At Blue Cliff Monastery in Pine Bush, N.Y., the public can spend a "day of mindfulness" with Buddhist brothers and sisters. At meal times, they employ mindful eating: "meditating on your food, paying close attention to the sensation and purpose of each morsel." Do you eat this way? Do you think you can? What do you think people gain from eating this way? In "Mindful Eating as Food for Thought," Jeff Gordinier describes the practice and how it is gaining attention far beyond Buddhist monasteries and retreats: Try this: place a forkful of food in your mouth. Students: Tell us what you think about the "fundamental problem" of "go[ing] unconscious when we eat." Have you ever tried to eat more slowly? If so, how did it go? Do you think eating too quickly is a problem, and if so, is it an individual problem, a cultural problem or both? Would you want to try a "day of mindfulness" at a place like Blue Cliff Monastery? Have you ever participated in any kind of spiritual, religious or community-building retreat? If so, were the meals similar to or different from those served and enjoyed at Blue Cliff Monastery?