Swami Satchidananda gives Prasad (blessed food) to little boy on my lap, while little girl pronams Swamiji. [Photo by Chad; 2007]
Our eating habits can teach us many valuable life-lessons about living in the world. Food is a powerful part of people’s lives; our relationship with food is something we must encounter many times throughout the day. To find peaceful, healthful relations with food is not only good for the body, but also for the mind and soul as well.
Life-Lessons
When we eat to excess we suffer the consequences: we feel uncomfortable afterwards, it makes us lethargic, if done recurrently it adds to our weight and ultimately it makes us sick. Why do we do it then? Many times, we do not consider the consequences, but are only caught up in the desire to eat more and more in the moment. The life-lesson: always consider the after-effect of any action you do. After-effects are much better indicators of the beneficence of any action than how it feels initially. There is a saying, when you are faced with a decision, do what is more difficult; it is usually the right choice.
Another lesson from our relationship with food is the fact that many of the foods we crave are the wrong foods for us to eat. It seems a betrayal of the body to want those things that are injurious rather than salubrious. A child may eat something sugary for the first time: the eyes light up, a smile erupts and a request for more, please. Some people say they have a chocolate addiction; I say eat all you want, if it is sugar-free chocolate—there are few takers! When something is too good, it is likely not good for you. Oh this body, simply a nest of troubles! The life-lesson: be moderate—and be cautious of those things that feeds desire nature.
In our modern world products come in big packages and with great flair—meant to be consumed in extraordinary quantities. Super-sized packaging of food leads to super-sized bodies to match! Bigger is not better, certainly not better for you. Think about the actual size of your stomach and intestines, then think of how much we cram into them to be digested. It is truly amazing how much abuse our body endures, oftentimes without great complaint for many years. Life-lesson: rather than getting things because they are super-sized, that bigger is better—think about what the right-size is for you.
We can consume food without being conscious of tasting what we are eating, only taking mouthful after mouthful. To take in food with appreciation may sound like the opposite of what a spiritual person should do, but when you combine consciousness of good taste and awareness of the high quality of the food, and sprinkle it with a keen gratitude to the Giver of life and all good things, then the act of eating is spiritualized. Life-lesson: be conscious of the beauty in your life with a spirit of gratitude to your Infinite Beloved—in this way you appreciate and spiritualize all of life’s activities.
With the Holidays in season we can give “treats” to ourselves to the point of making this body sick. Hypocrites said, let your medicine be food, and your food medicine. Life lesson: Let all the activities of your body, mind and spirit be what is best and for highest in you, and through the law of cause and effect good things will come to you. What you give up in the moment can pay dividends in years to come. The law of reciprocity works for both the harmful things not done, as well as positive thoughtful words and deeds that are done. I am sure you agree, meditation stands right at the top of that list of treats, through which you imbibe the highest quality food for the soul.
Make this season a true celebration of all that is good, beneficial and uplifting. Treat yourself to the greatest gift in life, communion with God. In that, you may feast without limit with only good consequence. Learn life’s lessons, be wise in all things and find true happiness.
Photo: Prasad given for Mother’s Mahasamadhi Anniversary; 2007 Anandashram
