Maugham And Shaikh Saadi On Dietary Etiquette
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
9 April
2024
In Islamic Countries Like Iran And Turkey,
Serving Food And Partaking Of It Is Ritualistic Like Serving Tea In Japanese
Culture. Arabs Believe That Eating And Light-Hearted Bantering Should Go Hand
In Hand But Serious Discussions Must Be Avoided.
------
"At a
dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too
wisely."
William
Somerset Maugham
"Talk
a little but observe more, finish your meal before you belch."
Shaikh
Saadi, Gulistan
Both the
quotes are all about having balance when it comes to dinner party etiquette and
when one's eating with others. Maugham and Saadi exhort us to enjoy the meal
that has been served, but not to overindulge. It is also important to hold up one’s
end of the conversation by contributing interesting and thoughtful ideas, but
also to be mindful not to talk too much and dominate the conversation.
To make
sure we adhere to these quotes, it is important to be mindful and savour the
moment of good food and good company. Food may be a serious business, it must
never be accompanied by anything serious. That's why, religion and politics are
always avoided on the dining table because both the subjects invariably
degenerate into something ugly, awkward and embarrassing.
Once Dara
Shikoh invited a few Brahmin scholars from Kashi and while eating with them,
those Pandits started comparing food with Brahma-Gyaan. Though always
enthusiastic about such profound and recondite discussions, prince Dara Shikoh
avoided philosophy during eating and famously said in Sanskrit: Darshan
Varjyate Athapi Bhojanam-Kaamam (Avoid philosophy during eating and
love-making: Dastar Aur Bistar Pe Falsafe Se Parhez Keejiye).
A man is
known by the way he eats is an old Scottish proverb. It applies to a woman as
well. The way you eat shows your pedigree. Food is a part of culture if not
culture itself. "Dastar-Khvaan Pe Insaan Ki Parvarish Ka Suraagh Milta
Hai" (One's upbringing becomes obvious on the dining table) is a
famous Urdu saying.
In Islamic
countries like Iran and Turkey, serving food and partaking of it is ritualistic
like serving tea in Japanese culture. Arabs believe that eating and
light-hearted bantering should go hand in hand but serious discussions must be
avoided.
Now modern
findings in medical science have also confirmed that serious discussions during
eating may cause indigestion and leave a bitter taste in the mouth, to use an
idiom. Nowadays, eating and drinking gel well and people after gulping down a
few glasses of bitter ale, start talking uncontrollably.
In both the
quotes on dietary etiquette, one thing is clear that one should be a gourmet
and not a gourmand. While the former is a connoisseur of food, the latter is a
glutton. One should be an observer and refrain from talking too much.
This
shouldn't be practised during eating only but in all situations and
circumstances of life. An observer is a silent spectator who is a witness to
the cavalcade of time. He doesn't talk, He observes. "Saahil Pe Baith
Ke Lahron Ko Dekhte Hain / Saakit Khade Hum Door Se Chehron Ko Dekhte
Hain" (Sitting on the shore, I look at the waves/ Standing silent and
alone, I observe people from a distance). An uncontrollable itch to talk and
spread verbal dysentery should be eschewed at any cost. Life is not perpetually
serious and sombre. Enjoy it without being too serious and wise.
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/maugham-shaikh-saadi-dietary-etiquette/d/132107
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