Food & Meditation - Is there a connection?

food & meditation

Is there a connection?

© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

I quote from two books of Vedanta to clarify on this subject:

1. Bhagwad Gita: Chapter 17; verse 7-10

2. BhaktiYoga by Swami Vivekananda, Chapter 10

Don’t worry I use very simple language.


As per Bhagwad Gita, based on their qualities, all foods can be divided into 3 Sets.


• Set 1 enhances meditation.

• Set 2 increases restlessness.

• Set 3 are poisonous by very

nature.


Now, how to know what isSet 1, Set 2 & Set 3?


Interestingly, the book does not name any food items.


Plus what may be a boon for one person may be poison for

another.


So, #confusion!


Say, sugar, someone may need it for health…

…while someone may

have to avoid it to be healthy.

Also, food habits depend on country or region.


What people eat in Scandinavia will be different from what we eat in India.


So, what’s ‘Set1’ food for me?

Plus, is ‘my food’ Set 1-food or yours?


How to know?

#confusion again!

THERE ARE 3 RULES

No issues!


• The food that

– purifies life,

– enhances it and

– brings strength to mind & body

is meditative food and belongs to Set 1.


• The food that is

– too spicy,

– tangy, pungent &

– prone to leaving burning sensation in stomach

is Set 2 food.


• Food that’s

– stale,

– tasteless,

– decomposed, putrid

is Set 3 food.


MAY BE…


Does that help in arriving at an understanding?

• Interestingly, like every other matter, BhagwadGita (BG) leaves final decision on us.


I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL, NOW YOU DECIDE.


BG’s philosophy is simple:

Hence in case of food as well, BG says:

these are the qualities, now you decide what you wish to eat.

Observe; experience &

decide!

That’s what Bhagwad Gita

prescribes.


Yes, it definitely says that people interested in practices like meditation tend to choose Set 1.

Now let’s highlight further on this Set 1.


In Chapter 10 of BhkatiYoga, Swami Vivekananda quotes Chandayogya Upanishad*,

where it is said:


*Upanishads are ancient books of Vedanta.

‘If food is pure, mind is pure and one whose mind is pure can meditate

deeply.’


Next, Swami ji quotes from Adi Shankaracharya’s*

commentary on the same Upanishad,


*Adi Shankaracharya: 8th Century CE.

‘When food is purified; man is

purified.’



‘When this purification of mind happens, one is instantly brought to

the eternal truth, wisdom & insight.’

On top of these two interpretations, Swami Vivekananda adds:


Lastly, Swami ji warns us all

on our tendency of putting

needless rules that are often

attached to food by people,

societies & communities…


‘food must be used as a medium to bring mind to the level of higher

stability, since no other medium can do it as

effectively.’

Swami ji says:


CHOOSE IT CONSCIOUSLY.

Our food is the power for our meditation.


An inappropriate choice …

… may have matching results.


Gratitude & Dedication:

Author: Puneet Srivastava

Website: www.desiretofly.in

Twitter: @desire_to_fly_

To my revered teacher

Swami Amartayananda &

the message of SDM:

• Satsang

• Disciplined Life

• Meditation

http://www.desiretofly.in/

Food & Meditation - Is there a connection?

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Transcript of Food & Meditation - Is there a connection?