On the surface, hunger is simply the feeling of an empty stomach—a distress signal sent by the body when it lacks the energy to function. It is the most primal and fundamental instinct for survival. Most directly, it is the physical discomfort caused by a lack of food.

The Etymology of "Hunger" (饿) In the Chinese language, the character for hunger, 饿 (è), is composed of two parts:

食 (shí): On the left, representing food, nourishment, and the source of life.

我 (wǒ): On the right, representing the "self"—including our desires, attachments, and subjective consciousness.

Etymologically, "hunger" suggests the act of using food to nourish the "self." In a modern context, however, hunger has long transcended the physiological; it represents a sense of lack, a feeling of being out of balance, or a void in one's life.

In the teachings I follow, it is often noted that hunger is a reality of the human condition—man cannot go without eating, and the concept of "starving to death" is a sobering reality of our world. While these are general observations, the deeper spiritual essence of these teachings requires looking at the original texts to truly grasp their meaning.

Measuring Hunger through "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance" We can gain profound insights by examining hunger through the lens of these three principles:

1. Truthfulness (真) "Truthfulness" requires us to face our physical needs honestly. Hunger is hunger; we should not mask our desires nor pretend to be above them out of vanity. We must also seek the "truth" behind our hunger: Is it truly the body needing energy (Physical Hunger), or is it the mind seeking to satisfy a craving (Mental Greed)? Truthfulness helps us distinguish between what is necessary for life and what is manufactured by greed.

2. Compassion (善) Compassion allows us to extend our own experience of hunger to others. Our own discomfort should awaken empathy for the suffering of all living beings. When we feel "I am hungry," it should remind us of the many people globally who live in famine, fostering a heart of charity and a habit of conservation. "Compassion" means that even when we are hungry, we do not seek satisfaction through the pain of others. We do not resort to theft or harm just to fill our own stomachs.

3. Forbearance (忍) "Forbearance" is the restraint of desire and the tempering of the will. This is perhaps most directly tested by hunger. It is the ability to resist the temptation of fine food and to maintain one's dignity and moral integrity even in the face of starvation. Through moderate fasting or self-discipline, we can temper our willpower so that we are not driven solely by material desires. Maintaining inner peace and steadfastness amidst scarcity is the true mastery of "Forbearance."

The Dark Side: Hunger as a Tool of Control History shows us that everything has a positive and negative side. Unfortunately, hunger has often been exploited by malicious forces to manipulate people. In many historical accounts, those in power deliberately kept the masses hungry to achieve political ends.

There is a rather absurd irony in history: in certain eras, scholars were told that if they didn't admit "humans evolved from monkeys," they would be left to starve. To survive and avoid starvation, many intellectuals were forced to validate this theory as if it were an absolute truth. Traditionally, the Chinese people believed that humans were created by the Divine or through the legend of Nuwa. However, under the extreme pressure of hunger, people are often driven to do things that would seem ridiculous or tragic under normal circumstances.

Conclusion While there are unique methods for handling extreme survival situations that I won't detail here, seeing the word "hunger" in my readings prompted these reflections on its literal meaning and personal inspiration. For those seeking the deeper, specific inner meanings of these concepts, I encourage you to return to the original source texts.