If you ask 100 people to define the ideal ascetic diet, you'll get 100 different answers. The details of any person's diet plan will vary according to that person's goals, body type and activity level. For ascetics, you will also have to account for local influences, religious tenets and availability of food.
Asceticism
Living as an ascetic means doing with the bare minimum of comforts, foods and personal possessions. For some, this means living in an undefined and voluntary state of simplicity. For others, this follows a rigidly defined code of vows such as poverty or imposed silence. In both cases, your diet can serve as a daily reminder of the goals, faith or statement behind your decision.
Nonviolence
Many religious orders that encourage asceticism, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, also encourage nonviolence. This nonviolence extends to animals, meaning that many ascetic diets are vegetarian. The extent of the vegetarianism can range from no meat to veganism. Veganism is the decision to eat no animal products of any kind, including eggs, dairy products and even honey.
Simplicity
In his book "Voluntary Simplicity," Duane Elgin writes that simplicity is at the heart of the ascetic ethos. When eating an ascetic diet, you need to pay attention to how much had to happen to bring the food to your mouth. For example, an apple off a local tree takes very little in comparison to a fast-food hamburger.
Nutrition
Consider calories when eating an ascetic diet. Although the thin-but-vibrant image of a successful ascetic is compelling, malnutrition is a consistent risk when eating at this level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends a minimum of 2,000 calories per day for optimum health, and warns that less than 1,200 will lead to malnutrition and even starvation in most adults.
Mindfulness
Legendary Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh reminds his followers that mindfulness is what makes any decision meaningful. Hanh advises to eat any meal, especially the meal of an ascetic, slowly and thoughtfully. If you are mindful as you eat, you have the opportunity to celebrate your decision to eat an ascetic diet.
Perfect Asceticism
Hanh also reminds his followers that perfection is not an attainable goal. Although ascetics and others who seek enlightenment should strive for perfection, you should not berate yourself for the times you don't achieve it. Perfection is a mountain to climb, knowing all the while that you will not reach the summit.
References
- "USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference"; USDA; 2009
- "Peace is Every Step"; Thich Nhat Hanh; 1995
- "Voluntary Simplicity"; Duane Elgin; 1998
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