Baba
Food & death
Namaskar,
Not everyone is aware of what foods to take and how they should eat. This is especially the case with some people. When alone they do not like to cook a variety of foods, i.e. a balanced diet. Generally, because they are too busy. So they eat what is easily available - sometimes just one or two types of foods, i.e. a mono diet.
For example, if carrot is available in the jagrti they will eat carrot all day from the garden. And if guava, or banana, or potato is readily accessible, they will eat only banana, potato, or guava the entire day. They do not understand that that is not enough for maintaining good health. Those living in areas where vegetables are less available might only eat rice or bread. In this way, they eat only what is available and while traveling a similar problem arises. Due to a lack of proper food, some people get diseased and prematurely die also.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Spiritual practice with a decrepit body?
Among the seven secrets for achieving success in one’s spiritual life, pramitáhára is the sixth one. The meaning of pramitáhára is a balanced diet. Many people confuse pramitáhára with parimitáhára or limited diet. For spiritual practice, the only prerequisite is a human body. The human body can be maintained with a balanced diet. In contrast, with a limited diet (i.e. parimitáhára), the health of the body degenerates. It is not possible to effectively perform spiritual practice with a decrepit body.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Śaśt́haiṋca pramitáháro. Pramitáhára – there is a difference between pramitáhára and parimitáhára. Parimitáhára means “[limited] diet”, and pramitáhára means “balanced diet”[carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water]. The body should have a balanced diet. [Limitation] alone will not do. Just to [limit] the quantity of food will not do – one will have to take a balanced diet, to make the body and mind strong. Food should be substantial, though moderate in quantity. This is pramitáhára." (1)
Food should neither be too much nor too little
The quantity of food that one takes should neither be too little nor too much. On one hand, too much food should not be taken out of greed while on the other one should not deprive one’s body of necessary nutrients. Baba emphasizes striking a right balance in one’s diet.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "'Here the word pramitáhára has been used, not parimitáhára. Parimita means “controlled”, not taking too much, not taking too little. But in this shloka, pramitáhára has been used, which means that the food should be controlled or balanced [carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water], and at the same time substantial or nutritious. There are many people who are otherwise good but have no control over the food they eat. It is very important that whatever one gets should not be taken indiscriminately; rather, there should be control over food, and at the same time it should be nutritious." (4)
Conclusion
Many people are not aware of the need for proper nutritious food. They are not keen on cooking nutritious food and eat whatever is available. Due to this, their health deteriorates and many even die prematurely. According to Baba’s teachings, food should neither be too much nor too little. The food should be substantial and nutritious which in Samskrta is called pramitáhára. Without properly following the practice of pramitáhára some people become ill and may even die. By following the rule of pramitáhára one can maintain a healthy body and perform the spiritual practice.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In Him,
Bhakti
~ In-depth study ~
পেট ৰড় হয়ে যাৰে, খাটৰার সামর্থ্য কমে যাৰে
Ananda Marga ideology says, "পরিমিত খাৰে, কিন্তু পুষ্টিকর জিনিস খাৰে | মনে করো, নটে খাড়া আর ভাত খাচ্ছ, পুষ্টি তাতে কম | সুতরাং ৰেশী পরিমাণে ভাত খেতে হৰে, ৰেশী পরিমাণে সাগ খেতে হৰে | ৰেশী পরিমাণ খেতে গেলে, পেট ৰড় হয়ে যাৰে, খাটৰার সামর্থ্য কমে যাৰে | তাই সৰ সময় চেষ্টা করৰে পুষ্টিকর জিনিস কম পরিমাণে খাৰে | তাতে শরীরের পুষ্টি হ’ল | অথচ পাকস্থলীর উপর চাপ পড়ল না | তাই শিব ৰলছে, এটা ৰলা হয় প্রমিতাহার |"
“আর, প্রমিতাহার মানে “ৰেশীও নয়, কমও নয়; আর তার সঙ্গে-সঙ্গে পুষ্টিকর জিনিস খেতে হৰে” | যেমন ভাতের ফ়্যান ফেলৰে না | ফ়্যানেতে পুষ্টি রয়েছে | ডাল একটু ৰেশী খাৰে | এই রকম | প্রমিতাহার | এই নিয়মগুলো যে মানে সে জয়ী হৰেই |" (3)
One’s belly will grow & capacity to work will reduce
Here is an English summary of Baba's above teaching in Bengali:
You should eat a limited quantity but that food should be nutritious. Suppose you are eating only boiled rice and the soup of leafy amaranthus greens, that has only a few nutrients. Because of that one has to eat a large quantity of boiled rice and amaranthus soup. By eating a large quantity, one’s belly will grow bigger and the capacity to do hard work will reduce. Thus, try always to eat nutritious food, but in a small quantity. In result, the body becomes healthy, and it is less taxing on the digestive system. This is called pramitáhára.
And pramitáhára, means ‘neither eating too much nor too little, but you must eat nutritious food.’ For example, one should not throw away the rice water after cooking as it has important nutrients. Also be sure to eat pulses in a generous quantity. This is pramitáhára. Those who follow these rules will surely be victorious.
Food should be balanced & substantial
In order to maintain proper health, the food should be balanced and nutritious. Various nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water should be taken in adequate quantities.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You should always try to take sentient food...You should never take static food. Not only that, but your diet should be balanced. You must not take too much or too little. The food should be substantial. When it is balanced or measured, and, at the same time, substantial, that type of food is called Pramitáhára in Sanskrit. The sixth factor is Pramitáhárah. The sixth requisite factor is balanced [carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water] and substantial, sentient food." (4)
References
(1) Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii – 3
(2) Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, The Seven Secrets of Success
(3) Ananda Vacanamrtam (B) part 24 - chapter 20
(4) Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Seven Secrets
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Baba now You are here
“(Tumi) gáne esecho,tumi, gáne esecho tumi,práńe chonyá dáo…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3304)
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, You have come to me in my song - it is Your grace. You came in my mind while I was singing the songs of Prabhat Samgiita. Your blissful arrival has touched and spiritually vibrated my entire existence. O’ Supreme Entity, now please shower me with a wee-bit of Your krpa, giving a loving touch to my aching heart. Baba, come very close with Your smiling face and blossom Your refulgent Self deep inside my mind and come to my core and still more near in my dhyana.
O’ Illumined One, You are so charming and enchanting. The entire day has passed in Your ideation – thinking of You, doing japa, and listening to Your teachings, svadhyaya, and stories etc. Now the brilliance of the evening sky is glittering. All the 24hrs are moving in Your sweet flow. Baba, since You have come to me then what is hurry - why not stay a moment and make me Yours. Please be with me forever.
O’ Parama Purusa You are bliss personified. By Your august presence, this illuminating evening, which inundates my whole being with goosebumps and joy, should continue on and on eternally. Kindly be gracious and let all my inner longing and loving memories float endlessly in Your tune by Your melody. With Your causeless compassion You have come and showered me in Your divine anandam…
Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, Your presence is beyond comparison. Baba, You are mine...
“(Tumi) gáne esecho,tumi, gáne esecho tumi,práńe chonyá dáo…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3304)
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, You have come to me in my song - it is Your grace. You came in my mind while I was singing the songs of Prabhat Samgiita. Your blissful arrival has touched and spiritually vibrated my entire existence. O’ Supreme Entity, now please shower me with a wee-bit of Your krpa, giving a loving touch to my aching heart. Baba, come very close with Your smiling face and blossom Your refulgent Self deep inside my mind and come to my core and still more near in my dhyana.
O’ Illumined One, You are so charming and enchanting. The entire day has passed in Your ideation – thinking of You, doing japa, and listening to Your teachings, svadhyaya, and stories etc. Now the brilliance of the evening sky is glittering. All the 24hrs are moving in Your sweet flow. Baba, since You have come to me then what is hurry - why not stay a moment and make me Yours. Please be with me forever.
O’ Parama Purusa You are bliss personified. By Your august presence, this illuminating evening, which inundates my whole being with goosebumps and joy, should continue on and on eternally. Kindly be gracious and let all my inner longing and loving memories float endlessly in Your tune by Your melody. With Your causeless compassion You have come and showered me in Your divine anandam…
Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, Your presence is beyond comparison. Baba, You are mine...
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Way parents turn their children into liars
Ananda philosophy states, “Today parents may rightly say, “We have almost no vital energy left after exchanging blows and counter-blows with life. We have no chance to mould the minds of our children with the care and tenderness of our hearts. All the sweetness and finer sensibilities of our minds have been sucked dry by the harsh realities of life. How can we take care of our children? We cannot even provide them with proper food and clothing. How can we know what they are thinking? Do we have the time to understand anything properly at all? We know children should be taught through the medium of play and entertainment, both at home and outside, but is it possible for us to do that? We even have to disturb our talented son at his studies to send him to the grocer’s to buy salt, cooking oil, spices, etc. We know it is wrong, but there is no alternative, for keeping a servant is beyond our means.”"
Ananda philosophy states, "There may be some truth in this, but it is not the point at issue here. In order to develop a healthy outlook, the most important thing children need is robust idealism. To impart this, parents require only two virtues: self-restraint and good judgement. Let us discuss good judgement first."
Ananda philosophy states, "When the parents are about to go on a trip or go to a show, or when they are invited to a pleasant function or a social outing, the children may start whining or nattering to accompany them. At such times many parents tell lies without a qualm; somehow they dupe their children and leave. When the children realize what has happened, they also learn to tell lies; and to hide their intentions or their actions from their parents, they gradually start lying more and more." (1)
Note: Without realising it, parents teach their children both good things and bad things. Being an ideal parent is not easy. Unknowingly parents often teach their children the ways of lies and deception.
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Education
== Section: Important Teaching ==
About the existence of so-called ghosts
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “You may have heard that some people after married for second time, “see” the spirit of their deceased wives or husbands. These are but the plays of the mind. After remarriage some weak-minded people who believe in ghosts, keep thinking about their first wives. They keep imagining that their first wives have resented their remarriage and that their spirits will now come to punish them or their new spouses, and their second wives also often think thus. As a result both of them “see” imaginary spirits, believing that they really appeared, and give a start in fright. Sometimes they faint or inarticulately repeat those very things which they had expected those so-called spirits to say and people take for granted that they are possessed by ghosts. In such a condition, as the conscious mind (kámamaya kośa), is wholly or partially absorbed in the sub-conscious mind (Manomaya Kośa), the consciousness of reality becomes impaired. Such people then, heedless of propriety and the respect due to their elders, openly express the imagination of their sub-conscious minds. When the exorcists come to exorcise the “spirit” they try to set right the mind of the patients by making them inhale the smoke of different objects; they try to bring the conscious mind to normalcy and awaken the Kámamaya Kośa by arousing in the nervous system the sense of reality with blows or abuse. To confound and distract the assembled spectators they mumble and mutter a few mantras or incantations. You may have encountered yet another type of demoniacal possession, which does not weaken the conscious mind very much in the wakeful state; but during sleep such strength of mind does not exists, and as a result during sleep, while lying on his back, the person sees nightmare of imaginary ghost sitting on his chest. Dreaming is an act of the sub-conscious mind. In the dream state the imaginary ghost of the sub-conscious mind takes form beautifully and repeats verbatim to him the language of his imagination. In the dreamful state he feels stupefied with fear, due to this excessive stupefaction he starts groaning, and people take it to be demoniacal possession. Thus what is generally called a “nightmare”, is usually the vision of a person whom the dreamer had oppressed in the past and whom the weak-minded oppressor now “sees” after that person’s death. So you see how blatantly harmful it is to give indulgence to fear. All this is in reference to bhaya-vrtti or fear instinct only, but actually this observation is true of every ectoplasmic occupation or vrtti. To attain Brahma you must rise above all ectoplasmic occupations. Without the suspension of the vrttis it is impossible to attain Brahma.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 5, The Chariot and the Charioteer
== Section 4: Links ==
Recent postings
Other topics of interest
More important letters
Legal Notice: ©2018 Ananda Marga Universal Forum. All rights reserved. Ananda Marga Universal Forum content is the intellectual property of Ananda Marga Universal Forum or its third party content providers. Ananda Marga Universal Forum shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Any copying, republication or redistribution, part or full, of Ananda Marga Universal Forum content, including by framing or similar means, is against the court of law and expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Ananda Marga Universal Forum.
2. Posting: Food & death
3. IT: Way parents turn their children into liars
4. Links
Reply to: anandamargauniversal1@yogasamsthanam.net
For posting translation / जो अंग्रेजी नहीं जानते :
Those who face difficulty in understanding English should copy sections of the post, paste them into Google translate, choose whatever language you like, and the post will be translated then and there into your selected language. In this way you will get some approximate idea of the subject discussed. Here is the link for Google translate: https://translate.google.com.
This email contains four sections:
1. PS #3304: Baba now You are here2. Posting: Food & death
3. IT: Way parents turn their children into liars
4. Links
