This is not superstition. My friend, Dr. A. K. Bhattacharya, a pioneer in the field of radionics and homeopathy, told me that he would only eat food cooked by his wife or daughter. One time, though, he accepted an invitation to visit an old school friend who had become warden of a major prison in Bengal, the invitation including lunch. He decided to break his rule and ate the remarkable food that was cooked by one of the inmates who was famous for his cuisine before he went to jail. However, that afternoon Dr. Bhattacharya become unreasonably angry and shouted at everyone around him–something utterly alien to his nature.

Shocked at this, he tried to figure out the cause. It did not take long to realize that it might be the food eaten at the prison. He phoned his warden friend and asked if anyone had experienced strange effects after eating there. The warden said that he had received other calls about this and been told that everyone who had eaten the lunch had experienced outbursts of anger and violent impulses–including himself.

Dr. Bhattacharya asked him to investigate the background of the cook. He did, and found out that the prisoner was a homicidal maniac, put in the prison because there was no mental institution that could cope with him! He had been taken out of a version of solitary confinement to do the cooking. So he was not just violent, he was murderous, as the effect proved.

Further reading:

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

A situation such as yours is impossible to comment on, as it can be very complex, and furthermore I am unqualified to do so.

I would advise you to consult qualified medical practitioners as they have the means to determine if your problem is physically-based. I say this especially because you say your trouble began after an accident.

This I can say: a friend of mind told me that feelings of fear and oppression can arise from probems with the adrenal glands. If for some reason they “leak” small amounts of adrenalin, the person can experience unexplained anxiety, panic, or fear. He had helped many people who thought they had a psychological problem simply by correcting the condition of the adrenals.

Diet, which determines the chemistry of the blood and cells, can also play a part in these matters, especially through food additives. Meat is often saturated with chemicals and with the toxins (including adrenalin) released by the fear and suffering of the animal when being killed.

The relaxation produced by meditation can be of help in correcting physical problems, but it is only wise to seek a medical solution in case the problem is based on a physical condition.

Further Reading:

• How to Calm the Storms of the Mind
• Three Useful Meditation Tips
• Meditation: Where to Begin

For years, they have boasted of the health benefits of their leafy diets, but now vegetarians have the proof that has so far eluded them: when it comes to cancer risks, they have the edge on carnivores.

Fresh evidence from the largest study to date to investigate dietary habits and cancer has concluded that vegetarians are 45% less likely to develop cancer of the blood than meat eaters and are 12% less likely to develop cancer overall.

The article continues later:

In 2005, the Epic study, funded by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, concluded that eating just two portions of red meat a day – the equivalent of a bacon sandwich and a fillet steak – increased the risk of bowel cancer by 35%. It found that eating fibre, in the form of vegetables, fruit and wholegrain cereals, lessened the risk of cancer and that fish, eaten at least every other day, was also protective.

Annette Pinner, chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, said: “It is widely recognised that a third of cancers are directly related to diet and what’s interesting in this study is the findings on blood cancers. We wouldn’t claim vegetarianism is a panacea for cancer but it is a step in the right direction.”

The full article can be found here at The Guardian. The actual study is available as a PDF from Nature.com.

Further reading:

• The Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet.
• Questions and Answers on Vegetarianism.

Q: When we are reincarnated as lower beings of life, how can we get good karma to became a higher being? If you are a tree or snail or something, what can you do to get good karma?

Human beings create human karma, so once we come to the level of human beings we rarely if ever return to animal form. Instead our karma, even if unfortunate, impels us into further human births. We have instances of humans taking animal form, such as Jada Bharata, but when that is done the person has full awareness as a human even in that body. In this way the intended lesson is learned. Their misery ensures that they will not make that mistake in future births. In Jada Bharata’s case the lesson was the unwisdom of over-attachment.

Sadly, some people take animal form because they have made many animals suffer greatly in their previous life. Those who own or work in slaughterhouses run the risk of animal incarnation, as do those who experiment on animals. And what, then about those who eat the flesh of animals? By the end of their lives they have incurred the karma of the slaughter of thousands–tens of thousands–of sentient beings.

For most subhuman species, simply living according to nature is sufficient. The presence of the atman in each one of them is the force that draws them upward into higher forms. However, selfishness, greed, hatred, and other passions can be seen in them, and this will determine the kind of animal bodies they will be taking on. For example, there are beneficial snakes and poisonous snakes. In many species we find this to be true–some are harmful and some are not. Both insects and animals suffer from disease and from “natural predators.” Cunning is to be found in all animals, but the most intelligent are the vegetarians, for they are preparing to take on human form.

Too bad that humans fall back into the way of carnivorous animals that can lead to animal births, though rarely. Instead they are born among other “humanimals” that hate, fight, and kill one another and end up being far worse than any animal. Though in human form they have become demons, and take on demon form after death and retain demon nature when they are reborn.

Related articles:

• How to Misuse Your Power of Thought
• Humans: Are We Carnivores or Vegetarians by Nature?
• The Many Advantages of Vegetarianism

Q: You made this statement in the Christian Vegetarian Diet post:

“When we realize that any physical object has all the levels which we do, namely, the physical, biomagnetic, sensory, intellectual and will bodies, we can understand the importance of the kind and quality of food we eat. For not only does the physical substance of the food become assimilated into our physical body, so also do the subtler energies become united to our inner levels.”

How do you know ALL physical objects have an intellectual and a will body? How do you know a vegetable has an intellectual body for instance?

The Sankhya Philosophy (and all the other darshanas–orthodox systems of Indian philosophy), which includes the oldest form of Physics, postulates that all material objects possess five levels or koshas (sheaths/bodies).

The universe is considered to have five layers that correspond to the five Cosmic Elements (Mahabhutas or Panchabhutas). The Primal Element, of course, is Pure Consciousness Itself–God, Brahman, or Paramatman. On this ocean of Consciousness everything is based or “floating.” Akasha, the Etheric Element, floats upon Consciousness, Vayu, the Air Element, floats upon Akasha, Agni, the Fire Element, floats upon Vayu, Apa, the Water, Element, floats upon Agni, and Prithvi, the Earth Element, floats upon Apa. Nothing can exist in the material world that is not supported by the other five levels or elements. Thus all things possess five layers or “bodies.” These elements or bodies are really bands or bundles of energies.

In most objects, the levels are purely potential, or at best dimly awakened. But in sentient beings, they are all active, though in varying degrees according to the level of evolution. The bodies correspond to atomic, biomagnetic, sensory-mind, intellectual, and will energies or levels (faculties). In the human being these five are alive–but the degree of life also depends on individual evolution.

Vegetables possess all levels, mostly in the form of “raw” or unconditioned life energies (prana). Thus they absorb readily into our bodies and the subtle levels of our being, and become conditioned by our thoughts and the present vibratory character of our bodies.

This is not true of animals. Rather, all their levels are conditioned and locked into the vibratory patterns proper to their species. Thus, when we eat them we graft the animal bodies into our human bodies and create conflict and havoc, darkening–and distorting–our minds to an incalculable extent. Eating meat is one of the worse things we can do to ourselves, and it renders the practice of yoga and the wakening of higher consciousness virtually impossible.

(I know you did not ask about animals, but it seemed good to complete the picture.)

Read more about the importance of vegetarianism for spiritual seekers:

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

Subscribe to the Atma Jyoti Blog for a continual diet of effective practical spirituality.

You can indeed reap a lot of benefits by being a vegetarian and people have become more aware of the health benefits of being a vegetarian. Animal rights issues is only one of the reasons why people decide to go on a vegetarian diet. People are beginning to care more about the environment. However, the main reason why people go on vegetarian diet is because of health benefits.

Meat is not good for you as it clogs your thinking. This is especially true if you eat red meat; white meat has less fat compared to red meat. Excessive intake of fats into your body can result in having a high level of cholesterol. If you think that not eating meat is going to make you look scrawny or unhealthy please think again. Just imagine that cows, goats, gorillas, elephants, rhinoceroses and so on are all vegetarians (herbivores) but look at how tough these animals are, not to mention their life span which is longer compared to the carnivores (meat eating animals).

If you look at the chicken and vulture (carnivores), these animals eat just about everything and notice how unhealthy these animals look. The Chinese believe that the chi or life force in your body is less when you consume meat and so do the Indians with their ancient yogic principles, their life force was called prana.

The great Tai Chi masters of China were adept at preserving their chi, even if some of the masters were not vegetarians, they still had a balanced diet. It has now been scientifically proven that a balanced vegetarian diet is better compared to a diet that is taken with meat.

The protein myth

There are a lot of misconceptions about being a vegetarian; protein is one of the main topics of debate as a lot of people think that you can only get protein from meat. Vegetarians get a lot of protein, if they eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. What vegetarians don’t get is the excess protein of traditional American diet, excess that leads to kidney overload and mineral deficiency diseases.

A lot of people also think that a vegetarian diet is not a balanced diet. Vegetarian diets have a proportion of three macronutrients, which are complex carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Vegetarian food sources (plants) tend to be higher sources of most micronutrients. Another myth that needs to be clarified is the so-called lack of calcium among vegetarians. Many vegetables, especially green, leafy ones, have a good supply of calcium. The truth is that vegetarians suffer less from osteoporosis (a deficiency of calcium that leads to weak bones).

It is not my intention to force people to become vegetarians. However, vegetarianism is my answer to complete health and wholeness. The three issues to consider in regard to vegetarianism are: spiritual, mental, and physical (nutritional).

The spiritual incentive

The spiritually aspiring person attempts to work on his/her self. The purpose of spiritual growth is to move away from the animal nature into the more human nature that God intended for us to have. Meat eating inhibits this. Again, the same science that sometimes attempts to ignore the existence of a force higher than man also has proved, in the laboratory, that aggression levels are much higher in meat eaters than non-meat eaters! The animal instincts become more powerful every time you eat meat. Another spiritual aspect of being a meat eater is when one must question the necessity and the method as well as the karma of killing animals. However, everyone has their own mores which they must determine for themselves. It is not the purpose of my dissertation to force a specific moral behavior on anyone. Most spiritual people believe auras. Kirilian photography shows us that a force field remains around dead or amputated tissue. You adopt that animal aura when you eat a dead animal. Fruits and vegetables have a higher vibrational aura than animal products. Is it not personal evolution that the spiritual candidate is interested in? If so, meat eating is urgently prohibited.

Fear as food

“You are what you eat”, is a slogan that I love to use to show the mental aspect of vegetarianism. When animals are slaughtered, fear and aggression enzymes are shot into their cells from their glands and other organs, just as in humans, and are part of the dead carcass that goes on to the food store. They remain in the meat until the consumer ingests those same enzymes, which are molecularly very similar to those found in humans. Fruits and vegetables do not have emotions; therefore, when they are picked they do not release any emotions cells prior to digestion. The enzymes within fruits and vegetables supply the body with sufficient nutrients that will always uphold a healthy state of mind.

Fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients; the very thing the body needs to live a long disease and pain free life. The same cannot be said for meat. Nutritionally, the alkaline-based digestive system of humans will not properly break down substantial acid substances, the greatest of which is meat.

The health dangers of eating meat

Colon cancer is rampant! This is caused by the slow evacuation and the putrefaction in the colon of the remains of meat. Lifelong vegetarians never suffer from such an illness. Many meat eaters believe that meat is the sole source of protein. However, the quality of this protein is so poor that little of it can ever be utilized by humans because it is incomplete and lacks the correct combination of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Studies show that the average American gets five times the amount of protein needed. It is a common medical fact that excess protein is dangerous, the prime danger being that uric acid (the waste product produced in the process of digesting protein) attacks the kidneys, breaking down the kidney cells called nephrons. This condition is called nephritis; the prime cause of it is overburdening the kidneys. More usable protein is found in one tablespoon of tofu or soybeans than the average serving of meat!

Have you ever seen what happens to a piece of meat that stays in the sun for three days? Meat can stay in the warmth of the intestine for at least four days until it is digested. It does nothing but wait for passage. Often, it usually stays there for much longer, traces remaining for up to several months. Colonic therapists always see meat passing through in people who have been vegetarians for several years, thus indicating that meat remains undigested there for a long time. Occasionally this has been documented in twenty-year vegetarians!

Some vegetarians claim they are more satisfied after they eat. The reason for this is that there are fewer ketones (protein-digestive substances) formed when vegetable protein is digested. For many, ketones cause a trace amount of nausea which one normally interprets as a decreased desire for food due to this uncomfortable and slight degree of queasiness. Although the body calls for more food, the taste buds tolerate less. This is the danger of the popular high-protein diet substances on the market. This abnormally high level of ketones is called ketosis and refers to the state of starvation that the body incurs due to the inability of the appetite to call for nutrition. Most Americans who eat the wrong type of carbohydrates never recognize the high amount of complex carbohydrates required to overthrow this condition. Also, when the blood ketone level is too high, it results in abnormally acidic blood, called acidosis.

Tigers or lions who eat meat and grow strong on it have acid-based digestive systems. Our Hydrochloric Acid isn’t strong enough to fully digest meat. Also, their intestines are in a straight run of about five feet long, not twisted and turned, layer over layer, compacted into a small area like the human intestine, which is twenty feet long.

Putrid food

Meats are frozen for a long period of times. Some meat (especially poultry) is frozen up to two years. Cold temperatures do not kill all species of bacteria. Worse than this, as it is shipped and stored, most frozen meat is thawed and refrozen many times. This is almost unavoidable.

Meat eaters suffer more frequently from various types of food poisoning than vegetarian eaters, so much so that statistics show that every American has had food poisoning on at least one occasion. When you’ve felt ill, out-of-sorts, had

diarrhea, or were just a little sick to your stomach, no doubt you had not the slightest idea that you had been poisoned by scavengers living off the dead carcass you just ate.

More benefits of vegetarianism

Meat is costly and it is the most wasteful source of resources. When one removes meat from his or her diet, a whole new world of eating opens up. Cooking and preparing vegetarian style is no more time consuming than cooking meat. It costs less than half as much to eat vegetarian as it does to eat meat. There are excellent, nutritious, and easy to prepare vegetarian dishes that are Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mid-Eastern, French, Spanish, etc.

Additionally, one can enjoy many other foods that he has never tasted because of the meat craze. Most consumers have eaten no more than five or six varieties of beans and legumes — less than 10% of what is available and grains, including different appetizing types of wheat, nuts, and seeds. And they can be prepared very creatively!

In my opinion, there are far more benefits to becoming a vegetarian then there are becoming or staying a meat eater. Due to the fact that I was raised on meat, I have the wonderful experiences from both worlds. As a meat eater, I was constantly sick, tired, and overweight. As a vegetarian, I am healthy, full of energy, and maintaining a perfect weight. I love being a vegetarian and it shows. Because I wish the best for myself, it’s just second nature to want the best for others. From my past experience and research, going vegetarian is the best thing anyone can do for their mind, body and spirit.

Related: The Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

Subscribe to the Atma Jyoti Blog and get frequent spiritual sustenance with valuable writings on practical spiritual life.