SATWIC FOOD

1. What is the meaning of SATWIC food?

The prevalent notion is that fruits and milk constitute SATWIC food. But that is not all to it. What is consumed by the is the only food that enters the body. The other sense organs like the eyes, the ears, the nose, and the hands also consume objects from the external world. Hence, just because a person takes fruits and milk through one of the five senses, he cannot claim to have taken SATWIC food, unless the food taken by him through all the five senses in SATWIC nature. Through the eye you have to see only what is pure. To see all kinds of things indiscriminately will spell disaster. It is only when they use their eyes in a pure and sacred way will they be receiving SATWIC impressions through eyes.

The ears too need pure food. This means we should listen only sacred words and to accounts relating to the Divine. Let us always hear good and pleasant things about others. In this way, we must safeguard the ears from being polluted by hearing bad things. Only thus can ensure consuming SATWIC food through ears.

Only fragrant sweet-smelling scents should be absorbed through the nose. Inhaling bad odours will result in disease. If you inhale foul air, you will be breathing in disease producing organisms. You must inhale pure air, in a clean open space.The hand should be used to consume pure food. In other words, you must perform only good acts through your hands.

When you get rid of the five evils associated with the pollution of speech, sight, hearing, thought and action, you will be able to realise your own Divinity and become PARAMATMA (Supreme Soul). If the senses are fed with polluted food, you can not become pure merely by taking milk and fruit. You must partake of pure SATWIC food through all the five senses.

Summer Showers 1990 , p. 15-16

Some people are under the wrong impression that SATWIC food should consist of only milk, yoghurt, sweet and fruits. They believe that they will become SATWIC by consuming large quantities of these delicacies. They are absolutely mistaken. Excessive and immoderate consumption of milk and its products awakens and aggravates the ‘RAJASTIC’ and ‘THAMASIC’ qualities in man. A diet extra rich in milk, curds and ghee cannot be called ‘SATWIC’, because it leads to the development of the passionate nature of man.

Summer Showers 1979 , p. 93

2. Why should we consume SATWIC food?

The food consumed by man provides the source of origin, substance and development of his mind. After digestion, the grossest part of the food is thrown out as excreta. The subtle parts becomes blood and flesh, while the subtlest part assumes the form of mind. So the nature of the mind depends on the quality and quantity of food consumed.

Summer Showers 1990, p. 93

Those who wish to use the body properly and ensure that they entertain good thoughts, perform good acts and reap good results should scrupulously follow two things, viz., regulation of diet and regulation of other living habits. You must eat only SATWIC food. Our thoughts are determined by the kind of food we consume. Our thoughts, therefore, are the results of the type of food we eat. The body is cleansed by water, while the mind is purified by Truth. It is only when we take food that is conductive to truth that we can pursue the path of truth. As the body is a sacred shrine, you should strictly avoid taking any intoxicating substances. Articles of food that promote RAJASTIC qualities - which influence passions, should be eschewed.

Summer Showers 1990 , p. 14-15

3. Is it necessary to be a vegetarian?

It is significant note that those who live on vegetarian food are less prone to diseases whereas non-vegetarian food are less prone to diseases. Why? Because animal food is incompatible with the needs of the human body. Doctors speak about proteins present in non-vegetarian food, but the i,s that there are better quality proteins in food articles like vegetables, pulses, milk, curd, etc. Non-vegetarian food not only affects man’s body but also deleterious effects on his mind.

Food, Head, God - these three are inter-related. By consuming animal food, animal tendencies are aroused. As is your food, so are your thoughts.

Summer Showers 1990 , p. 34

RAJASIC food generates virulent thoughts. By consuming non-vegtarian food we develop brutal mentalities. Those who are practicing meditation must abstain from meat. We should also remember constantly that AHIMSA or non-violence is the supreme DHARMA.

Members of the organisation should have some good habits. As the food, so is the thought, as the feeling so the experience. So we have to partake of food in a properway. It is because of food that we have all sorts of bad habits, bad thoughts. So give up smoking. Also eschewing drinking. This alcoholism and smoking are ruining your health. One without health cannot achieve any small thing. Meat eating also very bad.

Those in the spiritual field should immediately give up smoking, drinking, meat eating and gambling. All these four are bad qualities.

Divine Discourse on 21.11.1995

4. Why should we offer the food to God before eating?

Man commits many offences knowingly or unknowingly, not only in this life but also previous lives. The imprint of these actions is carried out by the CHITTA (memory) life after life, like dust accumulating on the surface of a mirror day after day. On account of this ’Dust’(MALA) man is unable to see clearly the reflection of his real identity in the mirror of his mind. Hence, it is necessary cleanse the mirror of impurities covering it. This cleansing is done by regulating one’s food and other living habits including recreation.

Purity should be ensured with regard to vessels used for cooking, the food material used for cooking, and thirdly the processes of cooking. In this connection an important point which is generally overlooked is the fact that many of ills from which people suffer to-day are due to consuming things obtained through unfair means as well as polluted by the bad vibrations from cooks of questionable character. It is extremely difficult, if not altogether impossible especially in the present-day context, to get over these difficulties, the way-out suggested by the Scriptures is to offer the food to God before eating it.

Summer Showers 1990 , p. 79

Suggested food prayer - “Bramaarpanam”, “Gayatri” & “ Anam”

5. Is there are any influence of films on our minds?

Baba says, “You must bear in mind that years of youth are the most precious in one’s life, and they should not be wasted or misspent. To let children watch television from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. is to make them forget all that they have learned at school or college. In addition, they learn many evil things. If television is used for teaching good things, it can serve a worthy purpose. But that is not the case. The younger generation is being ruined by undesirable films and television programs. Their minds are being poisoned. It is not a sign of parental love to let children be ruined in this manner. Even parents should avoid going to cinemas. All the crimes and violence we witness today are largely the result of the evil influence of films on young minds.”