International
Macrobiotic Research Fund
Do you have suggestions for its facilitation and
funding?
In my paper "Societal
Organism" I have mentioned some things regarding non-profit organizations
and the like. I think that it would be worthwhile for natural food companies to
sponsor such things like this. In the long run, they would benefit from such research.
Also, many rich and famous people are now becoming macrobiotic, and they might
be willing to help. There are grants that can be written for this as well. A benefit
concert could be organized with Madonna, Boy George, Sting, David Byrne, and maybe
others. They are all macro, or were. It could also be possible to use macro people
and macro doctors for the study to reduce the costs. They would likely be willing
to be paid less than others. Of course this would depend on the study.
What
are your views on the future of macrobiotics in the world today?
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I
think that macrobiotics will continue to have steady growth over a long period
of time. It will never be an overnight sensation or fad. It is too yang and centered
for that. Yang things have slow and steady growth. It grows in society like a
person eating a macro diet, slow and steady.
We should not focus on how
to make it grow quicker, but rather, how to adjust it to fit societies present
needs. I think that it is like the world has started a macrobiotic diet. It is
inevitable that over time, big and deep change will happen, just as it does with
people eating macrobiotics over time. We should focus on making it balanced and
available for everyone.
When someone starts macrobiotics, besides just
eating the standard diet, home remedies are often used to adjust someone's condition
more quickly. We can use some macrobiotic home remedies in society. The parallel
would be to get more people eating whole grains and vegetables. None of them would
be calling themselves macrobiotic, but they would be using some of its principles.
This would be carried out by societal trends through research, advertisement,
and availability. The same model can be used that got all of America to consume
large amounts of dairy, research, advertisement and availability. Now they have
taken dairy to China since they have tapped the American market and all the Chinese
are now toasting with milk instead of alcohol. It is the sheep and the shepherd.
Macrobiotics is east meets west, so lets use the modern American marketing
way with traditional Japanese food products. I think more macro people should
focus on things like this.
Suggestions for sharing
macrobiotics with friends?
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I
have not been largely successful in this category, but I have learned a few things.
I used to be very pushy about my views on food. I argued with my friends often
and used every opportunity to say something regarding health and food to the point
where they would just say, "Shut up Joe". I have learned that this was
not the best way to get to people. There is a time and a place for everything.
It is important to know when that is. It is far better to accept friends for who
they are without judgement.
One time I was hanging out with a friend a lot.
We would talk about many things over coffee. He wanted to lend me some literary
books because he sensed that I wasn't much of a fiction reader and he was. I agreed
to look at them if he would take a few books from me to look at. We made a deal
and traded books. I lent him Ohsawa and Kushi books. I had a look at the books
he gave me, but found no interest in them. A few days later, he told me that Ohsawa's
words were the truest thing he has ever heard and he was blown away. Within a
week, he had given up everything for macrobiotics. We became very close after
that and he is still macro.
In college, I had some roommates. I cooked for
them my food almost every day. They enjoyed it very much since they were already
vegetarian. They never became macro, but they did become familiar with the food
and have added some of it to their diets.
Many young people like the food
very much. I've seen this again and again when I have cooked for people or my
sister's friends would come over and eat. Often they are not willing to give up
their own food, but do develop a taste for healthy food. It is a step in the right
direction.
The best policy is to be open and accepting to other people's
choices. Often they ask about my diet out of interest and I always try to answer
honestly. When they to macrobiotics, take it because it is timely.
What
are the misconceptions surrounding macrobiotics that have you come across ?
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One
thing I see over and over again is a blaming mentality. People say things like,
the macrobiotic movement is this or that. This big teacher says this or does that.
The macrobiotic diet lacks this or that. This kind of thinking is not macrobiotic
and does not show self-reliance. Macrobiotics lies in the hands of the individual
and everyone has to make it work for themselves. The founders and teachers have
set guidelines but can't take responsibility for other people, individually. If
someone gets sick following a macrobiotic path, then it is their own fault and
not anyone else's. If someone needs to supplement the standard diet, that is fine
but it does not reflect on the standard diet, but on them. There is no lack in
the standard macrobiotic diet. The only lack is in the understanding of the individual.
They have not been able to make balance with the diet. There is also no judgement
coming from macrobiotics about the person who needs to supplement.
Some
people say that macrobiotics is rigid, limited, or overly concerned with food.
That means that they are rigid and are not able to see its freedom and scope.
That means that their vision is limited and they cannot see beyond the physical
limitations of food. Everyone can only eat up to the level of their own consciousness,
and everyone can only think as broadly as their diet allows them to.
Everyone
must eat a little bit differently in accord with their own needs. Ohsawa set up
10 balanced macrobiotic diets that can suit just about everyone's needs. Kushi
made up the standard diet as the middle, most balanced diet for most people. It
is up to the individual to find out what is best for themselves.
Basically
I see no misconceptions surrounding macrobiotics, just misconceptions surrounding
people. Once they can let go of blame, and take responsibility for themselves,
then they can have macrobiotics.
What are your
ideas on having macrobiotic education in schools?
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I
think this will eventually happen. The first step is to get healthier food in
schools. This is already happening in various places. Organic vending machines
have made it into schools in America and sodas are being taken out. Some private
schools offer vegetarian and vegan lunches, like the one I went to for highschool,
Kimberton Waldorf.
Soon enough, there will be a macrobiotic children's
school. This will be the start of it. Over time it will gain recognition and become
more accepted as society reforms it's diet as a whole.
All the steps need
to be taken together. Whole grains and vegetables need to more commonly eaten
all over, and macrobiotic education for the young and old needs to be established
and accepted within society. This does not negate anything about the modern diet
or education. Both can exist simultaneously. Macrobiotics can harmonize with it
and establish order and understanding.
Eventually, both traditional and
modern thinking will be covered and ordered by the big umbrella of macrobiotic
thought and understanding. The same goes for food and everything else. Macrobiotics
is not about moving backwards into a traditional lifestyle, but rather, using
traditional ways with modern ways, to move forward into the future. Nothing is
lost with macrobiotics, but everything gained.
What
are your views on Steven Acuff 4 key points about macrobiotics?
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Read
Steven Acuff Key points in full at: www.macrobiotics.co.uk/features/followup.htm
1. Macrobiotics is rigid interpretation as a vegan or near-vegan
way of eating.?
This is a personal take on macrobiotics for an
individual and does not reflect the whole. Macrobiotics is not a religion as has
no dogma inherent within it. The only dogma in macrobiotics is the dogma that
people place on their own practice. If someone wants to eat meat, they can eat
meat. It does not mean that everyone, or most people should eat meat.
I
know from my own experience, and knowing many other people who have practised
macrobiotics for many years that there is no need for any animal food at all.
There are no nutrients lacking from a balanced macrobiotic diet with no animal
food. If there is a lack, it is in the understanding and consciousness of the
individual.
If someone wishes to eat animal food, it is their choice for
their own needs. Coffee is also a choice just like anything else and it does not
have anything to do with being vegan/macrobiotic or not eating meat. This I have
witnessed first-hand on many instances.
2. The lack of knowledge of
some basic nutritional facts by many macrobiotic people and thus the loss of its
relevance in the future discussion of nutrition and health..?
Again, I have to say that it comes down to the individual. Macrobiotic teachers
do not have to learn more about nutritional science. Everything can be understood
through yin and yang. This does not mean that everyone does understand everything
through yin and yang, but the potential is there.
I don't think there is
anything wrong with understanding the nutritional aspects of food and some people
can study it more in depth to be able to relate to those that think that way.
It is helpful, but everyone has different abilities and styles. Those that want
to focus on nutrition, do so, and those that want to focus on yin/yang understanding,
do so. Of course, the most well rounded teachers can use both.
3. The
lack of NON CREDO spirit in the conservative circles?
"Non Credo"
does not really mean, I do not believe. It does mean, I will understand for myself.
It means, I will chew it and digest it myself in its whole entirety.
Challenge
away, but judge yourself before others. I'm not concerned with what other people
have or have not challenged. What a waste of energy. I'd rather keep my focus
on my own challenges, and develop my ability to be my own teacher.
4.
The sweeping-under-the-rug of nutritional disasters among children who were fed
a "macrobiotic diet",?
Everyone is bound to face various
difficulties in life. They might be health related, or not. It is not the fault
of the 'macrobiotic experiment', but rather, it is always our own fault. Whatever
we attract in this life, we caused it. We create our destiny and are responsible
for it. Not all macro children have deficiencies. If there is a deficiency, it
is only deficient understanding, not nutrition.
I would like to meet the person
who never meets difficulty. They must be a great person. I would also like to
meet the person who always understands the cause of their own difficulties right
away, for they must be great too.
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How
does the climate change predictions play into the order of the universe?
Climate change predications are usually the job of meteorologists in these times.
Traditionally, people were sensitive and developed methods of diagnosing the weather.
Animals too, are sensitive to coming weather changes. Everything can be diagnosed
if we are sensitive.
This is because everything can be seen as a spiralic
movement, and one layer of a spiral reflects another layer. This is the order
of the universe. When we are in touch with it, we see something, and automatically,
we can know something else, because of the spiralic movement of energy.
For
instance, if we can notice a slight change in the atmosphere, we might know that
it will rain, or snow later. The more sensitive we are, the more subtly we can
experience this, so we can be more accurate and see things at a greater distance
from us. This is the basis for all diagnosis, predictions,
prophecies, and
understanding. If we are sensitive enough to pick up on the outer layers of a
spiral, as it moves to the center, we can know how, what, why, when, and where
the
outcome will be.
If the question is referring to predictions
of other events based on the weather, then it is still the same. The weather patterns
are the outer layers of a spiral that will produce something else.
If we are
sensitive to these changes, then we can know what will be, based on the weather.
For
instance, when the weather becomes very chaotic and abnormal, then we can assume
that people's whole beings are becoming like the weather (one and the same) and
thus, events will occur that are aligned with these imbalances, such as crime,
sickness, national and international struggle, and the like.
The order of
the universe is just spiralic movement of energy. One layer shows another.
Study it, understand it, and know everything.
Thanks for the opportunity
to exercise my understanding,
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