Diet has an intimate connection with the mind. A diet that is wholly conducive to the practice of Yoga and spiritual progress is called Yogic diet. The mind is formed of the subtlest essence of food. Sage Uddalaka instructs: “Food, when consumed, becomes threefold—the gross particles become excrement, the middling ones become flesh, and the fine ones become the mind. The mind is verily food”.
Diet is of three kinds—Sattwic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Milk, barley, wheat, cereals, butter, cheese, tomatoes, almonds, dates, fruit and honey are all Sattwic foodstuffs. They render the mind pure and calm. Fish, eggs, meat, salt, chillies and asafoetida are Rajasic foodstuffs. They excite passion. Beef, wine, garlic, onions and tobacco are Tamasic foodstuffs. They fill the mind with anger, darkness and inertia. An aspirant should be very careful in the selection of articles of a Sattwic nature, especially in the beginning of his Sadhana period. Later on, when perfection is attained, drastic diet restrictions can be removed. Sour, hot, pungent and bitter preparations, salt, mustard, asafoetida, chillies, tamarind, sour curd, chutney, meat, eggs, fish, garlic, onions, alcoholic liquors, acidic things, stale food, over-ripe or unripe fruit and other articles that disagree with one’s system should be avoided entirely. Rajasic food distracts the mind. It excites passion. Give up salt. It excites passion and emotion. Giving up of salt helps in the control of the palate and thereby the mind. The will-power is also developed. Snake bite and scorpion sting will have no influence on a man who has given up salt. Purity of food leads to purity of the mind. Sattwic food helps meditation.
The discipline of food is very necessary for the successful practice of Yogic Sadhana. If the palate is controlled, senses are also controlled. Food plays an important part in meditation. Different foods produce different effects on different compartments of the brain. For the practice of meditation the food should be light, nutritious and Sattwic. Milk, fruit, almonds, butter, sugar-candy, green gram, Bengal gram soaked in water overnight and bread are all very helpful in meditation. Tea and sugar should be taken in moderation. It is better if you can give them up entirely. Dried ginger powder can be mixed with milk and taken frequently. Potatoes boiled without salt, or baked, are also an excellent food for practitioners. A beginner should be careful in choosing foodstuffs of a Sattwic nature. Food exercises a tremendous influence on the mind. You can see it so obviously in everyday life. It is very difficult to control the mind after a heavy, sumptuous, indigestible, rich meal. The mind runs, wanders and jumps about like an ape afterwords. Alcohol causes great excitement of the mind. The diet should be such as can maintain both physical efficiency and good health. The well-being of an individual depends more upon perfect nutrition than on anything else. Various sorts of intestinal diseases, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, a lack of high vitality and power of resistance.
It should be remembered that it is not so much the climate as food which plays the vital role in producing a strong, healthy body or a weakling suffering from a host of diseases. An appreciable knowledge of the science of dietetics is essential for everybody, especially for spiritual aspirants, to maintain physical efficiency and good health. Aspirants should be able to make up a cheap and well-balanced meal from only certain articles of diet. What is needed is a well balanced diet, not a rich one. Boil half a litre of milk along with some boiled rice, ghee and sugar. This is called cheru. It is an excellent food for Yogis. This is for daytime. For the evening meal, a half a litre of milk will do. Milk is the best food for Yogis but even a small quantity is harmful to some and may not agree with all constitutions. If one form of diet is not suitable, or if you feel constipated, change the diet and try some other Sattwic articles. This is common sense. Milk should not be boiled too much. It should be removed from the fire as soon as the boiling point is reached. Too much boiling destroys the nutritive principles and vitamins and renders the milk quite useless. A fruit diet exercises a benign influence on the constitution. This is a natural form of diet. Fruit are very great energy producers. A fruit and milk diet helps concentration and easy mental focussing. Barley, wheat, milk and ghee all promote longevity and increase one’s power and strength. Fruit juice and the water are very good beverages. Butter mixed with almonds soaked in water can be taken,
cooling the system.
Do not fast too often. This might produce weakness. Occasional fasting once a month, or when passion troubles you much, will suffice. During the fast you should not even think of the various articles of food. Constant thought of food during the fast cannot bring you the desired results. During the fast avoid company. Live alone. Utilize your time in Yogic Sadhana. After a fast do not take any heavy food. Milk or some fruit juice is beneficial. Do not make much fuss about your diet. You need not advertise to everyone if you are able to pull on with a particular form of diet. The observance of such restraints is for your advancement on the spiritual path and you will not be spiritually benefited by giving publicity to your form ofSadhana. There are many today who make it a profession to earn money and a livelihood by performing some Asanas and Pranayama, or by having some diet regulation, such as eating only raw foods, leaves or roots. Such people cannot have any real spiritual growth. The goal of life is Self-Realisation. Aspirants should keep the goal always in view and do intense Sadhana by the prescribed methods. Live a natural, simple life. Take simple food that is wholly agreeable to your system. You should have your own menu to suit your constitution. You are yourself the best judge to select a Sattwic diet. In the matter of food and drink, you will do well to eat and drink as a master. You should not have the least craving for any particular diet. You should not become a slave of this food or that food. A simple, natural, non-stimulating, tissue-building, energy-producing diet, free from alcohol, will keep the mind calm and pure and help you in your Yoga practices and in the attainment of the goal of life, namely, God- Realisation.