What does Bhagavad Gita say about your food
- Nature of the Mind
- Sāttvic, Rājasic and Tāmasic food
- Effects of food on your mind
We all repose our faith somewhere or the other. Where we decide to place our faith and what we choose to believe in, practically shapes the direction of our life. Nature of our faith is also echoed in our lifestyle and the choice of food we like to eat.
Bhagavad Gita says, “Every human being is born with innate faith, which can be of three kinds—sāttvic (mode of goodness), rājasic(mode of passion), or tāmasic(mode of ignorance).” (Bhagavad Gita 17.2) And the quality of our faith is decided by the nature of our mind. “The faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their mind. All people possess faith, and whatever the nature of their faith, that is verily what they are.” (Bhagavad Gita 17.3)
It is said that the good are drawn to the good and the bad to the bad. Those in tamo guṇa are drawn toward the evil. Those who are rājasic get drawn towards power, wealth, sensual enjoyment, revenge, and wrath. Those who are imbued with sattva guṇa become attracted to qualities of goodness.
But even when some action might seem to suggest that one is engaging in good deeds and hence is sāttvic, it might not be the case all together. “Some people perform stern austerities that are not enjoined by the scriptures, but rather motivated by hypocrisy and egotism. Impelled by desire and attachment, they torment not only the elements of their body, but also I who dwell within them as the Supreme Soul. Know these senseless people to be of demoniacal resolves.” (Bhagavad Gita 17.5/6)
Way of living and most importantly the choice of food is a reflection of individual disposition. Foods in the mode of goodness are pure, illuminating, and serene, and create a sense of happiness and satisfaction. Such foods promote longevity and bestow good health, virtue, happiness, and satisfaction. They are juicy, naturally tasteful, mild, and beneficial. These include grains, pulses, beans, fruits, vegetables, milk, and other vegetarian foods. Hence, a vegetarian diet is beneficial for cultivating the qualities of the mode of goodness that are conducive for spiritual life.
When vegetarian foods are cooked with excessive chilies, sugar, salt, etc. they become rājasic. Such foods are very bitter, very sour, very salty, very hot, very pungent, very dry, very spicy, etc. They produce ill-health, agitation, and despair. Persons in the mode of passion find such foods attractive, but those in the mode of goodness find them disgusting. The purpose of eating is not to relish bliss through the palate, but to keep the body healthy and strong. As the old adage states: “Eat to live; do not live to eat.” Thus, the wise partake of foods that are conducive to good health, and have a peaceable impact upon the mind i.e., sāttvic foods.
Cooked foods that have remained for more than one yām (three hours) are classified in the mode of ignorance. Foods that are impure, have bad taste, or possess foul smells come in the same category. Impure foods also include all kinds of meat products.
The mind and body impact each other. The food people eat influences their nature and vice versa. The Chhāndogya Upaniṣhad explains that the coarsest part of the food we eat passes out as feces; the subtler part becomes flesh; and the subtlest part becomes the mind (6.5.1). Again, it states: āhāra śhuddhau sattva śhuddhiḥ (7.26.2) “By eating pure food, the mind becomes pure.” The reverse is also true—people with pure minds prefer pure foods.
Although we might like to have junk, oily and spicy food, it is not good for our health and invariably causes illness. To curb the tāmasic and rājasic nature of our mind and to follow a sāttvic regime is the only way to have healthy body and mind. “The pleasures that arise from contact with the sense objects, though appearing as enjoyable to worldly-minded people, are verily a source of misery. And such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise do not delight in them.” (Bhagavad Gita 5.22)
Therefore, we should be in constant check of what we eat as it has direct effect on our body and our mind. To eat sāttvic food (as much as possible), not only aids healthy body and mind but is essential for spiritual health as well. How food effects spiritual health is a topic for some other day.