Hi All Namaskar FOOD, LIFE FORCES AND MEDITATION According to Yoga, everything that exists within the ultimate Superconscious reality Itself (which is the Witnessing Entity of all things and from which all things derive, but which is beyond relativity) is composed of three basic constituents. These are named sattva (sentient), rajas (mutative), and tamas (static), respectively. Sattva is the principle of clarity or lucidity. Rajas is the principle of dynamism. Tamas is the principle of inertia. The effect of the three binding principles (gun'as) are as follows: Sattva or the sentient principle gives the knowledge of existence; Rajah or the mutative principle commands the energy which brings about activity; Tamah or the static force is the stationary result of action, which makes things crude. In terms of colours it can be said that Sattva is white, Rajah is red and Tamah is black. The more the degree of purity, the more the predominance of Sattva - and so the whiter is the effect in proportion. That is why, whiteness and purity are often used synonymously. What is this white colour? White is no colour, a combination of all the colours is white. What is black colour? Black is no colour, want of colour is black. That is why, blackness is the emblem of passivity. It is the reflection of the static force. It is due to the lack of vibrations or the inability to apprehend them that a thing appears as black. In darkness form lacks vibrational expression and so we see everything black in darkness. In sentient forms and sentient food there is the absorption of much light through the process of photosynthesis. Accordingly, this is the healthiest food. Difference in forms means difference in colours. While Tamah (staticity) is the prototype of passivity - a dark ravine, Sattva (sentience) is diametrically opposite. Although the expressed universe is a triple qualitative flow, nevertheless in the higher pursuits of life and in a wholistic spiritual outlook Sattva (sentient) is dominant. Through meditation the higher faculties of mind are developed and this increases one's sentience. These three principles or forces exist in an infinite number of combinations both in the material and the mental realm. Some things are more static (tamasic), others more mutative (rajasic), and a few more sentient (sattvic). The purpose of Yoga - Meditation - is to increase the principle of sentience - knowledge and clarity - in all your actions, thoughts, and feelings. This is part of the process of self-actualisation leading to self-realisation. While you are alive you can never be completely sattvic (sentient), but you can certainly train your mind to overcome the limitations of tamas (staticity) and rajas (mutative) thoughts and actions. When your mind is elevated away from and freed of the negative influence of staticity and mutativity (tamas and rajas), it is like a highly polished mirror that faithfully reflects the light of the higher consciousness. Remember meditation is the birthright of all human beings, and leads to an elevated mind and arousing of spiritual thought and progress. The type of food called sattvik food or sentient food is good for body and good for mind. This type of food is light and vegetarian. It suits one's spiritual thoughts and spiritual progress. The classification of food is based on 3 primary qualities (called 'gunas' in Sanskrit) which exist in all things to a greater or lesser degree - just as in the universal process of generation, operation and decay. Sentient Food - That food which is conducive to physical and mental wellbeing. It produces sentient cells. Examples of sentient food are rice, wheat, barley, all kinds of pulses, milk and milk products. Mutative Food - Food which is good for the body and may or may not be good for the mind, but certainly not harmful. Examples include tea, coffee, chocolates. Static Food - Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body. Examples include stale and rotten food, meat of animals, mushrooms and fungi (because they involve no photosynthesis), onions and garlic (due to their odour and secretions through the skin). FOOD FOR THOUGHT Don’t Overeat! * Fill the stomach half-way with food * One quarter with water * Keep one quarter free for movement of air You should have proper restraint over your food. Your food should be nutritious, but you must not eat too much. - Shiva’s sixth secret of success in Spiritual Life. * Eat with ideation * Make your meal a meditation! * Apply Cosmic ideation and repeat your mantra for meditation as you eat. ”This food is Brahma (God). The one who is eating is Brahma. The act of eating is also Brahma”. Eat to live … Don’t live to eat! PUMPKIN SOUP 1 small Pumpkin -- seeded, unpeeled 2 tablespoons Oil 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seed 1 or more seeds Cardamom 1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon Coriander -- ground 1/4 teaspoon Ginger -- ground 1/4 teaspoon Chilli powder (if desired) 2 cups Cauliflower flowerets 1 cup Carrot -- sliced 1/2 cup Corn -- can, undrained Salt and Pepper -- to taste 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Put oil in large pot or kettle. Heat until quite warm. Add cardamom and cumin seeds. Cook until seeds crackle. Add cut up pumpkin and water until not quite covered. Add powders. Cover and simmer until pumpkin is tender. Mash or puree. Return to pot and add your choice of vegetables. Cook until desired tenderness. You can add powered broth if desired. You can also add greens and can substitute acorn or butternut squash. Have a good meditation and meal. THE ROBBERS ARE THE 3 GUNAS Once a man was going through a forest, when three robbers fell upon him and robbed his possessions. One robber said, "What's the use of keeping this man alive?" So saying, he was about to kill him with his sword, when the second robber interrupted him, saying: "Oh! No! What is the use of killing him? Tie his hands and feet and leave him here." The robbers bound his hands and feet and went away. After a while the third robber returned and said to the man: "Ah, I am sorry. Are you hurt? I will release you from your bonds." After setting the man free, the thief said: "Come with me. I will take you to the public highway." After a long time they reached the road. At this the man said: "Sir, you have been very good to me. Come with me to my house." "Oh, No!" The robber replied. " I can't go there. The police will know it." This world itself is the forest. The three robbers prowling here are sattva, rajas, and tamas. It is they that rob a man of the Knowledge of Truth. Tama wants to destroy him. Raja binds him to the world. But Sattva rescues him from the clutches of Rajas and Tamas. Under the protection of Sattva, a human being is rescued from anger, passion and other evil effects of Tamas. Further, Sattva loosens the bonds of the world. But Sattva also is a robber. It cannot give a person the ultimate Knowledge of Truth, though it shows him or her the road leading to the Supreme Abode. Setting the person on the path, Sattva tells him/her: "Look yonder. There is your home." Even sattva is far away from the knowledge of Brahma (God). The Absolute is beyond all binding principles and beyond all relativities. Regards Dharma