Baba
Key warnings: food
Note: This letter has essentially been written for those very strict in adhering to a sentient diet. This letter is also very appropriate for those who want to become more diligent in following a sentient diet. Those who are lazy, lethargic, and constantly compromising by eating rajasik or tamasik foods - and have no interest in improving their eating habits - may or may not read. However, if such persons want to improve their diet they are most welcomed and encouraged to read.
Namaskar,
First let's address some common comments and queries raised by readers about maintaining strictness in eating sentient food.
How can sattvika food in hotel be tamasik
(A) Brother P inquired: "On the matter of “Do not eat (or “take food”?) in a hotel or restaurant. Even sattvic food taken at / in a hotel or restaurant is to be considered tamasic.” Yet a WT stated that “You can take the food outside and eat it or just away from the hotel or restaurant.” Could someone clarify this, please."
As long as that restaurant is properly following all do's and don'ts of the system outlined in this series of letters then that prepared food can be taken out of the shop and it will be sentient. For instance, if a restaurant has a juice bar and it is certain that their knives and blending machines, as well as their pots, bowls, and glasses, etc are only used for fruit, then a Wt may buy a juice from that shop and then leave the restaurant and drink that in a park or car etc and it will be considered sentient.
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At the same time that same juice will not be considered sentient for a WT if one drinks it in that hotel - restaurant etc. Thus Wts should not sit and eat with the general populace. Why not? Because those non-margiis may be gossiping about negative topics; because those persons may have eaten meat or smoked before coming into that hotel / restaurant; because in their loud talk, those other patrons may accidentally drip or shoot saliva on your food; and because the mental state of those customers may not be sentient etc. For all these reasons and more sitting and eating in even a restaurant that serves only sattvika food is not advised. A Wt should really pack up that food and go and eat in a quiet place. And if any margii wishes to follow this tenet as well they may. But for wholetimers, it is mandatory.
While eating one should think of Parama Purusa, and that will not be possible if one is eating in a hotel / restaurant where there is so much other commotion. That will be very disturbing. Wts were strictly following this point in the 1970’s and 1980’s, after 1990 various Wts became relaxed, negligent, on this point.
Finally, obviously, purchasing prepared food from XYZ restaurants that do not follow the do's and don'ts of sentient food preparation should be considered tamasik, even if one takes the food out of that restaurant and eats it elsewhere.
Why the chef’s mind is important
(B) Brother G stated: "May I add please that the nature of the minds of those who prepare food are important; Chefs minds in a restaurant are generally Tamasic or Rajasic."
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Yes, this is an excellent point and a very important consideration for every sincere sadhaka. In His guidelines for Wts, Baba has given the following:
Wt conduct rules state: "[One] should not touch food by a mean-minded person..." (1)
By this we can understand that the mindset of the person preparing the food definitely affects the food itself. Sentient food can become tamasik in this manner. If the restaurant staff thinks that you are a headache or if they think ill of you then that will ruin that food - it should be considered as inedible.
Who should use mock meats
(C) Brother G also raised the idea of various new companies that produce mock meat, fake meat, imitation meat etc. These are products made out of soy, vegetable meal or other vegetarian ingredients. As G comments, these products are very good for meat-eaters who are transitioning to an all-vegetarian diet. For those who are already established in sentient eating, then it is best to avoid any and all company products as they are not 100% certain how all such foods are prepared. They may contain onion, or perhaps that food was prepared with a knife that was used for cutting garlic in a different dish etc. There are just too many unknown variables. Thus, sadhakas should avoid such items. But fake or mock meat alternatives are good for the general population; i.e. those looking to transition from meat-eating to a plant-based diet.
Actually the whole concept of fake meat is psychologically bad for good sadhakas. It is just like if someone gives you fake cow dung or fake mud to ingest then you will not find it to be something glorious - even if it is supposed to be like a vegetable. Sentient food adherents and sadhakas find meat and flesh foods to be very grotesque and abhorrent. Naturally, they will not like to eat anything that is a replica of meat. Rather those fake meat products are devised for those hankering for that taste and texture, as they were meat-eaters. But for divyacariis fake meat products are very negative. Those who do not like to eat meat can easily understand, whereas those who long for meat will not understand this point.
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Must be vigilant about the use of containers
Baba says, "Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (2)
In this above tenet, Baba is guiding us that even sentient food becomes ta'masika if it comes in contact with a utensil, pot, or container - or any other item - that was used in conjunction with static food.
So we must be careful
Here are three key points that will save you from inadvertently eating non-sentient food:
#1: No eating at another family's house if they fail to keep a strict sattvika kitchen.
#2: No eating at any hotel or restaurant.
#3: No company foods
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Here are more points to add to this list...
Vegan company products may not be sentient
#4: Vegan labeled company products are also problematic as they may contain onion, garlic etc.
For the above reasons and more, many prepared foods labeled as being "vegan" may not be sentient. A whole wheat bread may be made using the same pans and machines as a garlic bread. Tomato sauce that claims to not have onions and garlic may be mixed on equipment used for the normal ta'masika tomato paste. Similarly a rice dish may have mushrooms in it.
Here the point is that just because something is vegan does not mean that it is sentient; philosophically and practically speaking, the vegan diet and the sentient food diet are not the same. Vegan items often contain onions, scallions (onion family), leeks (onion family), garlic, mushrooms, red lentils, white eggplant, mustard greens etc. All the aforementioned items are vegan, but tamasik - not sentient. So if you are invited to a vegan feast, it does not mean you will be able to eat everything. Rather, expect that many or most items will be tamasik as onion and garlic & other tamasik plant-based foods are popularly used in the non-margii community.
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Openness about labeling
#5: Today, many pre-prepared vegan foods state, "Made in a facility that also produces items containing eggs." Or such food labels may state, "Produced on machinery also used to produce items containing eggs."
Such companies are trying to be open about what they are doing - probably to inform those who suffer from allergies like peanut, soy, dairy, gluten allergies etc. Why has this happened? Because those suffering from food allergies have been vigilant and active in protesting. That is why companies have begun labeling their food in this way. If sentient food adherents are equally active, companies will respond by clearly indicating on the label if products contain: onion, mushroom, garlic, scallion, chives, leeks, mustard seeds / greens, red lentils, white eggplant etc. So there is hope that one day this will be clearly marked.
At the same time, we should also keep in mind that so many other companies who do not have the conscience to mark their foods with the above statements may be doing a whole lot worse. They may be making veggie sandwiches on the same counter as meat sandwiches, but they never say anything about this.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Here the point is that no pre-packaged food - even it if is labeled as being vegan - can be taken on faith as being 100% sentient, as it may contain onion etc. Plus, in many countries, companies are still not mandated by law to label if they are using GMO's, genetically modified organisms.
How “organic” & “green” may not be sentient
#6: So although the world is becoming more "green", "healthy", and "organic", there remain numerous points that we must be aware about when selecting our food. Because the common society and business owners are not aware about sentient food. For either financial incentives or out of plain ignorance, the food they promote and label as pure vegetarian may not be sentient for Ananda Margiis, as it may contain onion or garlic etc.
The best solution then is to buy unprocessed ingredients like rice, soybeans, vegetables, and all kinds of grains, fruits, and legumes and prepare those things in our own home.
In addition, wherever and whenever possible, it is probably better to buy things that are both local and organic, but that may not always be possible. At the same time, do be careful about GMO, or genetically modified organisms; this is especially relevant for corn and soy products grown in the USA, though not exclusively limited to those items.
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Conclusion
There are countless sincere margiis and wts who want to follow and these rules and know in their heart that they guidelines are essential for their spiritual growth and development. They understand that human life is short and that 100 years goes by very quickly. Those who are 80 will say that it feels like there were only born yesterday and that now they are 80 years of age.
Human life is for sadhana - all else is for adjustment only. When Baba gave this rule then He told that, “In the past when you were animals and ate whatever you got, and now that you have human form in this life you should be strict about what you eat.”
And verily by His grace every sadhaka understands that without proper food sadhana is impossible, especially deep sadhana. Because the food you eat is instrumental in the creation of new cells. and each cell has its own mind. Sentient food leads to the build up of sentient cells, and vice versa. So food is very much linked with quality of mind. So if one compromises on points of food then forget about being able to do proper sadhana. There will not be any spiritual flow of mind.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Sudeva
Scott Malerie
Three types of margiis
There are three types of margiis (a) pashvacariis, (b) viiracariis, and (c) divyacariis. Those who are pashvacariis are called pashus. They are half or pseudo-margiis; they could be new to the path or people initiated a long time ago. But they are pashus as they are remiss in their daily dealing. This letter is for divyacariis - i.e. advanced sadhakas very strict in adhering to a sentient diet, all conduct rules, and Sixteen Points.
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~ In-depth study ~
Why a repulsive smell will be emitted
Here is the section from His discourse 'Some examples of Microvita in Daily Life' that reveals how eating vegetarian food from a non-veg container is ta'masika.
Baba says, "Those who consume a lot of static food also emit this sort of foul smell...Similarly, an intensely foul smell is emitted from the bodies of tigers because they are carnivorous...A hilsa fish (an Indian herring) is extremely fond of flesh – rotten flesh is its favourite food – hence it produces a kind of repulsive secretion. If a fish bowl or container which held hilsa fish is cleaned with a cloth, and the cloth is used to clean another container, a repulsive smell will be emitted from the second container unless it is properly ventilated. A vegetarian will feel uncomfortable if this container is used for eating, drinking or anything else. Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (3)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "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." (4)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Támasika áhára: All kinds of foods which are harmful to either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the other are called támasika. Stale and rotten food, the flesh of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, and all types of intoxicants, are categorized as támasika. Small amounts of tea, cocoa and similar drinks which do not excite a person to the point of losing his/her senses are in the rájasika category. The milk of a newly-calved cow, white brinjals, khesárii dál, green vegetables of the type of red puni or mustard are támasika. Masúr dál cooked for one meal will become támasika by the next meal." (5)
How onion came
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “By gradual transformation their mind-stuff reaches a stage where they cannot be called human beings. Who can say that the fire-burnt cane has been transformed into the plantain tree, and the decomposed beef has been transformed into onion through natural changes, and that the rice-water has produced tańd́uleraka leaves? Likewise, no one will be able to recognize you as a human being in your degenerated condition.” (6)
You are not a goat or a camel
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “All-round restraint is indeed necessary. It will not do to simply eat what you get or do what you desire. When you eat you must consider if it is sentient, mutative or static. While eating you must think carefully as to what influence it will have over your body and your mind. You are not a goat or a camel that you will eat whatever you get. You have to think when you act.” (7)
Ananda Marga philosophy states:
“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.” (8)
Effulgence emanates from these cells creating an aura
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "As a result of eating sentient food and performing spiritual practices, the cells of the human body become sentient. Naturally, an effulgence emanates from these cells creating an aura around the physical body of the spiritual aspirant. This is the reason why many pictures of mahápuruśas [highly-evolved persons] show them with radiant auras. 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”]." (9)
If one eats less, strength increases
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Śaśt́haiṋca pramitáháro. There is a Bengali saying: uno bháte duno val, bhará pet́e rasátal. If one eats less, then one’s strength increases and one does not fall sick, but if someone overeats, then they fall sick. Here it has been said: pramitáhára. Pramitáhára and parimitáhára are not the same. Parimitáhára means that I have not eaten a lot, nor have I eaten a little. That is called parimitáhár. And pramitáhár means that I have eaten little but I have eaten nourishing food. That is pramitáhára. You have the custom of eating sentient food. If you follow that then you meet the objective of pramitáhára.” (10)
Follow dharma, not the doctor
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (11)
Baba story about food
Once Ba'ba' stayed at Shrii O P Goenka' Da'da's house in Chennai on the occasion of DMC before 1970. As a matter of fact the Goenka family were strict in taking sattvika food; they didn't take onion or garlic and followed a purely vegetarian diet. His mother got an opportunity by His grace to cook food and serve Him.
As soon as Baba sat down for taking food, He asked, "Ma'(mother), is there any onion and garlic in this food?"
She exclaimed,"Ba'ba', onion and garlic in our house - never!"
Ba'ba smiled and replied, "It is my usual habit to inquire before taking food."
This event was recounted personally by Shrii OP Goenka.
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Though Ba'ba' is the All Knowing Entity even then He regularly inquired to ensure the food served was sentient food. We have to take note and follow His divine example for being strict on sentient food.
During WT reporting, Baba was regularly pointing out how Dadas were unknowingly ingesting onion and garlic when they were purchasing pre-made meals from the market and in hotels etc. Baba would abuse them harshly for taking tamasik food.
Such Dadas were unaware that what they ate was tamasik but after Baba's scolding came to know that the veg food they ate in the market was prepared in a non-veg pot etc. So Baba pointed out their wrongdoing - this was a regular occurrence. By His grace, now most in AM know not to take food in a hotel or restaurant.
References
1. 32 Rules for Avadhutas, pt #20
2. Microvita in a Nutshell, Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Excerpt C
3. Microvita in a Nutshell, 'Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Section C'
4. Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshells, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
5. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating
6. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 1, Spiritual Practice and the Cosmic Science
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Primary Causes of Success
8. Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshells, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
9. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
10. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Primary Causes of Success
11. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
The final story"Tomáke cená náhi jáy..." (Prabhat Samgiita #2089)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You can't be understood by the mind. You are all-pervading, everywhere, and always with me - even then it is not possible to know You with my unit self. By ideating on You, my I-feeling loses its existence in You. Baba, whenever I think that, “I know You well”, then due to ego my viveka gets completely clouded by the Cimmerian darkness. In result, I become more ignorant. When the mind concentrates on You then it ultimately merges in You, and the unit being becomes one with the Cosmic Mind.
Parama Purusa, sometimes You are vehemently sounding Your sermons by the beating of the marching drum and the blowing of the trumpets; and, on other occasions You are smiling sweetly and showering Your causeless grace with flower pollen. My Supreme One, such is Your beauty. In the end, in the lonely, isolated moment, I see that everything happens by Your sweet will. What You desire is what happens - that is the final story.
Parama Purusa, in Your grand kingdom, all belongs to You. I cannot boast that anything is mine; indeed to think that something is my own is the height of foolishness - it is sin. Because everything is created and maintained by You. This whole expressed universe is Your mental projection. Due to this eternal truth, everyone wants Your blessing and asks for Your grace. Each one longs for Your karuna' - divine compassion.
Baba, it is not possible to realise You without Your krpa...
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे प्रभु, तुम्हें अपने हृदय से नहीं जाने दे सकता।
प्रभात सङ्गीत 683 जेयो ना ओगो प्रभो, अनेक कथा आछे बाकी....
(जो साधना का छठवां पाठ नहीं करता, वह यह गाना नहीं समझ सकता )
भावार्थ
हे परमपुरुष ! हे प्रभु ! कृपा कर दूर मत जाओ, मेरे पास ही रहो। मुझे अनेक कहानियाँ कहना हैं, बहुत सी बातें सुनाना हैं तुम्हें। मेरे घर आ तो जाओ। कृपाकर इस अवसर को समझो कि मैं घर में बिल्कुल अकेला हॅूं। यहाॅं कोई नहीं है, इसलिए बाबा ! तुम आ ही जाओ।
बाबा ! सुख या दुख में, अनुकूल या प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों में, मैं हमेशा तुम्हें ही पुकारता रहा हॅूं। चौबीसों घण्टे मैं तुम्हारा ही नाम पुकारता रहता हॅूं । मैं जो कुछ भी करता रहॅूं, मेरे हाथ भले ही काम में लगे रहें, पर मेरा मन तुम्हारे चरण कमलों का ही चिन्तन करता रहता है। मैं तुम्हें याद करता हॅूं यह तुम्हारी कृपा ही है। मैं सब कुछ छोड़ सकता हॅूं पर तुम्हें अपने हृदय से नहीं जाने दे सकता। बाबा ! तुम मेरी पूरी स्थिति को जानते हो,पर मुझे कभी भी सान्त्वना नहीं देते। इन दिनों मैं अंधेरे में घिरा हॅूं। तुम्हारे बिना मैं दुःखी हॅूं।
बाबा ! मैं तुमसे कुछ भी नहीं चाहता। मैं तो केवल यह चाहता हॅूं कि तुम कृपा कर मेरे पास आकर मेरे बाजू में बैठ जाओ। मेरे मन के दरवाजे और खिड़कियाॅं तुम्हारी चाह में, तुम्हारे आने की बाट देखते सदा ही खुले रहते हैं।
मेरे प्रभो ! मुझे अकेला छोड़ कर न जाओ मेरे हृदय में हमेशा रहो।
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Starting point in spiritual life
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Whatever a man is to do in his spiritual life he is to do - why? Because he is in love with the Supreme Entity. Love is the first word, love is the starting point, and love is the last point." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, The Starting Point and the Last Point
== Section 4: Links ==
