DIET I
have noted about your difficulties for not abiding to the dietary regulations
for health reasons. You may please refer to the Cook Book available from local
Satsang wherein you will find some very
useful food combinations in the vegetarian menu. The observance of dietary
regulations is very much essential for taking up the holy Path. You may please
be rest assured my love and blessings are always with you. You
should avoid excessive or unnecessary eating. Always leave the table feeling as
though you could eat more rather than feeling overfull. It is also best to
meditate on a light stomach, which will help you to stay more awake and alert
to keep your attention focused within at the eye level. I am
glad for your following fruitarian diet which is all the wore beneficial
spiritually. The more rarified is diet, the more of inner receptivity will
grow. The disciplined Yogis have preferred to grow gradually from vegetarian,
to fruitarian. You may follow it as best as you possibly can, keeping in view
the maintenance of physical strength of your body. Such a schedule may be
useful for the recluse doing no worldly work, but the dear ones who work hard
on their daily routines of hard labours manually or physically, should not
undergo such austerities. However, the rare benefit of having better
meditations and improving chastity and inner purity is appreciated. You may
refer to the books on nutrition food written by Mrs. Dona Kelley, 1305 Palm
Ave., Beaumont, California, which will give very useful information on the
subject. You
should be careful for your health as it is equally important to be fit and
healthy for meeting with your mundane and spiritual obligations. Physical body
must not be denied adequate nourishment.
The
observance of strict dietary regulations of eliminating all meat, fish, fowl,
eggs both fertile or unfertile and all alcoholic intoxicants is one of the
essential pre-requisites. You should request your dear husband to cooperate
with you for feeding your son with
vegetarian diet in the larger interests of his spiritual progress. There are
same very useful food combinations in vegetarian menu which provide enough
nutrition. Eating
habits can be corrected by careful living. You can improve by gradual
adaptation and moderation. Physical body must not be denied rational
nourishment. A
slender and smart physique is an asset. You can have light physical exercises
for improving your physique. Howsoever, the snag of self appreciation by others
should be discarded carefully. The
use of tea or coffee is not good if you consider harmful to your health. It
should be dispensed with. You can maintain your physical body in a perfectly
healthy and sober condition on the simplest food combinations chosen out of
fruit and vegetarian menu. Providence has manufactured this physical body in
such a noble pattern that it can be adapted to any sort of conditions by
careful planning. You are not the body itself but the indweller of the house -
the temple of God. Keep it safe, strong, and in sound condition to serve the
gracious Master Power within by meditations on Naam. Besides, too much
discussion with others is not helpful. Mind your own business and let other
dear ones seek their own redemption. Self reformation pays great dividends. Your
sacred aspirations to follow simple dietary regulations in the vegetarian menu
and remaining in constant loving remembrance of the Master are appreciated.
Such like impulses fall to the, share of fortunate few who should benefit by
more of diligent and honest effort to accelerate their progress. The
viewpoints offered by you about salt, milk and raw food versus cooked food;
should better be reconciled through some dietetic, preferably Mrs. Dona Kelley,
1305 Palm Avenue, Beaumont, California. She is a representative of the Master
and can advise you better on food combinations. She has written a book called:
Cook Book, which might be available from Mr. Russell Perkins at the Sant Bani
Ashram. However, please note that milk is not forbidden but if it is flavoured
with rennet or anything prohibited, it should be avoided. I
have not discouraged those initiates who have written to me saying that they
find the macrobiotic diet congenial to them. However, I never advocate
extremes, the use of the macrobiotic diet appears to be extreme in its nature.
Nectar of one man way be a poison to the other. It depends on various
temperaments. One should not impose his ideas on other people. |