Expert's Dilemma

Once there was a monk who was an expert on the Diamond Sutra, and as books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his part of the world on his back. He was widely sought after for his readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at propounding its profundities to not only monks and masters but to the lay people as well. 
Thus the people of that region came to know of the Diamond Sutra, and as the monk was traveling on a mountain road, he came upon an old woman selling tea and cakes. 
The hungry monk would have loved to refresh himself, but alas, he had no money.
He told the old woman, "I have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing -- the Diamond Sutra. If you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great treasure of knowledge." 
The old woman knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself, and proposed her own bargain. 
She said, "Oh learned monk, if you will answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes."
To this the monk readily agreed. 
The woman then said, "When you eat these cakes, are you eating with the mind of the past, the mind of the present or the mind of the future?"

No answer occurred to the monk, so he took the pack from his back and got out the text of the Diamond Sutra, hoping he could find the answer. 
As he studied and pondered, the day grew late and the old woman packed up her things to go home for the day. 
"You are a foolish monk indeed," said the old woman as she left the hungry monk in his quandary. "You eat the tea and cakes with your mouth."

Source: A lighter side of Buddhism 

The Trap

A famous teacher took his pupils into a clearing in the forest that was known as a home for wild monkeys. There he took a hollow gourd with a small hole and inserted sweetened rice (a favorite of monkeys). Then he chained the gourd to a stake and waited with his class. 

Soon a very large monkey approached, sniffed the rice, inserted his paw, and screeched in frustration when he was unable to withdraw his paw (now a fist) through the narrow opening. Just then a leopard approached and hearing the monkey screeching decided to have monkey for his dinner. 
"Let go of the rice. Run!" screamed the pupils, but to no avail because the monkey in his hunger for the rice, refused to let go and was as a consequence caught and eaten by the leopard.

 "What was the trap that killed the monkey?" asked the master. "Rice," said one student. "The ground," said another. "No," replied the wise teacher. "The trap was greed." 

“A trap is only a trap if you don't know about it. If you know about it, it's a challenge.” 
― China Miéville, King Rat

You are What You "Drink" / "Eat"...

Sometimes we encounter something and the memories are aroused.

I watched a video that made me think. My Grandmother always said that when we have our lunch and dinner we should be in a happy mood. We should sit together, chitchat and enjoy the food. As children we never understood "Why".

We will always begin the meal with the following :

वदनी कवळ घेता नाम घ्या श्रीहरीचे | सहज हवन होते नाम घेता फुकाचे ||
जीवन करी जिवित्वा अन्न हे पूर्ण ब्रह्म | उदरभरण नोहे जाणिजे यज्ञकर्म ||

vadani kaval gheta naam ghya shri-hariche l
sahaj havan hote naam gheta phukache l
jivan kari jivitva anna he purn-brahma l
udar-bharan nohe janije yadnya-karma ll 

(Meaning: Eating is not  merely for filling stomach but is a sacred act of consuming healthy meal for a complete digestion and so be humble and satisfied with the food.

 We should always remember that we are indeed so blessed to have food of our own choice. There is nothing wrong in being humble,  we should be grateful for the rain (nature in a way) and the farmers for their hard work for the harvests, the fire to cook the food and all the helping hands responsible for serving the food on our plates everyday. A simple way to express gratitude is by saying a thanksgiving prayer )

 Every culture has its own way of saying a prayer of thanksgiving before eating a single morsel of food,  the Christians say their grace.

In Islam, the tradition of saying a prayer when the meal is ready and while starting to eat is followed well: 

• When meal is ready: "Allahumma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina athaban-nar. " (Translation: O Allah! Bless the food You have provided us and save us from the punishment of the hellfire.
• While starting to eat: bismillahi wa 'ala baraka-tillah ("In the name of God and with God's blessing") or simply b-ismi-llāh-ir-raḥmān-ir-raḥīm ("in the name of God, the gracious, the merciful") 

In Japan it is customary to put one's hands together and say "Itadakimasu" (いただきます^?) ("I humbly receive") before eating a meal. "Itadakimasu" is said to express gratitude for all people who played a role in preparing, cultivating or hunting the food.

In Korea, it is customary to say "Jal meokgesseumnida" (잘 먹겠습니다) ("I will eat well'). The saying is not religious in nature, and usually only occurs when eating with someone else.

Does all this has any meaning?

Does this only religious / cultural?

Do you know a thought is a vibration?

Do you know an emotion is a vibration?

Watch the following amazing Video. If water has these properties, can we make best use of it for ourselves? for our well-being? 

If you have stopped the tradition of offering prayer before meals, will you now restart it?

Will you teach that tradition to others? To the young ones in the family?

So I  understand my Grandmother better now.