The act of eating is a service.

[Shemaya]

Unfortunately this is true. We are not living 300 years ago in an indigenous culture. Modern-day eating involves the getting of food from questionable sources.

Modern life involves questionable sources of everything we consume and use. Clothing, petroleum, electricity, dry goods, everything we use. You can focus on food only, or have more awareness and think about your entire modern life.

Could you explain? Like what??

Like the body is dirty, the "flesh" is too impure for Spirit. Caring for one-self is selfish. I'm fat .I'm ugly (actually I'm thin and attractive, but I know that thought is out there. ) People have all kinds of body dysmorphia that causes and contributes to eating disorders. Parents force-feed their children and cause issues later, food used for comfort , for reward, for bribery. That's just off the top of my head, I am sure there is plenty more.

But it is relevant to the original question. The act of eating as a STO act, as a communal act, is relevant to where one acquires food. If you think the community is only made of humans, then perhaps you are right. But if you think as the Native Americans did, and the animals and plants are brothers and sisters, and the planet itself is the "mother," then your community would include the very food you are obtaining

Yes it does. birth, life, death. A natural cycle. Of course "modern-day" has disrupted natural cycles, but that applies to way more than just eating food.

I disagree that it's irrelevant. It's relevant to anyone who thinks it's relevant. It's relevant because such 'choices' have a huge impact on other-selves and on the planet. How is that not relevant?

Valtor's OP is exploring the act of eating.....this seems to be a sub-topic. Tangentially related, but the original question was not really addressed.