Bhagavad Gita Slokas On Food

[Stephani Kapnick]

Foodsin the mode of ignorance or darkness are essentially those that are not fresh. Any food cooked more than three hours before it is eaten (except prasadam, food offered to the Lord) is considered to be in the mode of darkness. Because they are decomposing, such foods give a bad odor, which often attracts people in this mode but repulses those in the mode of goodness.

Research shows that foods derived from animal flesh are harmful to humans. This is not just because flesh foods often contain high levels of cholesterol, although this is a part of the problem. Another part is that the animals have been fed hormones and antibiotics that remain in the meat and are transmitted to those who eat it. But the real problem, according to the ancients, is that the flesh of conscious beings carries within it the memory and the emotion of the kind of life they have led, and that by eating it we transfer these same tendencies (samskaras in yogic parlance) to ourselves.

The samskaras of non-flesh foods are not nearly as strong. The consciousness in fruits, vegetables, and grains is not so highly developed as the consciousness in animals. According to the yogis, the only way to contaminate plant food with strong negative samskaras is for it to be grown and harvested by people who are themselves extremely negative. Even then, the samskara will be weak because the consciousness of a carrot, for example, is itself quite weak.

Rishies and sages tell us that grain has a greater power to absorb and transmit samskaras. Grain is seed. In addition to containing carbohydrates, protein, and oil, it has the ability to sprout and grow. Grain gathers samskaras more efficiently than do fruits and root vegetables, for example, and for this reason the yoga texts advise those who undertake the higher spiritual practices to increase the portions of wild grains, fruits, and vegetables in their diet, and reduce the amount of cultivated grain. In fact, according to the scriptures, wild grains and fruits are permitted during practices that require fasting. The samskaras of grain that has not been cultivated, as well as the samskaras of fruits and roots, are neutral; they will not affect the consciousness of the practitioner in any active way.

Sattwik food includes natural, fresh, locally harvested food such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, whole grains, nuts and seeds, natural oils and dairy products obtained from humanely treated cows. Sattwik food is abundant in Prana (Universal Life-force). Prana is energy that gives life. It is the binding agent of the Universe and all its elements.

Sattwik food is a lacto-vegetarian diet that is the purest type of food. The perfect Sattwik diet constitutes of food that is taken while being in harmony with nature that is grown in mineral-rich soil from the plant that has been exposed to abundant sunlight, fresh air and clear water.

Any food that is obtained through violence over other living beings is not considered to be Sattwik. This is why meat and eggs are excluded. The food must be fresh and natural, this means foods that have been subjected to the use of pesticides, preservatives and frozen food are not classified as Sattwik food.

Sattwic food is that which leads to clarity of mind and physical health. This category of foods is to be consumed on a regular basis. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, milk and dairy products, raw honey come under this category.

Sattwik diet has six distinct types of taste that is included in every meal, namely, sweet, salty, sour, spice, bitter & astringent. Each of these flavours has a specific role to play in regard to achieving absolute balance between the mind, body and soul. Sattwik food also provides ample amounts of nutrition that the body requires to function properly.

Sweet: Contrary to the popular belief that sweet food are desserts, chocolates or marshmallows, according to Ayurveda, sweetness is associated with honey, milk, butter, oils, sweet potatoes, grains and ripe fruits like bananas, papayas, etc. These kinds of food are rich in proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fat.

Sour: Foods that can be associated with sour tastes are fresh yogurt, cheese, sour cream, vinegar, tomato, tamarind and citrus fruit, including oranges, grapes, berries, peaches, plums, etc. When consumed in moderate quantities, this food stimulates appetite, digestion, and elimination.

Salty: The third taste, salty can be found in black olives, or food that contains sea salt, Himalayan salt or rock salt. Salt enhances taste, stimulates digestion, helps electrolyte balance, cleanses tissues, and increases absorption of minerals.

Bitter: The fourth taste is bitter and is often found in leafy greens, turmeric, and herbal teas. It is great for detoxification of impurities from the body and is also rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients. These also act a coolants.

Pungent: This flavour is the hottest of all the taste types, and can be found in spices, hot peppers, and ginger. It helps in digestion, improves appetite, clears sinuses, stimulates blood circulation, and heightens the senses.

We know that food plays a great part in human life. The human being is obsessed with food, so much so that it seems that one is born only for eating. Taste has become predominant instead of nutrition in the formation of our dietary habits. Artificial foods are increasing daily. We have lost the sense of food value, and we eat foods that are unhealthy. Food that is not fresh or nutritious, that is leftover and full of spices or grease is unhealthy. Overeating and eating un-fresh food and food that is full of fat and spices create many diseases. The mind and body are inseparable; if proper food is not supplied to the body, the mind is affected. Such Tamasic food makes the mind dull, passive, and inert. On the other hand, Rajasic food agitates the mind and creates hypertension; it is also unhealthy for the liver and hard on the kidneys. Rajasic food satisfies the senses, but it is not healthy physically or mentally. Neither is it healthy for those who want to tread the path of spirituality. Aspirants are advised that well-selected and well-prepared vegetarian food is healthier than a meat diet.

That food which does not cause inertia and heaviness and does not make one restless, lazy, or sleepy is called Sattwic food. Those who eat Sattwic food remain calm, quiet, and serene; those who eat Rajasic food become agitated, angry, and worried; those who eat impure food and drink liquor are Tamasic. Those who eat heavy food full of fat and who drink alcohol excessively suffer both physically and mentally.

Food plays an important role in thought, speech, and action: it has profound effects on all aspects of human behavior. Diet and environment are two important factors that play a great role in sadhana. A calm, quiet, and serene atmosphere and a simple, fresh, and nutritious diet are essential requisites for the sadhaka.

I find such contradictory information on every website listing the three types of foods in Ayurveda (and all of those websites contradicted each other). However you list seemed the most comprehensive and logical one. Therefore, can you explain this about salts please?

As you walk down the supermarket aisles selecting the foods you will offer to Krishna, you need to know what is offerable and what is not. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna states, "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it." From this verse it is understood that we can offer Krishna foods prepared from milk products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. Meat, fish, and eggs are not offerable. And a few vegetarian items are also forbidden--garlic and onions, for example, which are in the mode of ignorance. (Hing, or asafetida, is a tasty substitute for them in cooking and is available at most Indian groceries.) Nor can you offer to Krishna coffee or tea that contain caffeine. If you like these beverages, purchase caffeine free coffee and herbal teas.

While shopping, be aware that you may find meat, fish, and egg products mixed with other foods; so be sure to read labels carefully. For instance, some brands of yogurt and sour cream contain gelatin, a substance made from the horns, hooves, and bones of slaughtered animals. Also, make sure the cheese you buy contains no rennet, an enzyme extracted from the stomach tissues of slaughtered calves. Most hard cheese sold in America contains rennet, so be careful about any cheese you can't verify as rennetless.

Also avoid foods cooked by non-devotees. According to the subtle laws of nature, the cook acts upon the food not only physically but mentally as well. Food thus becomes an agent for subtle influences on your conscious. The principle is the same as that at work with a painting: a painting is not simply a collection of strokes on a canvas but an expression of the artist's state of mind, which affects the viewer. So if you eat food cooked by non-devotees-employees working in a factory, for example--then you're sure to absorb a dose of materialism and karma. So as far as possible use only fresh, organic ingredients.

In preparing food, cleanliness is the most important principle. Nothing impure should be offered to God; so keep your kitchen very clean. Always wash your hands thoroughly before entering the kitchen. While preparing food, do not taste it, for you are cooking the meal not for yourself but for the pleasure of Krishna. Arrange portions of the food on dinnerware kept especially for this purpose; no one but the Lord should eat from these dishes. The easiest way to offer food is simply to pray, "My dear Lord Krishna, please accept this food," and to chant each of the following prayers three times while ringing a bell:

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