Guest guest Posted January 16, 2004 Report Share Posted January 16, 2004 Ramana, in Talks p.28 and 371, says: ‘Regulation of diet, restricting it to sattvic food, taken in moderate quantities, is the best of all conduct and the most conducive to the development of sattvic (pure) qualities of mind. These in turn help one in the practice of Self- enquiry’. ‘Physically, the digestive and other organs are to be kept free from irritation. Therefore food is regulated both in quantity and quality. Non-irritants are eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, wine, opium, etc. Avoid constipation, drowsiness and excitement and all foods which induce them...’ Arthur Osborne interprets sattvic as vegetarian and non-stimulating food. However, a web search reveals that it is used rather loosely in the west; with a number of marginal foods variously classified as sattvic, rajasic or even tamasic: Alcohol-free fermented liquors such as vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger-beer. Yeast. Stimulants such as coffee, non-herbal teas, cocoa, chocolate. Honey when cooked. Vegetables which grow in darkness/underground other than onions and garlic: mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, peanuts, radishes, etc. Spices such as hing, cardamom, cloves, coriander, prepared mustard. Butter, ghee; uncooked grain foods; white sugar, white flour, and other processed/convenience foods. Tinned and bottled food, deep-fried, and frozen foods. I realize that most of these don’t form part of the Indian diet except in restarants, but any advice as to what Ramana really meant would be most welcome. Nasrudin http://personals..au - Personals New people, new possibilities. FREE for a limited time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 - "Nasrudin" <nasrudin3 <RamanaMaharshi> Saturday, January 17, 2004 8:08 AM [RamanaMaharshi] Sattvic diet > Ramana, in Talks p.28 and 371, says: > 'Regulation of diet, restricting it to sattvic food, > taken in moderate quantities, > is the best of all conduct and the most conducive to > the development of > sattvic (pure) qualities of mind. These in turn help > one in the practice of Self- > enquiry'. > > 'Physically, the digestive and other organs are to be > kept free from irritation. > Therefore food is regulated both in quantity and > quality. Non-irritants are > eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, > wine, opium, etc. Avoid > constipation, drowsiness and excitement and all foods > which induce them...' > > Arthur Osborne interprets sattvic as vegetarian and > non-stimulating food. > However, a web search reveals that it is used rather > loosely in the west; with > a number of marginal foods variously classified as > sattvic, rajasic or even > tamasic: > Alcohol-free fermented liquors such as vinegar, soy > sauce, and ginger-beer. > Yeast. Stimulants such as coffee, non-herbal teas, > cocoa, chocolate. > Honey when cooked. Vegetables which grow in > darkness/underground other > than onions and garlic: mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, > peanuts, radishes, etc. > Spices such as hing, cardamom, cloves, coriander, > prepared mustard. > Butter, ghee; uncooked grain foods; white sugar, white > flour, and other > processed/convenience foods. Tinned and bottled food, > deep-fried, and > frozen foods. > I realize that most of these don't form part of the > Indian diet except in > restarants, but any advice as to what Ramana really > meant would be most > welcome. > > Nasrudin > Hello Nasrudin, This whole diet thing can become an obstacle. Ramana himself ate onions and garlic, and was quite liberal, as far as I know. I can only speak for myself. I think one knows intuitively what is good for the body and what is not. The body has its own intelligence and it's best to learn to listen to that. You know, mystics like Meister Eckhart and John of the Cross, were they vegetarians? In that culture, the whole idea of vegetarianism didn't exist. Still they were sages. Jesus was not a vegetarian either, and even worse, he drank wine as well! Nisargadatta was not really sattvic either. And the list can continue to grow with examples. Speaking for myself, I am not a strict vegetarian anymore. And I like to have a glass of beer or wine in the evening. I think moderation is the key. I am fond of cooking and when I cook for people, they always tell me the food I cooked is "good" or "wholesome". For me that is good enough. Soon 40% of the world population will be starving, do we think they care for a sattvic diet? They will eat even rats and bugs if they have to. All the energy I had been spending on being peculiar about the food I eat and do not eat, I now use for atma vichara :-) I didn't answer your question, but maybe it puts things a little bit more in perspective. Let me add this though: the food I ate at Sri Ramanashramam was one of the finest food I ever tasted --except for my mothers dishes. Take care, Ben. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release 1/2/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 - "Ben Hassine" <ben.hassine <RamanaMaharshi> Saturday, January 17, 2004 9:03 AM Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Sattvic diet > > - > "Nasrudin" <nasrudin3 > <RamanaMaharshi> > Saturday, January 17, 2004 8:08 AM > [RamanaMaharshi] Sattvic diet > > > > Ramana, in Talks p.28 and 371, says: > > 'Regulation of diet, restricting it to sattvic food, > > taken in moderate quantities, > > is the best of all conduct and the most conducive to > > the development of > > sattvic (pure) qualities of mind. These in turn help > > one in the practice of Self- > > enquiry'. > > > > 'Physically, the digestive and other organs are to be > > kept free from irritation. > > Therefore food is regulated both in quantity and > > quality. Non-irritants are > > eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, > > wine, opium, etc. Avoid > > constipation, drowsiness and excitement and all foods > > which induce them...' > > > > Arthur Osborne interprets sattvic as vegetarian and > > non-stimulating food. > > However, a web search reveals that it is used rather > > loosely in the west; with > > a number of marginal foods variously classified as > > sattvic, rajasic or even > > tamasic: > > Alcohol-free fermented liquors such as vinegar, soy > > sauce, and ginger-beer. > > Yeast. Stimulants such as coffee, non-herbal teas, > > cocoa, chocolate. > > Honey when cooked. Vegetables which grow in > > darkness/underground other > > than onions and garlic: mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, > > peanuts, radishes, etc. > > Spices such as hing, cardamom, cloves, coriander, > > prepared mustard. > > Butter, ghee; uncooked grain foods; white sugar, white > > flour, and other > > processed/convenience foods. Tinned and bottled food, > > deep-fried, and > > frozen foods. > > I realize that most of these don't form part of the > > Indian diet except in > > restarants, but any advice as to what Ramana really > > meant would be most > > welcome. > > > > Nasrudin > > > > Hello Nasrudin, > > This whole diet thing can become an obstacle. Ramana himself ate onions and > garlic, and was quite liberal, as far as I know. > I can only speak for myself. I think one knows intuitively what is good for > the body and what is not. The body has its own intelligence and it's best to > learn to listen to that. > You know, mystics like Meister Eckhart and John of the Cross, were they > vegetarians? In that culture, the whole idea of vegetarianism didn't exist. > Still they were sages. Jesus was not a vegetarian either, and even worse, he > drank wine as well! Nisargadatta was not really sattvic either. And the list > can continue to grow with examples. > Speaking for myself, I am not a strict vegetarian anymore. And I like to > have a glass of beer or wine in the evening. I think moderation is the key. > I am fond of cooking and when I cook for people, they always tell me the > food I cooked is "good" or "wholesome". For me that is good enough. Soon 40% > of the world population will be starving, do we think they care for a > sattvic diet? They will eat even rats and bugs if they have to. > All the energy I had been spending on being peculiar about the food I eat > and do not eat, I now use for atma vichara :-) > I didn't answer your question, but maybe it puts things a little bit more in > perspective. > Let me add this though: the food I ate at Sri Ramanashramam was one of the > finest food I ever tasted --except for my mothers dishes. > > Take care, > > Ben. PS The reason I mostly abstain from eating meat and fish is the injustice and horror of the bio-industry. On the other hand I eat meat or fish when I go out and visit family or friends, or when I cook for guests etc. I don't feel they have to be bothered with my peculiarities concerning my diet. Anyway, to go short, for me the most important guidelines are moderation and awareness of the body. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release 1/2/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Dear Nasrudin, Ben and ALL, For the sake of brevity let me say that I basically agree with Ben. I think many foods can be eaten that will do the body little if any harm. But, if an individual has certain health problems, it might be best for them to eat a strictly vegetarian diet for a period of time, possibly years. This vegetarian diet should be well balanced and provide the full spectrum of nutrients. In the end, I think that the spiritual seeker should follow her/his own intuition about food. They should not be afraid to try different diets; but should be sensitive to their own body and not blindly follow any certain dietary philosophy. Perhaps you or some other persons on this list are familiar with the autobiography of Gopi Krishna. He was a Kashmiri brahmin who had awakened the Kundalini Shakti. He went through an extremely difficult period in his life after the awakening of the Shakti. At one point, as he began to believe that he was certainly going to die, he began to get the idea that he should eat meat. This idea was repulsive to him as he had never eaten meat in his entire life. But the idea was so strong and his suffering so great, that he decided to try. He found that eating meat solved his problem and he was basically able to live a normal life even though the Shakti was still very much active. Experiment with diet. Listen to your intuition and don't be afraid to eat anything. Love, michael --- Ben Hassine <ben.hassine wrote: > > - > "Nasrudin" <nasrudin3 > <RamanaMaharshi> > Saturday, January 17, 2004 8:08 AM > [RamanaMaharshi] Sattvic diet > > > > Ramana, in Talks p.28 and 371, says: > > 'Regulation of diet, restricting it to sattvic > food, > > taken in moderate quantities, > > is the best of all conduct and the most conducive > to > > the development of > > sattvic (pure) qualities of mind.SNIP > > > > Hello Nasrudin, > > This whole diet thing can become an obstacle. Ramana > himself ate onions and > garlic, and was quite liberal, as far as I know. > I can only speak for myself. I think one knows > intuitively what is good for > the body and what is not. The body has its own > intelligence and it's best to > learn to listen to that. SNIP Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./signingbonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Namaste Nasrudin, >any advice as to what Ramana really meant would be > most welcome. The best advice I ever read on diet was from a sage who said, "Find a simple diet, stick to it, then forget about it." Specifically regarding sattvic foods, and what Bhagavan may have meant. My take on this: foods negatively affecting one's ability to concentrate should avoided. Foods that have a calming effect on the mind should be consumed. Thus any food that is obviously a stimulant should be avoided. For example, food and drink with excessive quantities of refined sugar and/or caffeine are prime canidates to be avoided or rarely eaten. Ultimately, we are the final arbiters of what is sattvic for us. Practice of Atma Vichara should be like the steady flow of a thin stream of oil. What we eat should not adversely affect that practice. Our ability to concentrate after eating should remain the same as before eating. If it's worse, then we should take a look at what, or how much, we are eating! In Bhagavan, David (who doesn't always stick to his own advice ;-) Need a new email address that people can remember Check out the new EudoraMail at http://www.eudoramail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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