Art of the Inner Meal: Eating as a Spiritual Path

by Donald Altman and Don Altman

Book Overview

Many of the world's religions value the simple act of eating as a powerful means of self-discovery and spiritual transcendence. Eating with awareness brings us into the moment, helping us understand... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062516353
• ISBN13: 9780062516350
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

New Paperback Edition is Even Better!

I loved this book so much that I bought the new expanded paperback edition. The paperback is even better and has literally helped to change my life in my struggle with binge eating. There are several important changes in the new edition that you want to know about...First, there's a new subtitle-- "The Power of Mindful Practices to Heal Our Food Cravings", which shows more focus on the mindfulness tools. Second, there's a new introduction where the author talks about mindfulness as a powerful, clinically proven method for helping those with eating issues. Third, this book contains more really great mindfulness exercises--which gave me wonderful guidance (I really liked the food inventory tool). Lastly, there's a valuable new chapter called "The Six Steps of Changing Food Habits." This chapter is awesome because it ties all the elements of the earlier hardcover together. Plus, it gives me a practical six step method for making real changes in how I now approach food. Get the paperback version and you'll save money too! (it's only $13.95). It has a new cover, which means you have to give up that goreous pear--but it's well worth it! Definitely an amazing book.

Wonderful.. fun and informative

What a wonderful book !! It lives up to its title and I learned so much and was reminded of past lessons learned about how every culture has a sense of the spiritual in their meals. The chapter on how eating with ones friends and or family and the ritual of listening and sharing stories is ageless. Or the tea ceremony. Monks and how they eat and even a Chapter on fasting and its benefits and connections to eating. There is also an enchanting and informative chapter titled The Good, The Bad, The Forbidden.. which is about how some cultures believe some foods are best and some foods are forbidden. Like in Hinduism that believes that vegetarian is best since bad karma comes from killing an animal. Or Zen Buddhism that uses the philosophy of cooking that speeds spiritual development and total health. Thus the idea of stirfry.It is simply a delightful and intelligent book that will appeal to most serious readers I think.

Developing a Taste for Mindfulness

Reader, I don't know how things are for you. But where I live, every fast food place ever invented, is thriving. In fact, I suspect that at least some of the drivers who, daily almost run me over, are heading for those places.The only reason to add to the excellent reviews already here, is to promote one of the most important books ( I think) to appear in a long time. What is said in THE ART OF THE INNER MEAL has already been said elsewhere. There are two important differences in what Donald Altman has to say: 1). By discussing all major spiritual paths and some less well-known ones, he is striving for universality, and 2). His thinking is expressed within a framework of good, clear and simple writing.Donald Altman knows what he is about. Reading this book will cause experiences of food quality and/or convivality to be recalled (How do we do more?). Addictions, attachments and mistakes can also come to light, and will be "in the light" simply by acknowledging them.There is no ONE diet for either physical health or for spiritual health. Reading this book for its basic idea will result in the gradual application of his ideas or your own, inevitably resulting in the deepening and enhancement of your life.The beauty of this is that it is open to everyone,everywhere. "The art of the inner meal means being in communication with all aspects of food, and of life"--pg.76

An Enlightened Approach to Food and Spirituality

It isn't often that a book touches you deeply about something you normally take for granted. But this one just may help you look at meals in a whole new way--it did for me. Altman's "Art of the Inner Meal" explores in depth the holy nourishment that each daily meal offers us. Best of all, he does it with panache, humor, and wisdom. His stories of how each of the world's major religious traditions use food as a spiritual tool gave me a new understanding and perspective on how the power of food has shaped religious faith across the centuries. It's an empowering book, too, because at another level it deals with how each of us can use food to liberate our consciousness and gain control over what we eat (no calorie counting here) through what Altman calls a "spiritual diet." Also, as a Buddhist monk, he also shares stories about his own struggles with food while in the monastery...in particular a hilarious story involving a chocolate bar. Inspiring and informative, "Art of the Inner Meal" is a great read. Highly recommended for food lovers, spiritual seekers and especially recovering junk-food junkies!

An Inspired Gem Of A Book

Donald Altman has combined the old adages 'you become what you think' and 'you are what you eat' as themes for this inspirational guide to bringing the sacred into our everyday eating choices and habits. His seamless, radiant prose proved a joy to read and helped me to reevaluate my own relationship to food, giving me ideas for rituals--personal and collective-- which can make our consumption of food even more fulfilling and meaningful.