Yogi: The first half of the meal, it was hard to be aware. It was partly greed and it was also shame – I ate quickly as I wanted less food to be seen on the plate.

I had to be quick – I saw others having very little food on their plates and I was embarrassed. I ate quickly out of shame and not so much because of greed.

Sayadaw: This is nature.

Yogi: At the next meal, I was still greedy and I took a lot. I said to myself: This is nature and nature is innocent. I felt easier.

What I was putting in – ‘maybe I know, maybe not’ and ‘nature is innocent’ – that’s conceptual and not a process, but it worked to settle the mind.

Sayadaw: That is right view. Because it is right view, therefore the mind is able to accept it and find it more acceptable to view it.