An “Outside-the-box” Article by Joe Zug
Copyright 2005, Joe Zug, Mind Skills Institute, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT
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At your thanksgiving holiday feast, whom will you be thanking for the foods before you? Yes, we traditionally, customarily and habitually thank God. This article offers an expanded insight into this custom as it integrates a definition of God that is relatively new to the Western world.
As I used the technique of “scrutinizing the obvious” regarding the foods we eat and the benefits to our bodies, I uncovered far more than I expected. The most surprising and significant unfolding to me was that of a profound appreciation for the relationship of oneness between ourselves and the smaller intelligent beings within ourselves and within “all that is.”
At the dinner table some people have a custom, habit or ritual of “blessing the food” or “saying grace,” especially on religious holidays and at family gatherings. These prayers range from being memorized recitations to spontaneous expressions. They typically focus on phrases of thanksgiving or gratitude to God for providing the food. They also typically seek God’s blessing that the food will nourish the bodies of those who eat it.
Is it possible that the original intention or purpose of this custom was much more specific and that specific purpose has been lost in the process of being passed down through the generations?
In the relatively recent shifts in both science and religion, new contexts have emerged that may reveal that original intention involved in the custom of blessing food. That is the focus of this article.
In science, quantum physics has recently been popularized by PBS television in its presentations of “The Power of Intention” by Wayne Dyer and the documentary, “The Elegant Universe.” Quantum physics is also the core idea in the movie, “What The Bleep Do We Know?” It is now understood that quantum particles, the units smaller than atoms, are directly influenced by human intention.
In religion, or more correctly, in the realm of spirituality, there is an increasing number of people who have shifted their definition of God. God is increasingly viewed as being, existing or dwelling within the physical form of every created thing. This view has been long held by Native American Indians, Buddhists and followers of other Eastern religions. In other words, God is “all that is.”
You may now find in the custom of blessing food an opportunity to apply the recent enlightenment about quantum particles, light, energy, love and vibrational frequencies and about the increasingly popular insight that God is “all that is.”
Please consider the value of the points (#1-23) offered in the introductory materials immediately below. Following that introduction are some enlightened ideas (#24-37) for “blessing food” that incorporate these points. Please note that these observations do not in any way diminish my level of awe, honor or respect toward God, the Divine Creator. Neither is it my purpose to have you change your level of honor, respect or awe toward God. If you hold a different definition of God, I invite you to avoid condemning this one until you have gathered sufficient information to fairly pronounce judgment.
1. There is a grand design that God, the Divine Creator, used in creating the Earth. It approximates God’s revealed technique of gradually proceeding “...line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little....” Thus, God uses an evolutionary process.
2. God’s creative, grand design includes a wide variety of systems that each operate as “predetermined sequences of events that are repeatedly performed to create a desired result.”
3. Each of these systems are cycles that interact and support the functioning of each other. These systems include the recycling of air, water, biological life (plant and animal) and inert substances. These system-cycles are fueled by the energy of the Sun and its stored heat in the core of the Earth, manifesting their power in the jet stream and seasonal weather changes.
4. These interacting elements operate in ways that result in a stabilized Earth, reflecting harmony, balance and unity or oneness. In fact, these systems operate as self-perpetuating motions. God actually created the perfect, perpetual motion machine that man has only dreamed of creating. However, it is man through ego, selfishness and ignorance who has sabotaged these cooperative interactions practiced by all other aspects of God’s creation.
5. A shift in human consciousness from a self-centered, ego focus to one of universal appreciation and cooperativeness is essential to elevate man to a state of harmony, balance and oneness with “all that is” or God.
6. Higher consciousness suggests a need for a more insightful appreciation of each of Earth’s other intelligent inhabitants, both large and small. Inasmuch as all non-human inhabitants are completely cooperative components of creation, we would do well to learn from them.
7. Genetic research as revealed that there is a DNA code within the nucleus of every cell in every living creature and that it operates as a blueprint. That blueprint or code determines the purpose and general behavior of that creature and every level of the intelligent entities that exist as cooperating components within it.
8. This obedient intelligence exists within every subatomic quantum particle, electron, proton and nucleus of every atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, system, etc. within all plants and animals on the Earth.
9. At each respective level these intelligent beings seem to have two, DNA-defined functions: 1) to respond to the part of the genetic code that applies to them and 2) to gather with specific other entities at their level to form a new entity that performs a more complex purpose. Eg. atoms gather with other atoms to form molecules, that gather with other molecules to form cells, etc. In doing so, they each “fill the measure of their creation.” Their participation in this evolutionary process creates eternal progression.
10. Thus, these intelligent, subatomic beings while obedient to their DNA code are also creative beings that gather and synergetically create a new entity that is more complex and, therefore, more capable than themselves.
11. A grain of corn, through this evolutionary process, manifests itself with its unique shape, color, weight, water content and nutrient composition as a result of each level of its component parts having obeyed their own level of DNA law. At maturity, the corn will have gathered from the soil different nutrients than those gathered by the tomato or carrot planted nearby in the same soil. Thus, each vegetable uniquely serves the needs of the animal that eats it.
12. Within God’s grand design of all creation, that small grain of corn, and all of the levels of intelligent entities within it, contributes to the harmonious and balanced operation of “all that is.” It contributes by gathering unique nutrients that are needed by higher life forms in the food chain.
13. Everything is energy. Both the tangible and the intangible, the manifest and the unmanifest are energy. Each energetic form is expressed and differentiated by its unique vibrational frequency. Thus, even thoughts have a unique, vibrational frequency.
14. Each garden vegetable, as a Sun-powered, biological unit, gathers nutrients with unique energetic vibrations and stores them in its uniquely shaped and colored form until they are eaten by an animal or a human being.
15. Animals and human beings digest these vegetables by breaking down their cellular structures and releasing the stored nutrients. These subatomic-sized particles are then distributed to and assimilated by the various organs and tissues to which they are best suited.
16. Human beings are, therefore, very literally dependent upon the obedient, gathering behavior of all other life forms that exist in the food chain below them. All life forms began at the level of these smaller intelligent beings and have creatively evolved over time by their gatherings as increasingly complex life forms. Thus, we have come into existence and thus we continue to exist as the most complex of all of creation’s life forms. Our existence is directly served by these simpler intelligent forms of life both within and outside our bodies.
17. In the context of eternal perspective, should not we humans have great appreciation and gratitude to God for the grand design that provides, as cited above, for our life and our personal health? Should we not also have great appreciation and gratitude directly to the intelligent life forms at all levels, both within and outside our bodies, as they continue to dutifully perform their own life missions in our behalf?
18. Are we not beneficiaries of essential gifts from those intelligent life forms ranging from the level of quantum particles to the steer who has a part of its left hind leg now on our plate? Yes, with higher consciousness, we can readily recognize our direct dependence on all those intelligent beings below us in the food chain.
19. Since human beings are seemingly at the top of the food chain, what then is our responsibility – our contribution to the next level of progression? Religions teach that we are to “glorify God.” Since glory is light, are we then responsible to give light back to God who is “all that is” who began all of creation with the statement, “Let there be light.” Is this the “one eternal round” referred to in the scriptures.
20. The purposeful gatherings practiced by all creatures are really gatherings of light. In that context, are we human beings also then responsible for gathering light by “seeking further light and knowledge” and then for sharing it?
21. In a physical sense, all living creatures are dependent upon the light from the Sun for the process of photosynthesis that grows the plants that are eaten by animals that are eaten by humans.
22. To eat plants or animals or products from them is to gather increasingly condensed levels of sunlight. (Remember the scriptural references to milk and meat in Jesus’ metaphors about feeding lambs, sheep and shepherds. Were these metaphors not offered in this same context?)
23. The “Good Shepherd” or Son of God is represented to also be a source of light and truth. Our role, as human beings, seems to be to gather this kind of light and become “enlightened beings” and thus “fill the measure of our creation.” As we become beings of light, do we not thereby, “glorify God” by becoming like God and fulfilling God’s original intention of progression?
SUGGESTED IDEAS FOR “BLESSING FOOD”
24. Traditionally, we thank God for our food. In the context of the ideas in this article, we thank our food directly. We do so because we view our food as a part of “all that is.” Since God is “all that is,” our food is also a part of God. Through the points cited above, we recognize an intelligent, obedient and creative aspect within each of the foods that we eat. Our foods are not just the product of God’s creation. Our foods are also participants in their own creation process. In fact, the food item itself is the Creator or gatherer of what we now prepare to eat. Our prayer is our expression of gratitude to our foods for their efforts in our behalf.
25. In God’s grand design, every aspect of creation is an essential member of the team that operates God’s intended program of evolution or eternal progression. Everything participates in the creation of the next level of evolution in which everything participates. We are literally all one. This prayer is a way of honoring some of our fellow team members for their contributing sacrifices.
26. Gratitude is the focal point of the prayer of blessing upon food.
27. Gratefulness is expressed to God/Source/the Universe/Divine Creator/All that is/etc. for the grand design that provides for our very life and its continuation.
28. Gratefulness is expressed to each of the food items for their obedience to their law or DNA code and for their gifts to us of specific nutrients that they each have dutifully gathered.
29. Our admiration for their dutiful and detailed natures and performances spills over into a powerful sense of love, appreciation, respect, honor, awe, etc. These emotions engender in each of us a convincing sense of connectedness or oneness with “all that is.”
30. To some extent the environments in which our food elements were grown were depleted and/or contaminated. It is appropriate to restore our foods to their designed perfections. We do this by enveloping and permeating all of the foods on the table with Divine Light and Love. We then bless/command/invite our foods to raise each of their unique vibrational frequencies to the level of perfection. Thus, we use prayer to influence the quantum particles through our stated intentions. Now we understand why and how prayers, throughout history, have been able to generate requested results.
31. In our prayer, gratitude is expressed to and for each human being who has contributed to getting these food items to their present form and location. Many people have been instrumental on the path of our food from farm to market to table. It is our desire for those people to feel, at this moment, our personal appreciation for their contributions.
32. While in this frame of mind, also remember and thank those who invented, manufactured and delivered all of those tangible devices used in growing, harvesting, transporting and preparing your food. (Yes, you might starve to death if you fully do this while at the table, so consider doing this more completely during other times of meditation and prayer.)
33. Notice the feeling of reverence for “all that is” that wells up within you as you consider these points. Notice your emotion of utter gratitude for your cherished position as an evolved human being who now can see and experience the benefits/blessings/contributions of so many of God’s other intelligent creatures.
34. Now, welcome the gifts of these various levels of light and vibration into your body-kingdom. Make known to the food items that they are gratefully welcomed by all of the levels of intelligent beings (cells, molecules, tissues, organs, systems, etc.) within your body-kingdom. Visualize the atmosphere of celebration within your body-kingdom as the new entities and their gifts are welcomed, introduced, distributed and assimilated.
35. Expand your usual feelings of hunger before you eat and satisfaction afterward. Notice how these intentional feelings elevate upon personifying the components within our foods and within our bodies. Is not their intelligent existence a reality rather than just a fantasy? Is this acknowledgment and appreciation not an important, although ignored, aspect of eating? Does not the custom of blessing our food before we eat it renew our bonds with our fellow team mates on Planet Earth and remind us of the reality of our oneness with “all that is?”
36. Relate to the food items your awareness of how dependent you are upon each of them for their contribution. Express how you, as a combined body/mind/spirit being, could not make your unique contribution to “all that is”and “fill the measure of your creation” without their gifts.
37. Promise the food items that their sacrifices of themselves and their gifts will not have an end in being assimilated into your body. Promise them that through you and your life mission their contributions will continue to exist and serve the highest good of “all that is.”
38. Close your blessing on the food with a general statement of gratitude and do it in the nature (not in name only) of the “Christed” one who continually exists within your being as who you really are.
Author’s Comments:
As I used the technique of “scrutinizing the obvious” regarding the foods we eat and the benefits to our bodies, I uncovered far more than I expected. The most surprising and significant unfolding to me was that of a profound appreciation for the relationship of oneness between ourselves and the smaller intelligent beings within ourselves and within “all that is.”
While this article is copyrighted, I do encourage you to share it with others who might appreciate it. In the future I will create an audio tape/CD that accompanies and expands upon this article. I welcome your ideas and suggestions related to this project.
