Question concerning Gomashio: Kushi vs. Ohsawa

[organicooking]

I've been refreshing myself with Ohsawa's works and was intrigued to read that Ohsawa's gomashio ratio for sesame seed to salt was 5 tablespoons:1 tablespoon (Zen Macrobiotics). Michio in "The Macrobiotic Way" lists the ratio as 10-16:1 (page 74 The Macrobiotic Way).
Does anyone have information as to why there is a wide range between the two?
Curious....
Thanks,
Ray

[garymill]

Some of the dietary reccomendations were just too extreme and made for too yang of a diet as in Zen macrobiotics, gomashio is generally advised to be in a ratio of 16:1 for some people 18:1 is advised, this all depends upon ones condition. The key is balance. When macrobiotics first arrived on US shores, the whole concept of balance just did not exist as it did today. I can remember a lecture by Michael Abehsera stating this, talking about how he himself was an early advocate of something as simple as a pressed salad to lighten up. Things have evolved over time, and the diet of today could be considered far less salty and less yang than that first mentioned in Zen Macrobiotics.

[organicooking]

I take it then it would be silly to disregard Ohsawa's works in the wake of what we know today, but rather, as he put it, "think, think. think" in regards to one's condition and what is needed for it.

Anyone out there practicing or have done any self exploration with Ohsawa's Diet's #3-7?

Thanks,
RAy :o)

[garymill]

Hi Ray,

Yes, I don't want to discount the value of Ohsawa's books, but in terms of macrobiotic dietary advice, some of it may be a bit out of date.

Thanks for your posts.

Gary

[Nancy]

Ray,

There is a bevy of information in the Main Forum on Diet #7. I do the range from #3-7, and usually avoid animal foods, occasional fish, though. That takes me into #2. I never do 20-30% animal, thus do not go below #2. The Regimen Chart is an interesting tool.

Regarding Gomashio ratios, I make my own according to taste, like 21:1.

Look at the active yang quality of Ohsawa's life...I am not quite up to that...I think my head would burst.

Nancy