See full listings of Shojin Ryori restaurants. From a Buddhist perspective, eating is more than just taking in nourishment. When caring for patients who are followers of the Buddhist religion, nurses need to understand that the patient’s main goal is to bring back the body’s yin/yang equilibrium that was disrupted because of illness. This is not a place for idle chitchat and boisterous behavior. For more information about TEC, visit www.tecenter.org. (Interestingly, it is believed that the Buddha himself actually died from food poisoning.) According to Buddhist philosophy, all sentient (living) beings have the possibility of attaining enlightenment. 4. How should I eat it? Typical processed ingredients used are tofu and abura-age (friend soybean curd). This simple meal contributed to Japan’s elegant haute cuisine called kaiseki, and today can be eaten at the dining halls located in Buddhist temples across Japan. Buddhists also believe that causing the suffering of living creatures just to satisfy our taste buds is not a justifiable reason to eat meat. In the Buddhist religion, eating a vegetarian diet is a natural and logical ramification of the moral precept against the taking of life. Even if it is known for a fact that the patient’s religion is Buddhism, this does not necessarily mean that he or she strictly follows all Buddhist religious practices to the letter. Do not lie. A number of recent scientific studies have discovered a high incidence of cancer within populations that consume large amounts of meat. = Food is a necessity and a healing agent because I am subjected to illness without food. Buddhist patients staying in a hospital that only serves American-style food may appreciate being provided with a bottle of soy sauce that they can keep in their room to flavor their meals in the way they are accustomed to. A typical shojin ryori meal is centered around soybean-based foods like tofu along with seasonal vegetables and wild mountain plants, which are believed to bring balance and alignment to the body, mind, and spirit. Your Experience with Coronavirus (COVID-19) Matters, Reducing Health Disparities in Underserved Communities, © 2020 Springer Publishing Company | Privacy Policy. Since Buddhists believe it is possible for animals to attain enlightenment, killing them deprives them of that chance. Reservations: http://www.tenryuji.com/en/shigetsu/#otoiawase. Shōjin ryōri is a type of cooking commonly practiced by Buddhist monks in Japan. Wild plants, such as warabi (fiddlehead fern) and zenmai (flowering fern) can also be found in shōjin ryōri dishes. At the same time, in certain Asian cultures there has been a strong movement away from the traditional strict vegetarian diet as a result of these countries’ exposure to Islam and Christianity. If eaten raw, they will increase one’s anger and cause bad body odor that will not please the gods but will stimulate interested “hungry ghosts” who will hover around and kiss one’s lips. As the cuisine is made without meat, fish or other animal products, it can be enjoyed by vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The Buddhist diet that originated in monasteries keeps food light in its original flavor and avoids pungent ingredients like garlic, leeks and onions. Because of the supreme importance of nature in Buddhists’ lives, a culturally sensitive medical team will want to prescribe both herbal medicine and pharmaceutical medications, if appropriate. Be sure to check the labels on different soy sauce products for their sodium content, which can range from 300 grams to as much as 1,080 grams. o Religious/Spiritual Effects: It can cause bad karma (see Glossary) that harms other sentient beings and later on will haunt the original being. Boiled or stir-fried noodles flavored with aromatic spices. 4. Shōjin originally meant zeal in progressing along the path of enlightenment or pursuing a state of mind free of worldly thoughts and attachment. Do not kill or harm living things. It is located in the shadow of Daitoku-ji, one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples, and the location couldn’t be more fitting. Ajiro makes great use of local fruit and vegetables, and if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive taster of shōjin ryōri in a setting then starting with Ajiro’s is recommended. While Christianity is the dominant religion in many of these countries, there are also significant numbers of Buddhists, along with Muslims, Hindus and atheists. Sesame oil is also used heavily in preparing food. Buddhists practice yoga and meditation as a means to reach spiritual emancipation or true liberation. Western Honshu (Chugoku) Rice, which can be cooked and flavored in many different ways-e.g., salty, sweet, neutral, sticky, colored or mixed with vegetables. Because immigrants from Asian countries with large Buddhist populations are a rapidly growing minority group in the U.S., it’s important for nurses to understand Buddhist patients’ beliefs about health, illness and food. 3. Why am I eating it? Today, modern medicine seems to be proving them right. Shōjin ryōri is based on simplicity and harmony and so the preparation methods follow these principles. It’s the perfect place to honor the atmosphere of Daitoku-ji’s zen temples. Northern Honshu (Tohoku) Kyoto and Osaka Area This is the main belief in many Asian cultures, such as those of China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and the Philippines. Traditional Buddhist cuisine is simple and features a staple (rice, congee or noodles) with vegetables that are stir-fried, braised or cooked in broth. A Buddhist asks himself these five basic but essential questions: 1. Garlic, onion and other pungent flavors are not used in shōjin ryōri while standard vegetarian and vegan recipes do not prohibit the use of such ingredients. It is a gift given to us through the work of all beings. Seaweed products such as konbu (kelp), wakame (sea green), nori, and hijiki are used in the preparation of shōjin ryōri. Part of being a culturally competent health care professional is being careful not to make blanket generalizations about patients from unfamiliar cultures-such as assuming that if a patient is an immigrant from an Asian country, he must be a Buddhist. Raw or cooked vegetables, seaweed and home-prepared dried food items can also be added. Buddhists who are strict adherents to their faith depend not only on these Five Contemplations but also on the Five Moral Precepts to determine which foods are appropriate to consume and which are considered forbidden. Soy sauce is an essential tasty ingredient that is added to almost every dish, in much the same way as Americans flavor many of their foods with butter and/or salt. According to the “no killing” precept, whoever kills animals or eats meat will lose the “purity of both body and mind”-i.e., one gets all mixed up with the meat one eats and loses purity, clarity and the power of self-control. The rule of thumb is: When in doubt, ask the patient what he or she would prefer. Eating a vegetarian diet helps ensure that the cycle of karmic retribution will be purified: If you don’t eat animals, they won’t eat you. In the Buddhist faith, life revolves around nature with its two opposing energy systems, known in Chinese philosophy as yin and yang energy. Buddhists believe that whoever lives only for pleasure loses his soul’s harmony and the power of virtue. A restaurant that is not in a temple but offers shōjin ryōri dinner courses for around ¥6,000-8,000. 3. In contrast, vegetable proteins obtained from nuts, beans and legumes are decidedly healthier and safer. You can dine in tatami-mat rooms, and in warm weather at low tables outside in the temple garden Reservation are recommended in spring and fall. Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication. Hokkaido Area Rice, which can be cooked and flavored in many different ways-e.g., salty, sweet, neutral, sticky, colored or mixed with vegetables. Izusen closes at 4pm. = Food is only received and eaten for the purpose of realizing the proper way to reach enlightenment. When should I eat and benefit from this food? 5. What food is this? 2. Ajiro is not fancy; it is a cozy restaurant. In the teachings of Buddha, this concept of making the right food choices for spiritual enlightenment is exemplified by the “Five Contemplations While Eating.” Essentially, this means that Buddhists are exercising a special force related to “stopping and thinking” about the food they are eating. Soy sauce is an essential tasty ingredient that is added to almost every dish, in much the same way as Americans flavo… Other negative health consequences that have been linked with eating meat include arterial sclerosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, encephalitis, stroke, gallstones and cirrhosis of the liver. 6. = The amount of work necessary to grow the food, prepare it, cook it and bring it to the table. Sign up now to get your free digital subscription to, Providing Cultural Competency Training for Your Nursing Staff, Cultural Competence from the Patient’s Perspective. All of these conditions are directly related to consuming fat and cholesterol. Nutritional balance is central to the preparation of these dishes and in addition, nothing goes to waste when preparing the dishes. Buddhists who are not strict vegetarians will eat fish on an almost daily basis and/or will add it to many of their meals.