Losing gifts from nature for vanity and carelessness
Mother Nature gives man the brown rice that looks coarse but rich in nutrition.
But man is so clever he mills and polishes it into white. The white rice looks pretty, but the process destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids*.
Just see how carelessly man is casting away the gifts nature has bestowed him — often for the sake of vanity.
He was born supple, but slowly stiffens himself up. He was born curious, but smartly wears his ingenuity down. He was readily contented, but allows endless desires to take away the hearty laughs.
And yet he thinks he is polished, and on the way to lose more.
My teachings are very easy to understand
and very easy to practice,
But no one can understand them and
no one can practice them.
In my words there is a principle.
In the affairs of men there is a system.
Because they know not these,
They also know me not.
Since there are few that know me,
Therefore I am distinguished.
Therefore the Sage wears a coarse cloth on top
And carries jade within his bosom.Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Chapter 70, translated by J H McDonald
Source of information: Brown Rice
Thank Arria Belli for the picture
