Abandon poisonous food.

Vitis riparia photo by Allen Norcross; Menispermum canadense photo by John Hilty

Euell Gibbons launched the modern-day movement of ‘living off the land’ with his book, Stalking the Wild Asparagus. A variety of people, from survivalists and foodies to herbalists and nature lovers, have since embraced the trend of gathering wild foods and medicinal plants. However foraging does have one major drawback: many edible plants have a poisonous look-alike. Frost grape, for example, closely resembles and often intermingles with moonseed, a vine with poisonous drupes. One way to know for sure which vine is which is to cut open the fruits and look at the seeds. The grape safe for humans has several ovate seeds, while the moonseed has only a flat, crescent-shaped seed (for which it is named). In the same way, our words and actions may initially appear to be benevolent and noble, but we need to check within for any hidden agendas. If our behavior is motivated by a desire for the attention and admiration of others, this slogan cautions that such 'poison' will only nourish our ego. Our craving for recognition is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom. That feeling of being unique and special is insubstantial; it will always leave us anxiously yearning for more.

It’s important to note that there’s a huge difference between personal gratification and ego gratification, for the latter compromises our virtuous qualities by infusing them with conflicting emotions. ~ Traleg Kyabgon

For more information on the twenty-ninth slogan, go here.

Slogan Twenty-nine

Abandon poisonous food.

            This slogan is a warning that what appears as appealing may instead be contaminated. Self-centeredness is the poison that taints what might otherwise nourish us. Like a picnic spread left too long in the sun, virtuous thoughts and actions can become spoiled. Rather than enjoying the natural gratification that comes from an act of kindness, we ruin it with selfish motives. Our spiritual practice becomes spiritual narcissism, separating us from others. As Judy Lief explains, such egoism is “a form of ingesting experience to fatten our own self-absorption.”

Photo: Amanita sp. - a genus that includes some of the deadliest species in the world and accounts for over 90% of mushroom fatalities.

            I remember the first yoga class I ever attended. My doctor had suggested I find a better way to handle the stress in my life, so a friend introduced me to her teacher. As I attempted to learn to the poses, it was obvious I wasn't very flexible or coordinated. I became agitated that older women in the class seemed to be more advanced than I was. As a result I pushed myself beyond what was physically comfortable or safe, because I didn't want to look like a novice. I paid for it the next day with sore muscles, but even more insane was that I’d defeated the purpose of going – to unwind and relax. In the same manner, I can reverse the good that might come from spiritual practice when self-centeredness breeds arrogance or a competitive attitude. That poisonous food is what my ego craves, yet it is devoid of spiritual nourishment.