Search This Blog

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Eating poison + 2 more

Baba

Eating poison

Namaskar,

Everyone in AMPS should be aware that they are jeopardising their health - by eating on plastic or paper plates and drinking from plastic cups. Here is logic. These disposable plastic and paper plates and plastic cups are treated with noxious chemicals so that they can withstand hot food. When they come in contact with hot food, those toxic plastic chemicals seep into the food and get ingested by unsuspecting people. For more logic and reasoning please continue reading.

Here is a scene at one of our jagrtis whereby after dharmacakra everyone is eating off of chemically-treated paper plates.





Clearly those who attended dharmacakra and began eating off of chemically-treated paper plates are not aware of the inherent health risks and hazards associated with those chemical toxins found in those disposable plates etc.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Food not good for health not to be eaten


Some simple and naive people who take everything in a literal way may ask, “Which guidelines has Baba given in Caryacarya that shows that such toxins are forbidden in Ananda Marga?” Yet rational margiis know that Baba’s guideline is that any food not good for health should not be eaten as it is not sentient.

So today in this age when we come across so many warnings about toxic and carcinogenic items, then we should be careful not to put anything in the body that invites premature death. For more logic and reasoning please continue reading.

In Him,
Renu


~ In-depth study ~

Baba’s various teachings on food - #1


Ananda Marga philosophy states, "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 sádhaka, or spiritual aspirant, should be very cautious in selecting food. Suppose a person takes támasika, 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 sáttvika, or sentient, or rájasika, 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." (1)

Sadguru Baba says, "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: Áhárashuddhao sattvashudhih [“A sentient diet produces a sentient body”]. Only food which is helpful in keeping the body and mind sentient should be eaten." (2)

For more logic and reasoning please continue reading.


Baba’s various teachings on food - #2

Ananda Marga philosophy states "The human body is constituted of innumerable living cells. These cells develop and grow with the help of similar living entities. The nature of your living cells will be formed in accordance with the type of food you take. Ultimately all these together will affect your mind to some extent. If the cells of the human body grow on rotten and bad-smelling food, or on the fresh flesh of animals in which mean tendencies predominate, it is but natural that the mind will have a tendency of meanness. The policy of eating, without due consideration, whatever is available cannot be supported in any case, even though there may not be any question of hiḿsá or ahiḿsá. It should not be your policy to do what you wish. You must perform actions after due thought. For continued subsistence a policy will have to be adopted for taking food." (3)

Ananda Marga ideology states, "“Śaśt́haiṋca pramit́áháro”: one must have a balanced diet. “Whatever I get, that I will eat” – this must not be the policy of a sane being. This human body is a composite of protoplasmic cells, and these protoplasmic cells are made of the food we take in. If the food and drink is defective, then the protoplasmic cells will also become defective, and the human mind, which is the collective mind of so many protoplasmic minds, will also become defective. That is why támasik or static food has a negative influence on the human mind." (4)

For more logic and reasoning please continue reading.


Baba’s various teachings on food - #3

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, “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 eggplant, khesárii 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 sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do.” (5)


Plastic is hazardous


~ Courtesy of National Public Radio website ~

Most plastic products, from sippy cups to food wraps, can release chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen. The study found these chemicals even in products that didn't contain BPA, a compound in certain plastics that's been widely criticized because it mimics estrogen. Exactly how BPA affects humans, and how serious its effects are, are still very much up for debate. The U.S. government generally advocates caution and more research, but agencies have issued a range of hesitant warnings. The National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institutes of Health, says it has "some concern" about potential BPA exposures to the brains and prostate glands of fetuses, infants and children. Other agencies say they have lingering, unresolved "questions" about the chemical. Those questions largely circle around how prolonged exposure to the chemical in childhood or adulthood could affect reproduction and growth; how low-dose exposure at sensitive developmental stages could affect children and babies later in life; and how parental exposure could affect the next generation. Studies have shown links between BPA and cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other illnesses. (Courtesy of National Public Radio website)


Girls beginning puberty as young as five

  ~ Courtesy of National Public Radio website ~

This information has been in the scientific literature for almost 20 years and its implications are so huge that it is largely ignored. Chemicals in plastics, fertilizers and other products not only increase estrogen in women, creating an imbalance between it and other sex hormones like progesterone, but it increases estrogen levels in men resulting in the steady lowering of testosterone levels we are seeing in the male population. 18 years ago my 7 year old daughter began breast development, to my horror. We were told after MRI's and other testing that she would have her period by 8, and would likely be under 5 feet tall. After reading the kind of research available at the time, I took us all off of any products that had added hormones (milk, meat) and substituted organic. We drink filtered water at home. No microwaving or using plastic for cooking or eating. These were not a big deal to do considering. Her condition reversed itself.

I do not understand why people CANNOT just USE GLASS... I have never stopped using glass. I carry my water in Ball jars or my drinks in Ball jars...take china a sliver on picnics and family reuninons. this plastic business is just more brain washing by big business to make them rich. wonder what we did before plastics where invented? Tin cups... go for it. Not to mention all that plastic in landfills leaching who knows what into the ground water

I also find it interesting that some people have an innocent until proven guilty philosophy when it comes to chemicals. WIth little girls beginning puberty as young as five, ADD levels on the rise, autism affecting in 38 US, something is going on....no one seems to have the answers but it is obviously environmental....there is no upside to these chemicals other than profits for the chemical companies so why don't we just make safer products and dump the chemicals? Why expose ourselves. (Courtesy of National Public Radio website)


Toxins & cancer

~ Courtesy of National Public Radio website ~

what is your argument for these chemicals to be put in baby bottles, teethers, rattles, and other items? There is no upside to these chemicals in these items.

I stopped hormone replacement (estrogen) therapy 12 years ago because I kept having tumors, calcifications, etc. Stopping the estrogen/progesterone eliminated my problems. Today, everyone is getting a steady, if small, stream of estrogen-like chemicals, especially from plastics. It only makes sense to avoid plastics whenever we can. Glass, stainless steel, waxed paper, reusable bags, etc. are easy substitutes.

This is such a serious issue. I dont understand how can the FDA not understand the strong implications on our society. We have little girls of age 8-9 years old beginning puberty. The age of beginning of puberty in our kids has been decreasing over the past 30 years - There is definitely a cause of concern for our society as a whole - yes - no one has been able to blame any one issue for this trend, but definitely there are environmental effects, especially coming from these everyday use articles. We should definitely pay more attention to these studies and so should the FDA.

All the more reason not to eat pre-packaged meals and to avoid using the microwave.
My mother has Alzheimer, wish they could figure that out and what causes it. What if it was plastic. Why is this illness so common now? May not be plastic. But I avoid it as well as chemicals as much as possible. 

Thanks for this report. The old adage "the dose makes the poison" doesn't apply to hormone disruptors (like BPA) that are found in plastics, tin cans, cosmetics, furniture and other items we use every day. These chemicals are extremely potent at tiny doses- like the levels we're exposed to daily, and the levels we have in our bodies right now (see bio-monitoring studies). When 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the US will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, we have to ask critical questions about these constant exposures, and we need companies and the EPA and FDA to *stop using chemicals linked to harm* - the US needs to protect people and the environment and remain competitive by making chemicals and products safe for long term use (see "green chemistry")!

Corning ware from the sixties and seventies made great glass containers with glass lids. You can find them at antique stores and ebay. They come in really cool retro colors, they are made of glass and best of all it is great for the environment. On the plus side they also look great in your refrigerator! (Courtesy of National Public Radio website)


"The average newborn today has over 200 toxins”

~ Courtesy of ABC7 . com ~

Dr. Stewart Lonky, author of the book "Invisible Killers," said he has a naughty list for disposable kitchen items. On that list are foam cups, paper plates, plastic utensils and containers that have certain numbers listed within triangles on the packaging.

"Number 3, number 6 and number 7 are the numbers you don't want to microwave in and you don't want to use for hot food," he said.

These codes indicate the presence of phthalates, bisphenol-A and persistent organic pollutants among other chemicals. The trace amounts humans are exposed to daily may not be harmful, but some studies show these chemicals can accumulate in the body and can even be passed on to children.

"The average newborn today has over 200 toxins in their blood stream," Lonky said. (Courtesy of ABC7.com...)



Final statement: As Ananda Margiis, we should be at the forefront of human health. Already the facts are out about the terrible harm caused by toxins in plastic utensils etc. To save our own health and to role-model proper life practices to others, we cannot delay a moment in stopping all use of paper plates at our Marga functions. 


References
1. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
2. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
3. Guide to Human Conduct, Ahimsa
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 18, Physical Propulsion, Psychic Propensities and Spiritual Attainment
5. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development



*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==


Clean but dirty

Namaskar,

Guru's teaching is always concise and pointed. What was needed to tell, He has beautifully presented in a clear manner. And what was not needed, He did not tell.

Baba tells the needful


(A) For example, Indian society was prone towards idol worship so Baba was very strict and warned everyone that idol worship should not be done. But never once did He warn people not to flap their arms and fly to the sun since no one was ever going to do like that.

(B) Secondly, it was obvious that people had the negative tendency to create tiirthas (pilgrimages). That is why for fourteen long years Baba did not go to Jamalpur. And from 1955 up to 1990 Baba never emphasized the importance of Jamalpur or any such place. Rather on numerous occasions He has guided us that external tiirthas are nothing but one nasty dogma, because Parama Purusa is everywhere.

(C) Similarly Baba has guided us to trim our fingernails but never did He tell us to cut the horns on top of our head. Because when we do not have horns then what was the need to tell anything about that.

The sense is that when people are naturally following any given point then what is the need for Baba to give that as a rule.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

All knew to wash backside with water


When 16 Points itself was first given in India and when at that time the general populace was already using water for washing after defecation then there was no need for Baba to tell that point. But since the general populace had lost the notion of washing with water after urination, there was the practical need for Baba to give that teaching.

Hence Guru's instruction is very pointed and precise - perfect. And He always gives what is needed.

Why some remain dirty

Baba has given point #1 of Sixteen Points as: After urination wash the urinary organ. And by this way anyone can understand that included in this is the idea of washing the backside after passing stool also. Unfortunately, in most of the so-called advanced societies the general people are only using toilet paper or blotting paper as a means to "clean" themselves after defecation. But this is not proper.

In Him,
Prapti

== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

सभी तुम्हारी ओर दौड़ रहे हैं।

प्रभात संगीत 328: तोमार मधुर हासी निये एशे छे …

भावार्थ.

हे परमपुरुष बाबा! तुम्हारी मधुर मुस्कान में इतना अधिक आकर्षण है, कि उसने इस व्यक्त संसार की हर चीज को आकर्षित कर, अपने पास  बुला लिया है। तुम्हारी मधुर मुस्कान में अतुलनीय आकर्षण है। सभी तुम्हारी ओर दौड़ रहे हैं।
तुम्हारी मुस्कान ने हर चीज को, उनके हृदय की धड़कन से अस्तित्व तक, अमृत से भर दिया हैे। हर चीज और हर एक व्यक्ति को तुमने अपने दिव्य अमृत से भर दिया है।

हे प्रभो! कृपा कर अपनी मधुर करुणा से, गीतों और नृत्य के लय और तान के साथ आ जाइये। तुमने अपने दिव्य अमृत से सभी आश्चर्यजनक स्मृतियों को भर दिया है। हर चीज बहुत सुंदर है। बाबा! कृपा कर मेरे ध्यान के समय गुरु चक्र में मधुर आकर्षक और सुंदर रूप में आइये। प्यार से संतृप्त तुम्हारी आॅंखों ने मेरे हृदय को पूरा भर दिया है।

बाबा तुम्हारे मधुर आकर्षक और सुंदर रूप ने सब को अपने पास आकर्षित कर लिया है।





SUBJECTS TOPICS