At the first step, he must give his attention to taking pure food and drink. The foods which are originally and elemished and have many defects and evil effects that may cause obstruction or impediment to the path of spiritual advancement, must be avoided. Food becomes impure from the causes, namely, (1) by nature and origin of the food itself, upon which Rajas and Tamas predominates, as in the case of garlic, onion, egg, fish, meat, beef, carrot etc; (2) owing to its contact with wicked and accursed persons whose minds are filled with heap of rubbish, such as excessive lust, anger, greed, malice, etc; and (3) from outer physical impurities, such as dirt, nail, hair, urine of small house-lizard etc. Such polluted foods must be shunned by the spiritual aspirant.
Because the pure greatly the Sattva elements of the mind, and the Sattava elements being highly purified, stable and constant memory or intuition of the Nature of the Self or Soul is revealed and illuminated within. This has been said in the Sruti texts ---
'Aharshuddhou sattvashuddhi
sattvashuddhoudhruba srimit' Â ( Chandagya Upanisad - 7/26/2)
The predominance of sattva is absolutely necessary for spiritual development. Because, the materials which we receive through our food, mould ore mind or mental elements to a great extent. Foods upon which the influence or Raja or Tama in the minds of lust, anger, greed, pride, malice and other evil propensities. So the food which a spiritual aspirant eat, has to be particularly taken care of.
Shankracharya, however, has explained the meaning of 'Ahar'(Food habit). The word purification of food means the acquiring of the knowledge of sensations untouched by the defects of attachment, aversion, and delusion. Therefore, such knowledge being purified, the 'Sattva'(good) material of the possessor of it -- the internal organ will become purified, the 'Sattva' being purified, and unbroken memory of the Infinite one who has been known in His real nature will result.
Therefore, the discrimination in the choice of good is absolutely necessary for the attainment of the higher state of mental composition which cannot be easily obtained otherwise.
Because the pure greatly the Sattva elements of the mind, and the Sattava elements being highly purified, stable and constant memory or intuition of the Nature of the Self or Soul is revealed and illuminated within. This has been said in the Sruti texts ---
'Aharshuddhou sattvashuddhi
sattvashuddhoudhruba srimit' Â ( Chandagya Upanisad - 7/26/2)
The predominance of sattva is absolutely necessary for spiritual development. Because, the materials which we receive through our food, mould ore mind or mental elements to a great extent. Foods upon which the influence or Raja or Tama in the minds of lust, anger, greed, pride, malice and other evil propensities. So the food which a spiritual aspirant eat, has to be particularly taken care of.
Shankracharya, however, has explained the meaning of 'Ahar'(Food habit). The word purification of food means the acquiring of the knowledge of sensations untouched by the defects of attachment, aversion, and delusion. Therefore, such knowledge being purified, the 'Sattva'(good) material of the possessor of it -- the internal organ will become purified, the 'Sattva' being purified, and unbroken memory of the Infinite one who has been known in His real nature will result.
Therefore, the discrimination in the choice of good is absolutely necessary for the attainment of the higher state of mental composition which cannot be easily obtained otherwise.
Dr. Amar Prasad Bhattacharyya
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