NOTHING MYSTERIOUS AGAIN! TRADITION DEMYSTIFIED🔗

Q. Swamiji, is vegetarianism necessary for leading a spiritual life?

Yes!

Now you are going to be thinking, Why?

If I say that I talk on the strength of my own experience, it won't be easy for you to believe me, because our minds have got accustomed to demanding 'scientific proof' for everything.

We manage to accept concepts like Einstein's 'spacetime' or the theories of Quantum Physics, even though we have never encountered (and never will encounter) these phenomena in our daily lives. Purely because tests have been made in a laboratory somewhere, and some statistics (which you can't understand) have been produced to support them, you feel compelled to believe.

In fact, the greatest truths of our universe cannot be proved by science; they are beyond science. Even Einstein, and most modern quantum physicists, will agree to that!

Anyway, let me give you a scientific explanation of the advantages of vegetarianism in spiritual life.

To understand this, you must first understand something about the way the human brain works.

The brain registers activity in terms of minute electric currents. When it receives information, or performs certain tasks, it generates electric currents of different frequencies or rhythms. These currents are called brain waves.

There are 4 basic kinds of brain waves, corresponding to different activities:

delta waves (produced during deep sleep), alpha waves (produced during meditation), theta waves (produced during periods of strong emotion) and beta waves (produced when the frontal lobe of the brain is stimulated, during complex mathematical or analytical activity).

Alpha waves induce a feeling of peace, tranquility and relaxed concentration that is typical of meditation and even telepathy. So all meditation techniques, whether consciously or unconsciously, try to create the right conditions for the production of alpha waves in the brain.

The strange thing about alpha waves is, they are produced by the brain at times when the oxygen supply to the brain is low. Normally we assume that lower oxygen supply will lower brain activity. But the fact is, during low-oxygen periods, the brain goes into overdrive. The blood vessels in the brain dilate to allow more blood inflow, and this creates a feeling of relaxation. Simultaneously, the brain starts producing the 'relaxing' alpha waves.

So one main condition for alpha wave production is lower oxygen supply to the brain. Contrary to what we think, this doesn't affect the brain adversely in any way.

Now coming to food.

Meat is highly acidic in nature, and directly increases blood acidity. To compensate for this, the lungs take in lesser carbon-dioxide (which is also acidic) and take in more oxygen instead. So the blood reaching the brain will also have more oxygen and less carbon-dioxide.

By contrast, vegetables reduce the acidity of blood. To maintain the pH balance (acid-alkali balance) in the blood, the lungs take in more acidic carbon-dioxide. So the blood reaching the brain will also have less oxygen.

This creates the perfect condition for the brain to start producing alpha waves, which help in meditation.

This is also why high altitudes with lower oxygen levels (eg. the Himalayas) have been preferred by rishis (sages) since ancient times.

Of course, very few people are aware of the science behind vegetarianism. You don't need to know it, you can automatically feel the difference with a vegetarian diet.

Once you start meditating regularly, your body becomes gradually refined, becomes more fit for meditation. Then, just like your body knows which food to avoid when you have a stomach upset, it will naturally drop the foods which stop you from meditating properly.

But I say to you, don't force vegetarianism on yourself, even if you are going to take up meditation.

If you do that, the repressed desires will grow stronger and you simply won't be able to come out of their influence.

If you can drop meat without much trouble, do it.

Otherwise go ahead and enjoy it without worries or guilt. Please don't feel guilty about it!

Ultimately, the guilt can cause more energy blockages in your system; it can do more harm than the meat!

When your body is ready, it will drop the habit on its own.

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Q. Is fasting really beneficial for health?

Yes.

Done in the right way, fasting is definitely beneficial.

Fasting has become more and more important in our time because of our eating habits, which are getting worse day by day!

Don't think fasting is done just for religious purposes. Behind all these traditions there are definite scientific reasons.

In Sanskrit we say Annam Brahma, Food is God.

Food is the energy which sustains our lives. Eating should be like a form of worship.

But how do we normally treat our stomach? We just keep throwing anything and everything into it! No other animal eats more than 2-3 kinds of food. In fact, other than our domesticated animals, the others just eat one kind of food throughout their lives. The lion eats only meat, the deer eats only grass. Whatever nutrition they need is supplied by that one food.

Not only that, every other animal eats only what is necessary for it at that point of time. Greed is unheard-of in the animal world!

If you notice babies, they won't drink a single drop of milk more than they need, no matter how much you force them! But we are totally deaf to the warning signals given by our stomach. Not only do we dump all kinds of food into it, we also eat much more than necessary. We treat our stomachs like a garbage dump for food!

What is the purpose of food? To give us energy.

But do we normally feel energetic after eating? NO! Usually we would all love to have a good nap after eating! To say that we feel sleepy after eating, is like saying that it grows dark when the sun rises! It is completely unnatural.

What are we doing wrong?

We are choking our system with food!

The energy used up in digestion is more than the energy released by the food. So after eating, we actually become low on energy!

The digestive energy in our body is known as jataraagni, the basic fire.

Of the five major elements (panchabhootas), fire, is the meeting-point of matter and energy. Fire is that shakti (force) which transforms matter into energy.

On normal days, when we tax our stomachs by excessive and careless eating, the entire energy of the jataraagni is used up in digesting this food and cleansing the body of toxins. It is caught up with 'maintenance work'. We don't give the jataraagni a chance to perform its other important duties.

Jataraagni is a great cleansing force. When we practise fasting, jataraagni not only burns away the excess fat from our bodies, but also cleanses the negative energy which we have accumulated.

Just as poor eating habits can cause fat deposits to accumulate in our physical bodies, our suppressed emotions form a layer in our energy bodies. And over the years, just as cholesterol blocks the arteries and disrupts the blood flow in the heart, 'energy blocks' disturb the free flow of energy throughout our body.

On the days when we give the stomach rest, jataraagni is available to dissolve these energy blocks and convert the negative energy into positive energy.

That's why, when you are fasting, you usually feel more light and energetic, not tired! Just try it and see for yourself. In fact, healing and meditation will give you better results on days when you are fasting. Only if you are suffering from diabetes or acidity, it will be better to consult your doctor before deciding on fasting.

The actual days on which you fast don't matter; it's just a matter of social convention. Fasting on a particular day is followed because it's easier to keep track and be regular (e.g. every Friday or every full moon day).

But fasting at least once a fortnight is an excellent way of cleansing the body. Total fasting (drinking only water) is best, but if you can't manage that, at least try a juice or fruit diet.

It's not as difficult as it sounds! After the first few hours of intense hunger, the hunger fades on its own. And don't worry, nothing will happen to you, you won't die!

Do you know, a healthy man can survive up to 90 days on just water; our body contains enough energy reserves for 90 days. I am only asking you to give your stomach a break for 24 hours!