Food and Spirituality

 

Food and Spirituality

Food is the source of energy. The concept that food choices can impact our spiritual well-being is not new; various cultures and religion across the globe reflect it through numerous examples. The fundamental key to mindful, healthy eating is learning how to change your state of mind. The wisdom of ancient cultures shows that food has always been a tool for spiritual growth and healthy living.

Spiritual and physical world are considered as two legs of human body by our saints and philosophers. A balance between both is must to walk properly. We require balance diet and physical exercise for being physically fit. To be spiritually fit, quality meditation and devotion is required. Food plays a major role in spirituality as a light and healthy body is essential to excel in spirituality. It is very tough for human being to maintain a balance between both. That’s why Grihastha (householder) life is considered a great Ashrama in Hinduism among one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras.

Have you ever thought why in our spiritual endeavor, it is considered important to maintain a high standard of cleanliness while preparing, cooking, and offering the food?

The emotion with which a person cooks the food the same get transferred to the person who consume it. when we prepare the food with love or devotion then this loving energy goes to our etheric body and nourishes it. That’s why we always cherish the food cooked by our mothers or food served as prasada(religious offering) no matter how best chef we are. That’s why physical, mental thought and surrounding cleanliness is very much important before beginning to prepare Prasada-Meditation, or any other form of meditation.

As in this era of modernisation there has been a drastic change in not only people’s eating habits but also the process of cultivating food. Fresh raw food is key to detoxification. Cold storage can stop growth of micro- organisms in food but can’t control the Tej (Flare of the food) which is there in raw food very much essential for good health. Try to eat fresh organic fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water to keep yourself healthy.

 Cooking symbolically marks a transition from nature to culture, and also from nature to society, given that while raw is natural in origin, cooked implies a step that is both cultural and social. Food affects our body immensely and we need to detoxify our body that’s why in ancient time fasting at least once a week is recommended with a permission to have raw foods. Detoxifying yourself physically, mentally, ethnically and spiritually is vital for spiritual progress.

India’s ancient culture included a comprehensive system of diet, and food preparation, which ensured that food was a means to physical and spiritual wellbeing. It is well said in Indian culture that“ Jaisa khao ann waise hove mann, Jaise piyo pani waise nikle vaani” That means food is the base of our behaviour and the kind of food & drink we consume not only decides the physical aspect of our body, but also decides the very way we think and feel.