pancake

For quite a while I have an eating disorder. Though I sometimes made it to a normal or even lavish diet, a problem that keeps coming back is eating too little. One of the factors in this whole thing is that since a while it doesn't feel right to eat when not hungry. Recently I discovered that Bahá'u'lláh wrote, in his Tablet of Medicine, that it is wrong indeed to eat when not hungry.

Sometimes I do not feel hunger for days (though sometimes I really do) - which may be part of my disorder. So recently I did not eat for days.

Several Baha'i people have adviced me to just eat in order to keep good health, but still I can't shake this thing that Bahá'u'lláh wrote off my mind.

As being unable to feel hunger is part of some diseases I suppose the rule does not apply to some people. But where lies the distinction?

What are your views on it?

Link to the Tablet of Medicine:
Tablet of Medicine

Fadl

Friend,

It is certainly good to avoid eating when not hungry, especially the kind of constant eating and snacking that occurs for entertainment, or out of depression, boredom, or nervous habit of constantly putting something in the mouth to chew. But if you have a condition where normal and regular hunger does not occur on a daily basis, please do not take Baha'u'llah's counsels, that are intended to moderate eating to a healthful end, as justifying a behavior of not eating since this is unhealthy and doing so will make you ill and cause you harm--the exact opposite thing Baha'u'llah has intended.

Baha'u'llah has asked us to observe moderation in all things, and so you should be moderate here too, and not obstain from food for long periods of time. This tablet doesn't instruct us not to eat. Rather, it instructs us to eat moderately, and healthfully.The same tablet you have referenced, mentions that food in the morning is like light for the body, so this is a clear indication that having some breakfast, and daily eating, is a good thing for you.

Also, consider the Fast. When we fast for 19 days, it is a difficulty for most people. It is intended to be difficult, and that way it is an exercise in restraint so that we may focus on the spiritual and reign in our apetites and desires. If it was normally easy to not eat for days, for lack of hunger or otherwise, then the Fast would not even be a disciplince or a difficulty, and would not serve its purpose. Furthermore, the fast is lifted at sunset during each day of the Fast, that we may eat and nourish ourselves as we should.

I am confident that the lawh-i-Tib does not support your practice of not eating for extended periods of time. If you don't regularly feel hungry, this may be a sign of some sort of illness or disorder so please do seek the advice of a competent physician as Baha'u'llah instructs us to do.

Peace

Lari

For many people nowadays, they cannot really feel hunger. It is not a very good thing to follow that rule these days for some. You'll have to follow your intellect and know when you NEED food, if you have this kind of dehabilitation.

Remember, nothing is literal, you have to follow your own understanding.

Blessings

aidan

Dear Pancake,I am a registered nurse and I agree totally with Fadl and Lari.As an intelligent person you know that the body needs food to remain healthy.If you become ill you will not be following what Baha'u'llah and God have planned for you.Do not take a piece of scripture totally out of context because you can make it support what you want it to.With all the love in the world,your brother Aidan

InvestigateTruth

Baha'u'llah says that, if you have a health problem, see a good doctor.

Rani

Dear Pancake,

Thank you for sharing with us, and I also agree with the friends above.

I also suffered an eating disorder about 25 years ago, and was hospitalised because of it. -for almost 3 months.

I think when the passage you refer to mentions 'hunger' we should be careful to remember this is not the devastating hunger experienced by those suffering starvation. We don't have to be THAT hungry in order to require food for our health and well-being.

I think Baha'u'llah wrote this as indeed, it is not healthy to eat if you are already uncomfortably full or satiated. He only wants for your health and well-being. I recently attended a dinner where the birthday boy ordered two large meaty main courses one after the other. I think it's a caution against habits such as this.

I agree with Lari's advice to follow your intellect and know when your body needs food and nourishment.
I will say for myself, that I don't get very hungry either, and I eat because if I don't I can feel weak. But my weight has been stable for decades.

Of course we cannot see you to know if you are suffering from lack of food. But certainly we need enough food and health in order to live full lives in which we can contribute to society.

Have you thought of seeing a naturopath? I believe that for myself, the eating disorder I had, had both psychological and physiological causes. Doctors, 25 yrs ago at least, only seemed to want to focus on anorexia as having a psychological cause and seemed to ignore that I didn't feel well physically, irrespective of my food intake. It's like I felt an imbalance physiologically but didn't know why, and that by not eating much I was unconsciously trying to rectify it.

You deserve to feel a good degree of well-being in all ways -physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Please be kind to yourself and to your body, knowing it needs enough goodness and nourishment if we are to be happy and perform well. I hope that you will have a practitioner who is caring, kind, and supportive. And some good friends too.

Again, without seeing you, it is hard to know to what degree you may be suffering. Are you able to do your work or study normally? How, if at all, does the problem interfere with your life?

Rani

Also, certainly, I have seen or known a couple of friends who've fasted without food for a few days.

I agree that it is good not to eat when not hungry, but if you are becoming wasted then that is a a clear sign that your body signals are not working as they should, or that you are not listening to them, or you are being too hard on yourself.
Please take care.. with loving wishes.

pancake

Thank you all for your replies.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to see someone who heals by prayer. A naturopath might be a good idea as well.

At this point my eating disorder is no hindrance to function well.