FOOD:CELLS, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Dada krpamayananda
Food is of fundamental importance for everyone. Our diet provides the building-blocks for the development and maintenance of body cells and also has an effect on our feelings and emotions on the mental and spiritual levels. For thousands of years, Yogis [practitioners of Yogic meditation] and sages have taught that both mind and body are profoundly influenced by what we eat. “You are what you eat” is a saying that applies to both body and mind.
Through Yoga [that is, the system of Yoga postures, meditation, etc.], we become more sensitive and and aware of our physical and mental existence. With this awareness, Yogis have divided food into three categories: “Sentient” [Sanskrit: Sattvik], “Mutative” [Rajasik] and “Static” [Tamasik].
Sattvik food is the best kind. It is beneficial for the body and development of the mind. These benefits are particularly noticed by those seeking and developing self-awareness, for example, by Yoga and meditation. Or rather, the negative effects of mutative and static foods are more readily observed.
Rajasik foods stimulate and agitate the body and mind and so should be taken only in moderation. Eating too much of these foods creates a restless mind that is difficult to still for subtle mental pursuits such as meditation.
Tamasik foods have a negative effect on the mind and a varied effect on the body. They tend to aggravate lower mental tendencies and dullness of mind. They should be avoided by those seeking health of body and elevation of mind.
The more natural and fresh the food is, the more vital energy [Prana in Sanskrit; Chi in Chinese; Qi in Japanese] it contains. We take the vital energy of the food, not just its vitamins and minerals.
Not only is the type of food important, but also the amount consumed. Over-eating even sentient food can be harmful for the body and have negative effects on the mind. Our food should be prepared with love, in a positive and friendly environment.
FOOD, CELLS, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
The physical body of every human being is composed of countless cells. These cells are of two kinds: protozoic and metazoic. All parts of the human body are composed of these two types of cells. In another sense, the entire human structure can be regarded as one metazoic cell.
Each of these cells has its individual mind, soul, etc., but the minds of the cells are different from the human mind. (And the minds of the metazoic cells are more developed than those of the protozoic cells.) The human mind is the unit microcosm plus the collection of the minds of the protozoic and metazoic cells; therefore the human mind is a collective mind. Just as the Macrocosmic Mind is inseparably associated with each and every entity of this universe through ota yoga and prota yoga, the unit mind is inseparably related to each of its composite entities [individually]; and in a collective way also the minds of the cells have a certain relationship with the unit mind.
Generally a cell lives about twenty-one days and then dies, being replaced by new cells. When one rubs a certain part of the body, some seeming dirt comes off, even when the body remains covered, but this is not always dirt from the environment. In most cases, it is the accumulation of hundreds of dead cells.
Cells generally grow out of light, air, water and the food we eat. The nature of food and drink has its effect upon the cells, and consequently also influences the human mind. Obviously each and every sa'dhaka, or spiritual aspirant, should be very cautious in selecting food. Suppose a person takes ta'masika, or static, food. The result will be that after a certain period, static cells will grow and exercise a static influence on the aspirant's mind. Human beings must select sa'ttvika, or sentient, or ra'jasika, or mutative, food according to time, place and person. This will lead to the birth of sentient cells, which in turn will produce a love for spiritual practice and help in attaining psychic equilibrium and equipoise, leading to immense spiritual elevation.
After about twenty-one days the old cells are shed and new ones grow. But in old age, due to certain defects in the cells, the smoothness and the lustre of the face disappears and the skin becomes wrinkled, and the different parts of the body weaken. (With old persons, the old cells decay and new cells are produced in lesser numbers. And some of the new cells do not get proper nourishment.)
In all cases where a patient has been ailing for a long time, experienced physicians advise complete rest for a minimum of twenty-one days to allow the growth of new, healthy cells so that the ailing person will regain physical and mental energy.
Cells are living beings, and as a result of transformation through lives together, they have found existence in the human body. Later, through gradual evolution, each cell mind will develop into a human mind.
The aura or effulgence radiating from the human body is the collective effulgence of all its composite cells. When in old age many cells in the body become weak, this results in the diminution of the effulgence. Even the body of a young man who is suffering from a disease loses its lustre.
In the human face alone there are millions of cells. When a person gets angry a large amount of blood rushes into the face, causing it to become red and causing many cells to die. A violent or cruel person can easily be recognized by his or her face.
As a result of eating sentient food and performing spiritual practices, the cells of the human body become sentient. Naturally, an effulgence emanates from these cells creating an aura around the physical body of the spiritual aspirant. This is the reason why many pictures of maha'purus'as [highly-evolved persons] show them with radiant auras.
If cells are affected by food and water, and if the nature of the cells affects the nature of the human mind, obviously human beings should eat the correct diet, because food and mind are closely related to each other. Any food item, whether good or bad, must not be taken indiscriminately because it may lead to mental degeneration. Sincere spiritual aspirants must follow the dictum: A'ha'rashuddhao sattvashudhih ["A sentient diet produces a sentient body"].
Only food which is helpful in keeping the body and mind sentient should be eaten.
Every object of the world is dominated by one of the three principles -- sentient, mutative, and static. Food is no exception, and according to its intrinsic nature, is divided into the same three categories.
Sentient food: Food which produces sentient cells and is thus conducive to physical and mental well-being is sentient. Examples of sentient food are rice, wheat, barley, all kinds of pulses, fruit, milk and milk products.
Mutative food: Food which is good for the body and may or may not be good for the mind, but certainly not harmful for the mind, is mutative.
Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static.
Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white egg-plant, khesa'rii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter.
In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that "I will just do my sa'dhana' and eat any food, proper or improper" will not do.
Every human being has a right to food and the ability to feed themselves. Countries have a moral duty to cooperate in the equitable distribution of food supplies. Many people like to proclaim that the population is growing too fast and that food supplies will not be adequate to serve all the people. World Prout Assembly maintains, food supplies have never been a problem in the world. The problem lies only in the distribution of food supplies. Distribution is in the hands of the politicians. Hence, if Iraqi civilians starve, if Congolese refugees starve, if Dalit victims of the tsunami in Tamil Nadu starve, it is the direct responsibility of the politicians. It is the politicians who are committing crimes against humanity by not feeding their populations. If a political leader knows that the Dalits will surely be discriminated against, then that leader must take extra care to ensure that every Dalit receives food - along with clothes and shelter. But, no leader is taking these extra precautions today to help the disadvantaged in their societies. People have not only a right to food but a right to food of adequate quality and adequate quantity so as to maintain themselves in dignity. Food must be available via a well-functioning distribution system. It must satisfy dietary requirements, providing adequate calories, proteins necessary for physical and mental health and growth. Food must be free from pollutants. It must be culturally acceptable. And it must be economically affordable and physically accessible. Governments should not interfere with the enjoyment of the right to food. Governments must prevent corporations from interfering with the enjoyment of the right to food. Governments should take immediate steps to ensure that all their citizens realize the right to food.
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