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Guo tang (Having Meals)
Guo tang is a Chinese term used to describe the custom of monks eating meals in the Vegetarian Hall. In the morning and afternoon, monks go to the Vegetarian Hall and eat together.
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The Five Contemplations While Eating
Vegetarian Hall is also named Hall of Five Contemplations, for the ritual that Buddhists should cultivate and maintain a mindful diet by observing the Five Contemplations While Eating.
We reflect on the effort that
brought us this food and consider how it comes to us;
We reflect on our virtue and
practice, and whether we are worthy of this offering;
We regard greed as the obstacle to
freedom of mind;
We regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life;
For the sake of enlightenment we now receive this food.
Show courtesy in the Dinning Hall and offer the honored seat to other people, especially the senior monks.
Before eating, recite the offering mantra; first offer food to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), then to the animals and pretas.
No chatting while dinning. Sit up straight and eat slowly.
Be mindful in eating, holding the bowl properly.
Eat slowly and make no noise whilst taking soup.
Do not scrape or lick your bowl during a meal.
Do not make noise with utensils.
Eat in moderation so that no food has been left over after the meal.
Cover the mouth with the sleeve in case of tooth-picking so as not to brandish it to the face of others.
