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"LOVE ALL SERVE ALL" "HELP EVER, HURT NEVER" Sai Baba

The Importance of a Sattwic (Pure) Diet

Lord Krishna said in the Bhagawad Gita “He who is a Brahmin – well versed, yet humble – who in the cow, the elephant and the dog and in the outcast too sees the one Divine – He sees indeed.” This ‘seeing’, Swami says, will be possible only if the mind is pure (Sattwic).

Mind is made up of thoughts. Swami says: “The material making up your thought is extremely subtle, it arises from the food you eat.” Hence the importance of a Sattwic (pure) diet. The purpose of food is to increase the duration of life, purify the mind and aid bodily strength. Swami says “If you wish to live longer, to be of service to society, to experience divinity for longer, then keep your food under check.”

It is the mind which is constantly running out into the world of objects via the five sense organs of perception, enjoying and reveling in them. If these five channels through which the mind runs out are pure then it becomes very easy for the seeker to control and purify the mind.

Normally it is the mind which controls the person. The seeker takes upon himself this supreme task of controlling and purifying the mind. With the grace of the ever-compassionate Lord this stupendous task becomes as easy as counting 1..2..3. Swami says ‘It is when you “end joy” that you really enjoy.’

Each sense organ given to us human beings has one particular use but the tongue is endowed with dual power. It has the power of speech and taste. Swami says “In the Gita the Lord praises the seeker who has attained complete control over the tongue, for such a one will soon develop a pure and steady heart and feel the constant presence of the Lord.”

Swami also says “Once you again mastery over the tongue, the other sense organs will automatically come under control.” Why so? Because each sense organ is sustained and made up of food alone. Indeed, thoughts which make up the mind are sustained and made up of food alone. Pure food will lead to pure thoughts. When a pure mind moves out through the sense organs it will contact purity alone in the object perceived. Hence, all five sense organs will come under control only if we learn to control the tongue.

It is said that man is what he eats. Swami explains by saying “As the food as the mind, as the mind so the thoughts, as the thoughts so the action, as the action so the destiny.” Hence, it is important for the seeker to check his/her diet.

It is known fact that life is sustained by life. We cannot consume inert matter. But life must be sustained with least pain and disturbance to nature. Even though there is life in both the vegetable and animal kingdoms, there are degrees of evolution and of the manifestation of intelligence. The degree of feeling and understanding of mental and physical pain are much less developed in plant life as compared to animal life.

From an anatomical point of view, the body structure of a carnivorous animal is meant for eating meat, whereas the human body is not. Books and magazines on nutrition and health, especially books written by physicians and scientists, prove that meat is not only unnecessary in one’s diet, but harmful.

Swami Tejomayananda says “The greatness and dignity of human beings is their ability to sacrifice their lives for others. The person who sacrifices his comforts or wealth, his happiness or even his life in order to protect, sustain and help others is considered great. Therefore, if we destroy other beings for the sake of the our own pleasure, we are cutting the very root of the glory of human life and degrading ourselves, Human beings should sacrifice for others, not sacrifice others for their personal comforts, pleasures or other pursuits.”

Vegetarianism shows reverence for life and helps us grow spiritually too. When we adopt a vegetarian diet, it is much easier for us to remain peaceful, happy, productive and concerned for the welfare of others.

And what about non-vegetarian diet? Swami says, “By eating the flesh of various animals the qualities of these animals are imbibed. One develops violent tendencies and animal diseases.” Hence, those who are genuine seekers of Truth must give up eating non-vegetarian food if they want to progress spirituality.

Swami also says “When you kill an animal, you give it suffering, pain, harm. God is in every creature so how can you give such pain?” We need to think about this.

Many people turn to a vegetarian diet as part of their spiritual lives. That is very good but it is not enough to purify the mind. If it was the case then all vegetarians would have realized themselves. We need to look into a few more aspects before we can declare a diet to be Sattwic (pure). Being vegetarian is definitely taking a step towards that purity.

Swami says that the vegetarian food one eats should not be “too salty, too hot, too bitter, too sweet or too sour. Food that fans the flames of thirst should be avoided.” Such food excites the mind and does little to help it to calm down. He says “Drink milk or yogurt, eat fruits and nuts. They generate constructive, virtuous and spiritual thoughts.”

Another important point to remember is to eat in moderation. As “too much food results in dullness (Tenas) of mind.” Swami suggests that only half the stomach should be filled with food, a quarter with water and the remaining quarter is to be left for the movement of air which aids digestion.

He says “When we sit down for a meal, we feel light and effortless. When we are done, we should rise with the same feeling of lightness and effortlessness.” Also, we should eat when we are hungry, not before or after.

All these instructions are very simple and so we tend to overlook them. Swami says “Nowadays emphasis is being laid on discipline and regulated behavior without reference to food. However great a person might be, however learned, he pays attention to the teachings of Vedanta and takes care to spread them but he neglects that strict code laid down for the food that is the very basis of the body and its function.”
That is the reason why after trying very hard to succeed spiritually seekers find they are struck, they are not progressing as much as they should. They have neglected the very basic discipline. If the foundations is weak than the structure built on it will naturally be weak.

Another important aspect of sattwic food is the purity of the provisions, the cooking vessels, the cook and of those who serve it. Swami says “The person who cooks and serves food must be not only clean in dress, he must be clean in habit, character and conduct. If we do not pay attention to these we will not be successful in concentration and will suffer great confusion.”

That is the reason why the sannayasins who live on alms do not accept cooked food. The only accept provisions and cook their own food.

Swami says that the seeker who wants to secure concentration and purity of the mind has to be careful about these restrictions. Otherwise during meditation the subtle influences of the wicked thoughts of the cook and the servers will haunt the seekers. Really speaking, success in meditation is rising above the thoughts. Hence, the importance to follow those instructions.

Swami continues by saying “It is not enough if the provisions are pure and of good quality. They should have been procured by fair means. No unfair, untrue earnings should be used for one’s maintenance. These are fouled at the very source.”

Actually everything that goes in through the five senses is food alone. Therefore, what the eyes see is the food of the eye. What the ears hear if the food of the ear. What the nose smells is the food of the nose, and what the skin touches is the food of the skin alone. So to purify the senses whatever goes in through them should be pure.

Swami says “The synthesis of pure calming food is breathing pure air, listening to good sounds, looking at good sights and touching pure objects.”

When the mind is totally pure, it is purity that moves out through the fives senses. What is perceived is nothing but that purity alone.

That alone in all its entirely can be called as Sattwic diet. When our diet is Sattwic (pure), according to Swami, then only then will we achieve concentration and success in mediation. Then, and only then, will we begin to gravitate towards God. Then only will we achieve the purpose of living which is ‘living in God.’

May the ever-compassionate Lord Sai grant us, His devotees the strength and the earnestness to reach Him.

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