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.