Swami's discourse on Vegeterianism

[Guest guest]

Om Hreem Sri Lakshmi Bhow Namah

In Defense of Vegeterianism

Food, the heart and the mind

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said : - “It is essential to observe the

principle of moderation in food habits, work and sleep. The Buddha, preached

the same principle of moderation to his disciples. "Be always moderate, never

indulge in excess," proclaimed the Buddha. In fact, moderation is the royal

road to happiness.

The modern man, who flouts the principle of moderation in every aspect of life,

endangers his health and well-being. The food consumed by man should be proper,

pure and wholesome. But nowadays people eat whatever they get and wherever they

get it, and thereby spoil their health. Food plays a major role in the

preservation of health. Care should be taken to see that the food consumed does

not have much fat content, for the fats consumed in large quantity are

detrimental not only to one's physical health but also to one's mental health.

Meat and alcoholic drinks take a heavy toll on man's health, causing many a

disease in him.

Who is a true vegeterian?

The true vegetarian, according to Rev. Dada J P Vaswani is one who is is filled

through and through with reverence for life. He reveres life as a Gift of God

which no man can bestow and, therefore, may no destroy. Such a person has the

following marks:

His heart is a flowing river of compassion and love. The basis of true

compassion is a feeling of unity, of oneness with all creatures that have the

breath of life.

The true vegetarian is a man of self-discipline. So many there be who do not eat

flesh but, alas! they easily succumb to the flesh. They cannot resist the

temptations of the flesh. They are soft: they have not put out the fire of

passion. The true vegetarian is unswayed by passion, unruffled by anger,

unmoved by greed of gold.

The true vegetarian is a man of humility. Deep in his heart he knows that he is

not free from the sin of killing. For to breathe is to kill the germs that are

in the air around us. To talk is to kill: to walk is to kill. Indeed, to live

is to kill.

Living in such a world, the true vegetarian becomes a worshipper, a man of

prayer. He sees cruelty all around him. How many hearts can he touch? How many

lives can he save? And so he turns to Him who is the One Saviour of all. The

true vegetarian prays alike for the killer and the killed: and he prays that he

may become an instrument of God's love in this world of agony and pain.

The true vegetarian is a man of indomitable faith. He believes profoundly that

life is entirely a gift of God. in periods of crisis, in times of famine and

flood, his mind wavers not! He prefers starvation to eating fish or flesh. On

his sick-bed he is not lured into eating impure food. To the Sufi dervish, Abu

Ala Maeera, his physician said: "O man of God! why will you not live longer and

bless this earth? Eat this chicken soup I have brought for you and see how

quickly health and strength return to your feeble body." The dervish laughed a

hearty laugh and said: "Must you offer me the soup of a weak, defenceless

creature who cannot strike in return? It is not worthy of you! Bring me the

soup of a lion's cub!â€

Purity of the mind : Role of the senses

Mental purity is related to purity of food

Man commits many offences, knowingly or unknowingly, not only in this life, but

also in previous lives. The imprint of these actions is carried by the Chitta

(the associative memory) over many lives. When the mirror of the mind is soiled

by these relics, the mind cannot perceive anything in its true state. This is

the reason why man is unable to recognise his own true nature. Hence, it is

necessary to cleanse the mirror of impurities on it. How is this to be done? By

regulating one's food and recreational habits. It is important to ensure that

the food that is eaten is obtained by righteous means. Many of the ills which

men suffer today are due to the fact that the things they consume have been got

by unrighteous means.

Hence, to purify the mind the first prerequisite is pure food. But it is not

always possible to ensure such purity in every respect at all times. To get

over this difficulty, the way out is to make an offering of the food to the

Divine and regard it as a gift from God. To the question, "Who is God?" the

answer is given in the Gita sloka which declares that the Lord dwells in

everyone as Vaisvanara and digests the food that is consumed. When before

eating, the food is offered to God, it becomes Prasada (a gift from God). All

the impurities in the food are thereby removed. This helps the process of

cleansing the mind. This practice has to be kept up continuously. Vikshepa is a

defect in the mind caused by wavering and lack of steadiness. Arjuna confesses

that he is unable to control the mind, which is restless and ever-changing like

the wind. Various practices like meditation, concentration and prayer have been

recommended for steadying the mind. Students are not trying to cleanse their

minds by the proper methods. Instead they are polluting their minds in all

possible ways. It is only when you have the body, the senses and the mind under

your control, that you will be master of yourself.

Forms of food

THE mind of man is not an organ that can be identified physiologically; it

cannot be touched or operated on by doctors or surgeons. It is an intangible

bundle of resolutions and hesitations; of wishes and wants; to pros and cons.

It has as warp and woof of the wishes that man entertains with reference to

outward objects and sensations. It easily rushes out after external pleasures

and assumes the shapes of the things it seeks. It can also be turned back into

searching for inner contentment and inner joy. That is why the mind is said to

be the instrument for both bondage and liberation. Allow the senses to lead it

outward; it binds. Allow the intelligence to prevail upon it to look inward for

bliss; it liberates. The mind is the puppet of the food that is consumed by man.

It is prompted one way or the other by the subtle pull of the food it is fed on.

The quality of the food determines the direction of the desire that diverts the

mental flow. That is why in the Geetha as well as in all scriptural texts,

saathwik (pure) food is recommended for the upward seeking individual. Mind

means desire, sankalpa (resolve), something sought for. When the Formless

desired Form, the Universe arose; so, mind is the creative principle, the maaya

(illusion), that desired the very first desire, to be many. When it is now fed

on rajas---passion and emotion, activity and adventure---it gallops into the

world with the plunge of desire! It brings man deeper into the morass. When it

is fed on thaamasik (impure) food, which dulls, inebriates, blunts reason, and

induces sloth, the mind is callous, inert and useless for uplifting man.

The three types of 'food' eaten by man

Saathwik food, according to some, consists in milk and fruits. But, it is much

more; it; may not even be these. For, the calories that one takes in through

the mouth are but a small part of the intake of man. The intake by the senses

are part of the food that builds the individual. The sounds heard, the sights

seen, the tactile impressions sought or suffered, the air breathed, the

environment that presses for attention, appreciation and adoption---all these

are 'food.' They have considerable impact on the character and career of the

individual. The quality of the food is determined by the vibrations that it is

charged with, through the thought processes of the persons who handle it,

prepare it and serve it. The 17th chapter of the Geetha clearly defines the

nature and tastes of the three types of 'food' eaten by man: the food that

promotes love, virtue, strength, happiness, and cordiality is Saathwik; that

which inflames, arouses, intoxicates and heightens hunger and thirst is

Raajasik; the food that depresses, disrupts, and causes disease is Thamaasik

The company in which food is consumed, the place, the vessels in which it is

cooked, the emotions that agitate the mind of the person who cooks it and

serves it---all these have subtle influences on the nature and emotions of the

persons who takes the final product in! It is because the sages of India

realised this that they laid down many do's and don'ts for the process of

eating, as-for the different stages of spiritual progress.

Our thoughts trail off in directions determined by the sounds that fall upon the

ear. When the sounds convey rebuke or praise, flattery or challenge, the

thoughts too react correspondingly. When the sounds instil ideas of truth,

beauty or goodness, the mind too seeks the silence of truth, the sweetness of

beauty and harmony, the strength of goodness.

Good health and goodness

Health is the essential pre-requisite for success in all aspects of life, for

realising the four ideals that should guide humans--namely, moral living,

prosperity, fulfilling beneficial desires and liberation from grief. Everywhere

man seeks to live happily and peacefully but happiness and peace are not won

from worldly activities. The body that yearns to be happy and secure, is

subject to disease, decay and death. The Dweller, the self, within the body, is

however not born, nor does it die. It is the Aathma, God. The body is the temple

of God. Hence it is the duty of man to keep the temple in good condition. Health

is necessary for gaining this world and the next, for earning worldly and other

worldly progress, to realise the very purpose for which the Self has embodied

itself in this human form, namely, to become aware of its source, the

Paramaathma. In order to attain this goal, the ideals of righteousness,

prosperity, moral desire and release from grief have to be practised with the

help of a sound mind in a sound body.

What are the main causes of ill-health? Millions of living beings grouped as

species dwell on the earth; they sustain themselves by means of food secured

from Nature, as provided by Nature. It is only man that is an exception. In

order to cater to his palate and other senses, he changes the composition and

characteristics of the things provided by nature and prepares, through the

process of boiling, frying and mixing, concoctions which have no vitality in

them. Birds and beasts do not adopt such destructive methods. They eat things

raw and consume the strength giving vital essence. So, they do not fall victim

to the many ills that man brings on himself.

Be vigilant about food habits

Anger is another enemy of health. It injects poison into the blood stream and

brings about profound transformation which damages it. Two women, who were

neighbours turned into bitter enemies on account of a dispute over a very

trivial incident. The cow belonging to one woman while going on the road

dropped its dung in front of the other woman's house. The owner of the cow ran

to collect the du ng, while the other woman claimed that it belonged to her

since it lay on her doorstep. From words they very nearly came to blows. Just

then the other woman's little baby wailed from the cradle.

She rushed in to feed the baby and while the child was drawing in its food, she

shouted most ferociously at her neighbour. Her anger poisoned her blood so much

that the child died while drinking her milk! Another cause of ill-health is vice

and vile conduct. People believe that a wicked person need not be a diseased

person but most diseases are mental illness, fundamentally. Doctors, too, have

to deal with patients sweetly and softly and consider their profession as one

calling for dedication to their fellowmen. It is best to preserve one's health

by good thoughts and good deeds. It is best to be vigilant about food habits.

Coconut kernel, coconut water, sprouting pulses, uncooked or half cooked

vegetables, and greens are good for health. Try earnestly to live long, without

falling into the hands of medical practitioners. When they give you one

injection, they keep another ready to counteract its reactions! While trying to

cure one disease, they cause a dozen more. Moreover, the drugs they recommend

are mostly spurious, since manufacturers want to amass a fortune by hook or by

crook. Most illnesses can be cured by simple living, simple exercises and by

intelligent control of the tongue.

Health, diet and Divinity

For the achievement of the four Purushaarthas (main goals of life)--Dharma,

Artha, Kaama, and Moksha (Righteousness, wealth, desire and Liberation), health

is essential. Without good health a man cannot accomplish even the most trivial

thing. Hence, health is wealth. However, because of the influence of the

present Kali (evil). Age, man is a prey to all kinds of ailments and has no

peace of mind despite the possession of every conceivable kind of wealth and

comforts. There is no dearth of doctors. In spite of the availability of so

many amenities, why is man afflicted with disease? Indeed, more than physical

ailments, mental diseases are growing limitlessly. Mental sickness caused by

tension and worry gives us so many bodily ailments.

Man today is afflicted with discontent. As one set of desires are satisfied,

other desires go on cropping up. If desires are reduced, contentment will grow.

Moreover, because of the perversions of the Kali Age, the five basic

elements--ether, air, fire, water and earth--are polluted. The water we drink

is impure. The air we breathe is polluted. The food we consume is polluted. As

a consequence the mind gets polluted.

Understand the relationship between matter and mind

Today man has to understand the true relationship between matter and mind. When

one is asked about the mind, he says, "Don't mind." When he is asked about

matter, he answers' "It doesn't matter." By this sort of casualness, man is

failing to understand mind and matter.

Only when man understands the nature of the mind can he recognise the true

nature of humanness. What is the mind? It is not something negative. It is

positive. It represents the power of the Aathma, the power of Sankalpa (Will).

It can travel any amount of distance in space. It is capable of exploring the

powers of the atom. The mind is capable of recognizing the truth that is valid

for the three categories of Time--the past, the present and the future. The

mind is therefore very essential in man's daily life. It is the source of all

strength. Man today is indifferent to the importance and the powers of the

mind.

Realise the human values first

Because of man's excessive desires, he is prone to diseases of every kind. The

most common source of illness among people day is tension. What is the cause of

tension? It is indulgence in excesses of various kinds. Men must learn to

moderate the hectic pace of living. Hurry causes worry and worry causes

disease. "Hurry, worry and curry (fatty food)" are the causes of heart

diseases. Therefore the first requirement is control of food and head (the

mind). When you control these two, there will be no room for illness.

Importance of the eye

Here is an illustration. Once there was a king, who developed an acute stomach

trouble. All the medicines administered by doctors were of no avail. He then

approached a great yogi, who told him that for his stomach ailment he had to

treat the sight. He should see nothing but green everywhere. The yogi left and

the king ordered that all places in his kingdom should be painted green.

Sometime later, the yogi returned and found that people were engaged in

splashing green paint everywhere. When asked for the reason, they told him that

they were carrying out the King's orders. The yogi went to the king and told him

that to see everything green, all that was needed for him was to wear green

glasses. It was absurd to attempt to paint everything green. Similarly if we

change our vision, we will experience peace. When people view the world with

the vision of love, they will have peace. All diseases will be cured. Most

diseases have their origin in the mind. Everything has a psychological basis.

When a person feels that something is wrong with him, he develops an illness. A

healthy mind is needed for a healthy body. But it is not enough to be physically

healthy. Man needs Dhaiva-anugraham (God's grace) also. To acquire God's grace

you have to cultivate the love of God. Love has become today a kind of show.

Genuine love should emanate from the heart. Start the day with love, spend the

day with love, end the day with love, that is the way to God. If you develop

love, disease will not come near you.

Realise the value of health

Self-restraint is essential to maintain health. Regulate your habits and develop

good manners, which are the mark of a true man. Similarly the good devotee is

one who does his duty. Duty is God. Everyone has to develop the manners

required in daily life. The manners should be such that they confer self

satisfaction. You should conduct yourself properly not for the sake of others

but for your own sake. When there is self-satisfaction there will be

self-realisation. For all these you must have selfconfidence. Most people today

have no confidence in themselves and are perpetually racked by doubts. In

Jesus's time there was one 'Doubting Thomas.' But today all are 'Doubting

Thomases.' Everyone is doubting every other. For every man two things are

essential: Arogya (good health) and Aanandha (Happiness). Health for the body

and bliss for the spirit. With these two wings you can soar to any height. You

need both the things, for which you must secure God's grace. To get God's

grace, you have to engage yourself in sacred action. Bear in mind the three

P's--Purity, Patience and Perseverance. With these three you are bound to

acquire good health and bliss.

The efficacy of cardiac surgery

This international symposium has for its theme "The Heart and its Ailments."

Also on the agenda are discussion about the preventive aspects of diseases as

well as the treatment and cure of heart diseases. Questions are raised about

the efficacy of Cardiac Surgery and its related effects. The heart is a special

organ in the human system. It is pulsating ceaselessly unlike the other organs.

Heart surgery is a highly complex operation, as the surgery has to be performed

without arresting the heartbeat. At the same rime the functioning of the lungs

has also to be kept up. Medical men of genius invented the heart-lung machine

in 1956 to carry on the activities of the heart as well as the lung during

cardiac operations. The machine rakes upon itself the function of the heart and

the lung ensuring purification of the blood and keeping up circulation of the

blood. The derails of the functioning of this heart-lung machine are well known

to the doctors. The tube which is fitted connecting the heart and the machine

should be airtight and should be fixed with great care, for any lapse in the

fitting of the tube may cause air bubbles which will endanger the patient's

life. Unfailing power supply is most crucial for the success of the operation

as any interruption in power supply will stall the operation. Therefore we have

to depend on generators for ensuring uninterrupted power supply during the

course of the operation.

Prevention is better than cure

Questions are posed whether heart surgery ensures a permanent cure. Cardiac

surgery is helpful in so far as it enables the patient to carry on his daily

activities and lead a normal life. But, it is wrong to conclude that surgery is

the only way of curing heart diseases. Some of the diseases can be cured even

by medicine. In my opinion, it is the primary responsibility of every

individual to prevent becoming a victim of heart disease by regulating his food

and other habits. Prevention is better than cure. There will be little room for

cardiac ailments if one's food habits are properly controlled and regulated.

Research has revealed that non-vegetarian and alcoholic addicts are more prone

to heart ailments than vegetarians. If the vegetarian food that is consumed

should be a balanced and wholesome, it should contain liberal doses of vitamin

C and vitamin E, which are available in vegetables like carrots. The presence

of these vitamins prevents heart ailments in a large measure.

Every effort should be made to keep the human body healthy. Health is wealth.

Wealth cannot be enjoyed by a person with poor health. Health is more important

because it gives physical and mental strength to a person. Birds and beasts do

not suffer from cardiac and digestive ailments to which man is prone. The cause

can be traced to the natural food which the animals consume, unlike human beings

who consume all sorts of fried and cooked items of food being slaves to the

palate. Modern man consumes many artificial foodstuffs and a variety of

alcoholic drinks, which are injurious to health. Birds and beasts lead natural

lives, while the artificial life styles of man today takes a heavy toll of his

health. When man observes moderation in diet he can be saved from most

diseases. In the entire range of God's creation man alone is endowed with the

faculty of discrimination. It is this faculty which sets him apart from

animals. Man should exercise his discretion and discrimination in regard to

food habits.

How to bring about mental transformation?

The progress of the universe is bound up with the progress of man. Any amount of

development in the areas of scientific, economic and social spheres will not be

of much use without mental transformation. How can we bring about this

transformation? It is by restraining passions and emotions. Since mental

tension is most detrimental to man's health, man should learn the art of

controlling his passions and emotions, which cause stresses and strains. It is

also essential to keep our mind serene and peaceful while eating food. We

should not indulge in discussion of topics which will cause agitation and

excitement and disturb our mental peace while we are taking food.

Mental tension is responsible for ill health. We should also avoid viewing TV,

video, etc., while eating food, as they may cause mental disturbances. Today

there is pollution in everything such as the air we breathe, the water we

drink, the sounds that are jarring to the cars and the food we consume. Because

of this all round pollution, man's health is affected. Apart from this, man's

mind is also polluted making him susceptible to diseases. Man should make an

earnest endeavour to lead a serene and pure life. He should realize the truth

that troubles and turmoils are temporary, like passing clouds. There is no

scope for agitations to arise if one realises this truth. One who realises this

truth will not allow his mind to be swayed by the passions of anger, cruelty,

etc. Passions yield only temporary satisfaction, but cause serious emotional

disturbances. Hence, it is imperative on the part of man not to yield to any

unbecoming passions while taking food. The observance of the three P's, namely,

purity, patience, and perseverance, vouchsafes permanent happiness and good

health free from diseases.

The three root causes of cardiac ailments

It is not only unbridled passion which damages the health of man. Living on

ill-gotten money also causes ill-health to some extent. Living on earnings got

by unjust means causes many unknown diseases to take root in us. It is said;

As is the food, so is the mind;

As is the mind, so are the thoughts;

As are the thoughts, so is the conduct;

As is the conduct, so is the health.

Man today is a victim of worry. What is the cause of this worry? Lack of

contentment is the cause. The rich man is not contented is spire of the

accumulation of wealth. Worry causes hurry and both together bring about

ill-health. So, Worry, Hurry and Curry fatty foods) are the root causes of

cardiac ailments. The consumption of large quantities of fat is the cause of

cardiovascular diseases. Doctors advise against the consumption of fatty food

stuffs which cause increase in weight resulting in susceptibility to cardiac

diseases The presence of toxins also inflicts equal damage. So one should eat

in moderate quantity the right type of food and avoid intoxicating drinks to

safeguard his health.

The intake of food should be gradually reduced after crossing 50 years. Some

people consume food indiscriminately unmindful of the caloric content of the

food taken. For example, people eat pappads (thin circular flour preparations)

fried in oil which have high calorie content. People also consume ghee which is

also a high calorie food. A single pappad has 100-150 calories of energy. A

single spoon of ghee has 100 calories of energy. Even when the quantity of food

intake is reduced, reductions in the calorie content is not ensured. There are

some doctors who advise their patients against smoking and addiction to

alcohol, but they themselves smoke and drink! This gap between precept and

practice raises doubts in the minds of patients about the value of the medical

advice given by them. Such doctors, who do not observe harmony in speech and

practice, mislead the patients.

Eschew meat, liquor and smoking

Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a devotee or not, he should

give up meatcaring. Why? Meat eating promotes only animal qualities. It has

been well said that the food one consumes determines one's thoughts. By caring

the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these animals are imbibed. How

sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained by the same five elements

as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies, besides committing the sin

of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely seek to become

devotees of God have to give up non-vegetarian food. Calling themselves Sai

devotees or devotees of Raama and Krishna, they fatten on chicken. How can they

be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such a person as a devotee?

Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside, they should give up

from this instant meat eating.

Next, there is the question of drink. The water that one drinks is life-giving.

It issues from the head of Shiva. It is sacred. Instead of such wholesome

drink, it is wrong to drink intoxicants. It makes a man forget his true nature.

Alcoholic drink is utterly obnoxious. It degrades the addict. It makes him

forget God. The drink addict is not conscious of what he says or does. The very

sight of such a person is revolting. The drink evil has ruined innumerable

families. Alcoholics have caused misery to their wives and children by wasting

all their money on liquor. Of what use to the world are such derelicts?

In addition to liquor, many are addicted to smoking tobacco. Today cigarette

smoking is the cause of many diseases like asthma, lung cancer, cosonaphilia

and heart ailments. The evil effects of smoking can be easily demonstrated. If

a whiff of cigarette smoke is blown at a handkerchief, the cloth turns red at

the spot. If smoke can cause such damage to a piece of cloth, how much damage

will it not do when it gets into the blood stream? It ruins one's health and

shortens one's life-span. Therefore, those who aspire to become true devotees

of God have to give up meat, liquor and smoking.

Each one has to reform himself

Drink addiction is the cause of many evils. But no Government can stop this. The

change must rake place at the individual level. This can take place only through

a mental transformation and not as a result of preaching by others. Each one has

to recognise the truth and reform himself.

Embodiments of Love! You are deeming this day as the sixty ninth birthday of

Swami. I have no desire to celebrate such birthdays. As I was coming I was

greeted by many wishing Me "Happy Birthday" I am always happy Why should anyone

wish "Happy Birthday" for Me? Be happy yourselves. Your happiness is My

happiness.

Today, as an offering to Swami, give up meat eating, consuming liquor and

smoking. By renouncing these three, you will benefit yourselves as well as

society and the nation. Swami's sole aim is to promote the welfare of the

family, the society and the nation. If you wish to carry out Swami's aim,

renounce from this moment itself these three bad practices. Do not put if off

to tomorrow. Take the resolve from this moment. Expecting that you will carry

out Swami's wish and thereby promote the well being of your family and the

nation, I bless all of you.

(Discourse in the Poornachandhra Auditorium on 23-11-1994, Bhagavaan's Birthday.)

Swami's example to lead a healthy life

How to lead a healthy life? Let Me tell you about My own health. My weight since

my 14th year of age has been constant at 108 pounds only. It never went up to

109 pounds not came down to 107. You can lead a healthy life once you achieve

this kind of balance and moderation. I never eat even a little bit excess. I

observe the principle of moderation whether I am invited for food by a

millionaire or a pauper. My body is in perfect trim! I do not suffer from aches

and My heart is as sound as a rock. There is none who can work like Me and exert

himself as much as I do! The secret of My sound health is My regulated food

habits. This is how one has to achieve the unity and harmony of food, head and

God.

Compilations collected from: Mira – Vol 60, Nov 2001

(Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 05-Chapter 39) (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 11-Chapter 08)

(Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 15-Chapter 21) (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 23-Chapter 15)

(Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 27-Chapter 03) (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 27-Chapter 31)

(Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 28-Chapter 16)

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