke of the three basic poisons as anger, hatred, and delusion. There are many more than that, and we benefit from recognizing their presence in us.].
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The second step of the practice is to be mindful of what we are ingesting into our bodies and consciousness. What kind of toxins am I putting into my body today? [What news am I watching? What kinds of social media am I engaging with today? What shows or films am I watching?] What book am I reading? What magazine am I looking at? What kind of conversations am I having? Try to recognize the toxins.
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The third part of the practice is to prescribe for yourself a kind of diet. Aware of the fact that there are many toxins in my body and consciousness, aware of the fact that I am ingesting this and that toxin into my body and consciousness every day, making myself sick and causing suffering to my beloved ones, I am determined to prescribe for myself a proper diet. I vow to ingest only items that preserve well-being, peace, and joy in my body and my consciousness. I am determined not to ingest more toxins into my body and consciousness. Therefore, I will refrain from ingesting into my body and consciousness these things, and I will make a list of them.
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We know that there are many items that are nutritious, healthy, and delightful that we can consume every day. [When we refrain from doom scrolling, there are so many delicious and wholesome alternatives: gardening, playing games, making music, dancing, hiking.] We don’t have to deprive ourselves of the joys of living, not at all. There are many beautiful, informative, and entertaining programs on television. There are many excellent books and magazines to read. There are many wonderful people and many healthy subjects to talk about. By vowing to consume only items that preserve our well-being, peace, and joy, and the well-being, peace, and joy of our family and society, we need not deprive ourselves of the joys of living. Practicing this third exercise brings us deep peace and joy.