After completing my first 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat,
I emerged with a clearer mind and I was deeply impressed by the structure of the retreat.
I had always tried to streamline my daily routine because daily activities,
Whether hanging out with friends or handling various tasks,
Often kept me up late.
Before I began meditating,
I was the type of person who wasted time and constantly sought to return to a more structured lifestyle.
Vipassana gifted me with the skill of discipline,
And I remember how strictly I adhered to this discipline after returning from the retreat.
I recall that before the retreat,
I ate meat,
But I began paying more attention to what others were eating and thought about what I could substitute in my diet.
I was quite skeptical about vegetarianism since we were served only vegetarian food during the retreats.
It seemed nonsensical to me.
At home in the morning,
After the retreat,
I would typically make a sandwich with butter and fresh tomatoes,
Washed down with tea.
Before the retreat,
I usually made a sandwich with salami.
That was my norm.
During the retreat,
I was offered a light menu without meat.
Gradually,
I began to incorporate this approach into my daily life and routine.
Since then,
I've noticed that vegetarian food positively affects my well-being.
I started to feel lighter,
And my energy began to flow like a river.
About six months after I finished the retreat,
I started traveling.
It felt like discovering some inner potential,
A state of fearlessness.
This was in 2013,
And I began my journey in Europe before heading to Bali.
I'm sharing my story this way because travel combined with meditation helped me understand what I was truly attached to,
What I was dependent on,
And what was truly harmful or beneficial for me,
Especially in the context of nutrition.
In Bali,
I realized the variety of vegetables and fruits that I had never even considered.
I had always eaten what my parents prepared and bought the same products at stores.
In our family,
There always had to be meat,
But here,
I found myself alone,
Facing choices about what to eat.
I began exploring the different vegetables available.
Naturally,
I discovered incredibly sweet fruits like mangoes and papayas.
This inspired me to develop my understanding of nutrition,
Because when my diet consisted mainly of fruits and vegetables,
I felt much better.
However,
I remember having a lot of misunderstandings and a lack of knowledge about various vegetables and fruits.
For instance,
When I arrived in Bali,
I didn't even know what an avocado was.
The story goes like this.
I bought an avocado,
And sitting at home with a friend,
I said,
I'm going to treat you to an amazing vegetable.
I had no idea that an avocado is a fruit.
I cut it in half,
Removed the pit,
And served it on a plate.
My understanding of plant-based food was so limited that I didn't know about the existence of plant milk,
Which has become commonplace today,
But was a real revelation back then.
I realized that there is a whole world of plant-based foods to explore.
With the avocado pit,
We tried to do something,
But it didn't turn out well.
Nevertheless,
Such experiments and the desire to diversify my plant-based diet inspired me.
I spent about six months in Bali before flying to India.
In Bali,
I encountered a wealth of vegetables and fruits.
The island had plenty of sunshine,
Which helped me tap into that state of well-being.
Upon arriving in India,
I discovered the dairy component,
Which I continued to incorporate.
At that time,
I was a simple vegetarian,
Who occasionally ate fish.
I hadn't considered becoming vegan or raw foodist,
I was simply enjoying the variety of foods and observing how they affected me.
My practice was still not very deep,
But my attention to what I consumed helped me notice improvements in my well-being,
As I became increasingly mindful.
In India,
I tried dairy products,
Breathwork and pranayama.
I drank the milk of sacred cows and enjoyed incredible cheeses.
Dairy products in India are simply unparalleled.
However,
I soon began to notice an increase in mucus,
Especially during breathing exercises.
Then came the realization,
Wow,
What am I eating that's causing this mucus?
I started to understand that what I consumed affected my body.
At that point,
I decided to try eliminating eggs and temporarily stop drinking dairy products.
And what happened?
The mucus decreased,
And then it disappeared altogether.
I began to breathe more easily,
Felt more inspired and practiced more.
My practices played a significant role in my understanding of the impact of food,
Helping me avoid overeating and steering clear of junk that didn't sit well with my body.
My practices became a crucial factor in eliminating dairy products,
Which I subsequently cut out.
I began engaging in breathwork and yoga.
This was India,
In 2014,
And it was my first experience with yoga.
I admit I had always thought that activities like calisthenics and boxing were the real forms of physical activity.
Yet here,
I struggled to perform simple asanas and stretches.
This was a real challenge for me,
And once again,
A thought crossed my mind.
Wow.
Thank you for your attention.
Remember to check in for the evening meditation when it's time.
That's all for now.
Breathe deeply and enjoy,
Knowing I'm with you in spirit.
Thank you.
