Types of Food from Yogic Perspective
>> Wednesday, March 18, 2009 –
Food
In the last post titled Wonders of Garlic, I wrote about how garlic can be used for curing various ailments. Someone rightly pointed out that Garlic is a Tamasic food which is not good for Yogic journey, but my intention was to point out its benefits from the point of Ayurveda and health care.
In the "Bhagwad Gita" the most famous scripture on Hinduism which has been dictated by Lord Krishna the supreme Yogi, there is mention of various categories in which food can be divided. Type of food we consume determines our temperament and outlook on life. In the chapter 17, verses 8, 9 & 10 Sri Krishna describes the food which should be consumed or avoided.
Food which promote life, vitality, strength, health, happiness and satisfaction; which are succulent, juicy, nourishing and pleasing to self should be consumed. These are known are Saatvik food.
According to the Bhagavad Gita, foods which are too bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry, and hot can lead to pain, distress, and disease of the body.
Foods which are tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean should be avoided by spiritual aspirants and those who seek excellent physical and mental health.
These are considered to be Tamasic food which leads to various vices like anger, greed and passion.
Although there is no unanimity regarding milk and other dairy products, they are still considered to be better than meat products.
Usually food consisting of sprouted beans and cereals, leafy vegetables, ripened fruits are good for yogic and spiritual growth.
My Personal Experience
Although I do eat meat, that is mainly because of cultural background, I come from. As I am into Yogic journey, I have a urge to avoid eating meat, I am planning to quit non vegetarian food gradually. I belong to Bengali ethnic group which resides in Eastern state of India called West Bengal and Bangladesh. Bengalis have been meat eaters traditionally and even the priest cast to which I belong have been eating meat. Usually, Brahmins, which is a priest cast in India does not eat meat. I feel this is mainly due to earlier prevalence of animal sacrifice in Bengal famous for Tantrik style of worship. Therefore people used to eat the meat which was offered to gods. Although the animal sacrifice is now very less seen now a days, but people continue to eat meat. In fact in Bengali marriages, a big fish is a gift compulsorily presented to other side.
Vivekananda, the great Hindu Sage of last century, advocated that certain castes should eat small quantities of meat so that they can perform more physical activities and also defend the country. Vivekanada used to consume fish, so did his master Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Gautama the Buddha also ate meat; in fact he is supposed to have died when piece of pork got struck in his throat. I think so they were so much spiritually advanced that external entities did not affect them. Tibetans also consume meat because in the harsh climates of the Tibetan plateau not vegetation grows.
I personally feel that Non vegetarian food is not good for health as well as for spiritual progress. It is not easy to digest compared to vegetarian food, and in India non vegetarian food is cooked with lots of spices which is more harmful to the body instead of nourishing.
As per Bhagwad Gita, food should also be offered to god to make it Saatvik. Any food we consume without dedicating to god is sinful and equivalent to theft. We should be thankful to god for proving us the food we eat and dedicating the food is saying "Thank you God".
In the "Bhagwad Gita" the most famous scripture on Hinduism which has been dictated by Lord Krishna the supreme Yogi, there is mention of various categories in which food can be divided. Type of food we consume determines our temperament and outlook on life. In the chapter 17, verses 8, 9 & 10 Sri Krishna describes the food which should be consumed or avoided.
Food which promote life, vitality, strength, health, happiness and satisfaction; which are succulent, juicy, nourishing and pleasing to self should be consumed. These are known are Saatvik food.
According to the Bhagavad Gita, foods which are too bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry, and hot can lead to pain, distress, and disease of the body.
Foods which are tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean should be avoided by spiritual aspirants and those who seek excellent physical and mental health.
These are considered to be Tamasic food which leads to various vices like anger, greed and passion.
Although there is no unanimity regarding milk and other dairy products, they are still considered to be better than meat products.
Usually food consisting of sprouted beans and cereals, leafy vegetables, ripened fruits are good for yogic and spiritual growth.
My Personal Experience
Although I do eat meat, that is mainly because of cultural background, I come from. As I am into Yogic journey, I have a urge to avoid eating meat, I am planning to quit non vegetarian food gradually. I belong to Bengali ethnic group which resides in Eastern state of India called West Bengal and Bangladesh. Bengalis have been meat eaters traditionally and even the priest cast to which I belong have been eating meat. Usually, Brahmins, which is a priest cast in India does not eat meat. I feel this is mainly due to earlier prevalence of animal sacrifice in Bengal famous for Tantrik style of worship. Therefore people used to eat the meat which was offered to gods. Although the animal sacrifice is now very less seen now a days, but people continue to eat meat. In fact in Bengali marriages, a big fish is a gift compulsorily presented to other side.
Vivekananda, the great Hindu Sage of last century, advocated that certain castes should eat small quantities of meat so that they can perform more physical activities and also defend the country. Vivekanada used to consume fish, so did his master Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Gautama the Buddha also ate meat; in fact he is supposed to have died when piece of pork got struck in his throat. I think so they were so much spiritually advanced that external entities did not affect them. Tibetans also consume meat because in the harsh climates of the Tibetan plateau not vegetation grows.
I personally feel that Non vegetarian food is not good for health as well as for spiritual progress. It is not easy to digest compared to vegetarian food, and in India non vegetarian food is cooked with lots of spices which is more harmful to the body instead of nourishing.
As per Bhagwad Gita, food should also be offered to god to make it Saatvik. Any food we consume without dedicating to god is sinful and equivalent to theft. We should be thankful to god for proving us the food we eat and dedicating the food is saying "Thank you God".
