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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 15 |
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PRINCIPLES OF YOGIC DIET QUESTION: Does Yoga prescribe any dietary rules? ANSWER: In an ideal situation, all human beings
ought to eat what is beneficial to their physical and Spiritual well-being.
To understand what constitutes ideal food, we must first establish what food
is. Although man may consume food for pleasure and other psychological
reasons such as in the case of "comfort food", the main function of
food is to provide the physical body with energy. In the same way as everything we see has the fundamental
qualities of Light and Darkness, Energy is also of two kinds: one that is
elevating and expansive, known as Luminosity (Sattva)
and one that is depressant and contractive, known as Obscurity (Tamas). The interaction of these two energy forms
produces a third one which is stimulating and dynamic, known as Movement
(Rajas). As food consists of Energy, it too, has the capacity to
promote luminous (sattvic), obscure (tamasic) or dynamic (rajasic) energy
patterns in man. On his part, man who subsists on food,
may be said to be of three kinds, according to the energy quality prevalent
in each person. Thus, the Holy Scriptures of India, describe sattvic man as possessing an inborn
intuition of the One Reality that underlies all things. He is calm, stable,
focused, self-controlled, happy, content, well-mannered, attracted to
Spiritual Knowledge and keen to work for the welfare of others. The man of rajasic character has a worldview that is
dominated by the superficial distinctiveness and separateness of things as
opposed to their fundamental oneness and unity. He is attracted to sensual
pleasures, unstable, restless, seldom happy except
for brief moments and intent on his own ends. Tamasic
man is described as being obsessed with one thing to the exclusion of all
others, lazy, undisciplined, wanton, bad-mouthed and fond of quarrels, sleep
and intoxicant substances. What becomes evident is that pure or Spiritual food is
conducive to Spiritual, uplifting energy patterns. An ideal, Yogic diet is
one that consists of such food and is termed Sattvic
Diet. The following are some typical examples of the three classes
of food: Sattvic (Spiritual) Food is uplifting,
promoting happiness and contentment, as well as mental alertness and clarity.
Fruit, vegetables, green leaves, pulses, nuts, cereals, milk, yoghurt,
natural cane sugar, unrefined vegetable oils as well as spices like ginger,
cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and basil as well as beverages like fresh,
natural fruit juices, belong to the sattvic
or uplifting category. This is the ideal class of food, promoting mental and
physical health and longevity. A sattvic
meal normally consists of wheat, rice, barley or millet with lentils,
beans or coconut, as well as some vegetables and fruit. Rajasic (Stimulating and
Affective) Food is stimulating, promoting an emotionally passionate and
excitable disposition. Vegetable or animal (in particular saturated) fat such
as margarine, butter, cheese and lard, refined sugar, sweets, eggs, fish,
meat, spices like pepper, chillies, garlic, onion
and cloves, beverages like tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks (in small
amounts) are classified as rajasic or
stimulant. Rajasic food must be consumed in
moderation. An excess of it can lead to aggression, mental and physical
imbalance and disease. NOTE: As with all other things, there is no
universally valid measure - every person must find what is best for him.
Alcohol consumption in particular must be limited to the minimum. While
advanced Yogis have no need of alcohol, beginners may enjoy small amounts (half
a glass or one glass of wine, for example) provided that it does not impair
their thinking or bring about a change in their facial expression and voice -
signs that the permitted quantity has been exceeded. Also, it ought to be
restricted to festive occasions and not indulged in on a regular basis.
Furthermore, alcohol must not be taken on an empty stomach. As far as coffee is concerned, it is important to understand
that it is made from the burned seeds of the coffee shrub. It has no
nutritional value whatsoever and cannot be regarded as food, properly
speaking. The harmful properties of coffee are demonstrated by its naturally unpleasant
taste and odour which must be concealed by the
addition of milk, sugar and other ingredients in order to render it
palatable. Drinking coffee is in fact a bourgeois and materialistic pursuit
that ought to be shunned by all Spiritual people. Regular intake thereof can
lead to heart disease, memory loss, aggressive and violent moods and mental
imbalance as well as miscarriage in pregnant women. Moreover, it encourages
the oppression and exploitation of poor nations who could grow food for
themselves instead of depending on selling cheap coffee to rich countries. The same applies to tea and chocolate. These were originally
sacred beverages which were consumed locally (in China and America) and only during
certain religious observances on account of their uplifting properties. Due
to the human tendency to greed and excess, however, they have now become a
cultural obsession with corresponding harmful results on both individual and
society. Tamasic (Unspiritual) Food is sedative,
promoting a sluggish disposition as well as mental dullness and opacity. All
foods that are unpalatable, difficult to digest, too dry, too spicy, salty,
burned, stale or toxic such as alcohol (in large amounts), condiments like
nutmeg and poppy-seeds, are of a tamasic or
dullish nature. Tamasic food not only has a
stultifying effect on the mind but also represents a major contributing
factor in the development of cancer and other fatal diseases. As becomes evident from the above, the Ideal Diet
requires that sattvic food be the
main source of nutrition, with rajasic
food taken only occasionally or in small amounts, while tamasic food is to be avoided as far as
possible. Yogic diet therefore may be said to be basically Vegetarian (Shakahari). Yoga, however, also recognises the
fact that the energy intake must correspond with the energy output. For this
reason, those who dedicate themselves exclusively to a religious or Spiritual
life such as Spiritual leaders, monks and priests, are generally expected to
adhere to a strict sattvic diet. Others,
however, whose occupation requires higher levels of physical energy, such as
soldiers, workers and farmers, are permitted to take rajasic
food, including meat, as required by each individual's specific
circumstances. Dharmic and Adharmic Food Although, strictly speaking, meat is not sattvic
or Spiritual food, it still constitutes permissible or lawful (dharmic) food, especially in the absence of other
means of sustenance. Unlawful (adharmic) food,
on the other hand, is not permitted to those who follow the Path of Yoga. Unlawful (adharmic) food which is also
known as ninditanna (forbidden food)
is, firstly, that which is produced or obtained by illegal or immoral means
such as theft, deception or cruelty. The Holy Scriptures of India are very
clear about the importance of the means whereby food is obtained either by
oneself or by others. Thus a Spiritual person must not accept food from
criminals, sinners, moneylenders, arms traders, atheists and blasphemers. In particular, food that has been prepared by Unspiritual
people is forbidden to Yogis. Food that has been handled but not prepared by
the same, on the other hand, is permitted in moderation. For example, raw
vegetables or rice bought from an Unspiritual person (such as an Atheist,
etc.) are lawful, but unlawful if they were cooked by that person. By extension, we must include in this category food produced
in countries that are known to promote atheism, false religions, terrorism or
oppression. Our objections are not directed at the people of these countries,
but at their corrupt and irresponsible leaders who must be forced to abandon
immoral and criminal practices. In particular, food and other goods derived from
countries that restrict and suppress Yoga must be avoided at all costs. Among
these we may enumerate Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Morocco,
Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Turkey. Apart from the moral and Spiritual aspect of
the issue, foodstuffs produced in these countries may also be biologically or
chemically contaminated and therefore present a serious health hazard. Secondly, food that is prohibited for religious and practical
reasons. Human flesh and that of human-like animals such as monkeys and apes,
falls under this category. Further, the meat of certain other animals such as
the cow, the horse, the elephant, the camel and the swan. We may observe that
in India, apart from the great reverence they enjoy, cows are used for milk
as well as for ploughing the fields and drawing
carts; camels and horses are used for riding and elephants for hauling
timber; swans are associated with the human Soul; the peacock is sacred to
the Hindu God Muruga, etc. The meat of these
animals must be regarded as taboo. Those who deliberately or accidentally consume the meat of any
of the above, are in a state of sinfulness and must atone by bathing in a
holy river or temple bath, as well as by fasting, praying and giving alms to
the poor. Thirdly, unlawful (adharmic) food
is that which is prohibited for medical or hygienic reasons. Apart from food that
is chemically or physically contaminated, toxic or poisonous, the meat of
certain animals, birds, reptiles and fishes falls under this category. In
general, these are animals, etc., as subsist on other living things.
Flesh-eating animals, birds and reptiles such as the vulture, the eagle, the
owl, the hawk and the crow, the cat, the dog, the lion, the tiger, the
leopard, the cheetah and snakes; fish-eating aquatic animals such as the
whale, the dolphin, the alligator and the shark; insect-eating creatures like
the swallow, the cuckoo and the lizard; and, finally, animals and birds such
as pigs, chickens, geese and ducks that roam freely in the vicinity of human
habitation (such as in villages) and may, due to their feeding habits, be
potential carriers of disease. The deliberate or accidental consumption of
such meat leaves one in a state of physical impurity the only remedy for
which is bathing, fasting and eating pure, sattvic
food. Lawful (dharmic) food is: 1) that which
is produced and obtained by lawful, that is, not illegal or immoral, means;
2) that which is not in breach of any religious taboos; and 3) that which
does not contravene medical and hygienic considerations. Apart from what has already been listed above under sattvic and rajasic
food, the consumption of meat is lawful (dharmic)
when proceeding from such animals, birds and fishes as feed on vegetable
matter, that is, grasses, seeds, nuts, berries, fruit, leaves and roots.
Among these are the buffalo, the goat, the sheep, the deer, the wild boar and
the hare; the jungle-fowl, the woodpigeon and the partridge. The same applies to aquatic animals such as fish etc. To begin
with, some fish are poisonous therefore only those should be eaten as are
known locally to be edible. Apart from this, the consumption of fish that
live on vegetable matter, plankton, etc., is lawful. Fish that live on small
creatures like worms, insects and small fish, are strictly speaking unlawful
but may be consumed in moderation. By contrast, fish that live on larger fish
and other large creatures and are particularly aggressive in their feeding
habits (shark, killer whale, etc.) is unlawful and must be avoided. To lawful meat we may add such animals and birds like pigs,
chickens, geese and ducks as are kept in an enclosed space where they can be
reared on appropriate, pure food (as opposed to animals that can freely
rummage through refuse dumps, etc., that is, animals that are not kept for
human consumption but, especially in villages, for the purpose of clearing
food rests and other such refuse that may be found in the vicinity of
houses). In this context, we may observe that certain religions reject
the consumption of pork, for example, on the ground that pigs feed on unclean
substances. However, it is quite possible to raise pigs on clean food which
should remove any objection. By contrast, the followers of the said religions
do not object to the consumption of other types of meat such as poultry and
beef that often comes from animals that are diseased or fed on animal
carcasses, chemicals and other objectionable materials. Their position,
therefore, must be regarded as logically untenable. Yogic dietary principles,
on the other hand, are much more reasonable and coherent. Indeed, the
comparative study of the World's different traditions can lead to only one
possible, logically sound conclusion, namely, that they were adopted from an
earlier, Yogic original and handed down in a poorly understood and distorted
form. Regarding meat consumption, we must be clear about one
thing. Man occupies a special position among other beings inhabiting Planet
Earth. His role is not to exploit and live off other creatures but to help
them fulfil their own evolutionary destiny. For
example, animals may be used for transport and agricultural work but not for
medical experiments. Furthermore, human consumption of meat must not be
carried out on such a scale as to deplete, exterminate or otherwise endanger
animal species. For this reason, the Holy Scriptures of India clearly state
that it is not right for a man to increase his own body by taking that of
another creature. The slaying of cows, in particular, is regarded as a sin
equal to adultery, slavery, forsaking one's guru, parents or children, not
studying the Scriptures and neglecting the sacred fire. The penance
prescribed for such a sin is fasting and looking after cows for three months
and making donations to senior religious leaders (Manu Smriti
XI, 60, 109-117). At the same time, however, the same Scriptures expressly
permit the taking of animal life as and when demanded by circumstances. Thus
meat eaten for health reasons or when no other food is available,
is permitted. As a general guideline, food may be classified into the
following groups:
Yoga does not force anybody to adopt a vegetarian diet. However,
whether one be a vegetarian or a meat-eater, it is essential to understand
that food belonging to CLASS 1 is
ideal; food belonging to CLASS 2
is permitted; and food under CLASS 3
must be avoided whenever possible. Is Animal Sacrifice permitted? Sacrifice performed for improper reasons or in an improper
manner as well as the meat derived from it is detrimental, dangerous, evil and must be regarded as a demonic enterprise to be
avoided in all circumstances. By contrast, meat derived from proper sacrifice is permitted and
belongs to lawful food as explained above. When correctly performed, the sacrifice of a living being is
lawful for the following reasons. It is done in accordance with Holy
Scripture. It is done upon receiving Divine Command (in a dream, vision,
etc.) or upon enquiry into Divine Will (by means of a qualified Yoga Master,
priest, shaman, or some other such Spiritual medium) hence it is in harmony
with Divine Law. In the Indian tradition, the actual slaying of the animal is
usually done by decapitation which ensures that death occurs in a matter of
seconds. Therefore, the suffering of the sacrificed creature is minimal. As
regards the animal’s Soul, it is elevated to higher levels of existence by
the power of the sacrifice. The manner of death
is very important. An animal that passes to another existence as a result of
being offered in sacrifice will have a better death and enjoy a better future
life than one eaten alive by a snake, torn to pieces by wolves and wild dogs,
or mercilessly slaughtered in an abattoir. The sacrificer also gains real
benefits, materially and Spiritually speaking. Therefore, the consumption of
meat derived from animals offered in sacrifice to the Gods is permitted. In
fact, like all food, meat must not be eaten without offering it up to God
first, in recognition of His status of Lord of all creatures (Pashu Pati). In addition to
this, a brief prayer for the animal's Soul must also be offered, and the
resolve must be made that the strength or any other benefit derived from the
meat be used in the cause of Righteousness and not squandered for selfish
motives.
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