The Atma Jyoti Blog

Today we add to our blog some of the writings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), one of the greatest spiritual beacons of twentieth-century India.

In these articles, Swami Sivananda uses many technical Sanskrit terms. We shall try to put definitions to these terms at the bottom of the articles. Otherwise, find definitions to unfamiliar terms in A Brief Sanskrit Glossary.

Does purity of food lead to purity of mind? Is non-vegetarian food not sattvic*?

Yes, purity of food leads to purity of mind. Aharasuddhau Satvasuddhih*. Take a dose of champagne and sit for meditation. Take a dose of orange-juice and sit for meditation. You will know the difference. Different foods exercise different influences on different compartments in the brain. By taking champagne and meat, the mind will be confused and will become restless when you sit for meditation. By taking vegetables and fruits, you will get good concentration.

Our rishis lived on vegetarian food. The Chandogya Upanishad says, “Pure food leads to purity of mind and then one attains moksha*”. You should have dietetic discipline.

Non-vegetarian food is not sattvic. It is not good for a seeker. Live for a month on vegetables and fruits and see. Give up meat for one month and see.

Let us be practical. Practical experience will tell you that meat-eating is bad for the mind.

On what grounds do you prohibit meat-eating?

On medical, psychological, moral and spiritual grounds. The mind is made up of the essence of the food that a man takes. Tamasic* food results in a tamasic mind. Meat is tamasic and hence should be avoided.

When an animal is killed or butchered, a contraction of its nervous system takes place on account of fear. (And you might have felt certain disturbances in your own stomach when you have experienced fear.) This leads to the secretion of certain poisons in the liver, etc., of the animal. These poisons are cumulative in their nature and are never removed or lost during the process of boiling or cooking meat. Hence, meat-eating is poisonous and dangerous in the long run.

There is no difference between you and an animal when both are considered as souls inhabiting the bodies. From whichever source you derive the right to live and enjoy in this material body, from that very same source, the souls of these animals have derived equal rights to live and enjoy in their material bodies. Hence, you do not possess the moral right to kill a single living being, however small it may be.

Last. but not the least, there is One Consciousness which has expressed itself in the form of the various beings, animate and inanimate. And this makes you one with all beings. When you have known this, will you consciously hurt any being? Can you willingly and joyously cut off your own fingers and cook them and eat them? Knowing this oneness alone is the purpose of your coming again and again into the mundane plane. You can know, feel and experience this oneness only when you stop injuring and hurting others and begin to love all as your own Self.

Verily, the animals are thy own Self. Thou alone art residing in these animals as the individual souls and thou alone art manifest in the form of the material bodies in which these souls reside. Hence, wake up; stop meat-eating and butchering the animals. Develop love for them and promote oneness.

These questions and answers are taken from May I Answer That? from the Divine Life Society.

Sanskrit definitions:

• Sattwic: Partaking of the quality of Sattwa-Light; purity; reality
• Aharasuddhau Satvasuddhih: “Pure food leads to purity of mind,” from the Chandogya Upanishad.
• Moksha: Release; liberation; the term is particularly applied to the liberation from the bondage of karma and the wheel of birth and death; Absolute Experience.
• Tamasic: Possessed of the qualities of the tamo guna (tamas). Ignorant; dull; inert; and dark.

Further reading:

• Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
• The Four Soul Killers
• Questions and Answers on Vegetarianism

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