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Dalai Lama and Eating Disorders

The Philosophy of Compassion for Anorexia, Bulimia & Binge Eating

Sep 11, 2006 Lori Henry

The Dalai Lama visited Vancouver, Canada this weekend and shared his philosophy on cultivating happiness, which is a wonderful tool for recovery from eating disorders.

"Everyone has the right to have a happy life, a happy future," stated His Holiness the Dalai Lama to almost 15,000 intent listeners at GM Place. His belief of building vital and sustainable communities based on small, individual acts of kindness is also one that correlates with someone recovering from an eating disorder.

Individuals suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia, Compulsive Overeating and all of the other eating disorders in between have lost their sense of connection; by becoming enveloped in a world of calories, treadmills and diets, they have cut themselves off from being truly fulfilled.

One of the most common similarities between people who have struggled with eating disorders is their sense of utter emptiness, usually without rationalization: they could have a wonderfully supportive family, a loving significant other and nurturing friends, but they still feel disengaged from everyone, especially themselves.

The Dalai Lama advocates that to cultivate happiness one must integrate the mind, body, spirit and soul in order for personal growth and compassion to be achieved. He believes that our Western world is full of educating our heads without connecting to our hearts. But our need for intellectual sustenance must be balanced with a full engagement of our physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions.

"Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people's hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human 'brain' with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human 'heart' with compassion."

- His Holiness The Dalai Lama

On out paths to recovery, it is of the utmost importance to reunite, first with ourselves, and then with those supportive people surrounding us. Once the disconnection can be joined, we can begin filling ourselves with empowering thoughts and inspiration, instead of trying to find them in food.

The constant knot in our stomachs of anxiety, obsession and fear can gently be untied by nurturing compassion from our own selves. If we can re-connect with our hearts and listen to what they say, then we are on the road to a fulfillment that food will never be able to satisfy.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Vancouver again in 2009 for the Vancouver Peace Summit, speaking Maria Shriver, among others.

The copyright of the article Dalai Lama and Eating Disorders in Eating Disorders is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Dalai Lama and Eating Disorders in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
The Dalai Lama in Vancouver, BC, Lori Henry The Dalai Lama in Vancouver, BC
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The Dalai Lama with his Translator in Vancouver,BC, Lori Henry The Dalai Lama with his Translator in Vancouver,BC
 
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Comments

Sep 13, 2006 10:33 AM
Jennifer W. Miner :
What a beautiful, well-written article. I wish I could have been there, it sounds like it was a wonderful experience. :)
Jen
Sep 13, 2006 5:25 PM
Lori Henry :
Indeed it was. Definitely a highlight of my year.
Sep 13, 2006 9:10 PM
sharon moleski :
I haven't been around for awhile but came back to the site and found this intruiging article. Although I have believed his way of life can help anyone find peace, I didn't realize until reading this piece how closely it also relates to eating disorders. Fascinating, it really works. Thanks for the insight, it has got me thinking.
Sep 14, 2006 5:18 PM
Lori Henry :
Sharon, thanks for stopping by again. and I'm so glad you got something from this article. It was such a pleasure and experience to write!
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