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.