"Our Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent Baba has graciously given us guidance for maintaining good health Body, Mind and Spirit. Swami lovingly says:
"Man has two varieties of troubles: the physical due to the imbalance between the three humours, Vatha, Pittha and Sleshma, and the spiritual, due to the imbalance of the three gunas, Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas.
One peculiar fact about these two types of illness is that the cultivation of virtues cures both. Physical health is a prerequisite for mental health and mental health ensures physical health. An attitude of genrosity, of fortitude in the presence of sorrow and loss, a spirit of enthusiasm to do good, to be of service to the best of one's capacity; those build up the mind as well as the body. The very joy drived from service reacts on the body and makes you free from diseases. The body and mind are so closely interrelated." ~ Sai Baba
(Source: Sadhana the Inward path, P. 179)He further declares:
"Spiritual health is preserved and promoted by attention to three Gunas: Sathvika, Rajas, and Thamas. Health is preserved and promoted by attention to three humours: Vatha (wind) Pitha (bile) and Kapha (phlegm). Thri-dosha has to be avoided, that is to say, the three humours must not get vitiated or unbalanced. A healthy body is the best container for a healthy mind, illness makes the mind agitated and anxious. The material and the spiritual are the two pans in the balance. They have to be attended to, in equal measure, at least until a certain stage of progress is attained in spiritual development."
(Source: Sadhana the Inward Path, p. 178)
Sathya Sai Baba encourages His devotees to adopt a vegetarian and sathwic lifestyle. A sathwic lifestyle promotes harmony, peace, love, truth, dharma (right living), purity and balance in daily living. A vegetarian diet keeps our minds calm and tranquil; it also nourishes our bodies with pure, health-sustaining foods. The following are quotes on diet from our Divine Baba:
"Sathwic food is food that will not disturb the equanimity you earn through spiritual practice. Baba stresses that not only is food of major importance in maintaining physical health, but, “It is the food that determines the shape of the mind and it is the mind that will lead us to Godhead.” Swami calls for discrimination in choosing food that is “tasty, sustaining and pleasant...not too hot or too salty...” “dairy products in moderation, fruit, nuts, uncooked or half-cooked vegetables and greens...” “food which is juicy, food which is associated with oil, not with fat...and brings happiness on the physical plane.
"Krishna said, “Food is the formative force. Food makes man strong in body; the body is intimately connected with the mind. Strength of mind depends upon strength of body too. Moral conduct, good habits, spiritual effort – all depend upon the quality of the food; diseases, mental weakness, spiritual slackness – all are produced by faulty food.” Food to be sathwic should be capable of strengthening the mind as well as the body. It should not be too salty, too hot, too bitter, too sweet, or too sour. It should be not be taken while steaming hot. Food which fans the flames of thirst should be avoided. The general principle is that there should be a limit, a restraint. Food cooked in water should not be used the next day; it becomes harmful. Even fried articles should be consumed before they develop unpleasant odors. Rajasic food is the opposite of sathwic. It is too salty, too sweet, too hot...too sour, too odorous. Such food excites and intoxicates. There are three “purities” to be observed: purity of provisions; purity of the vessels in which the food is prepared; and the purity of the persons who serve the prepared food.
"Sathwic food, according to some, consists in milk and fruits. But, it is much more, it may not even be these. For the calories that one takes in through the mouth are but a small part of the intake of man. The intakes by the senses are part of the food that builds the individuals. The sounds heard, the sights seen, the tactile impressions sought or suffered, the air breathed, the environment that presses for attention, appreciation and adoption – the character and career of the individual. The quality of the food is determined by the vibrations that it is charged with, through the thought processes of the persons who handle it, prepare it and serve it. The 17th chapter of the Gita clearly defines the nature and tastes of the three types of “food” eaten by man, the food that promotes love, virtue, strength, happiness and cordiality is Sathwic; that which influences, arouses, intoxicates and heightens hunger and thirst is Rajasic; the food that depresses, disrupts, and causes disease is Thamasic.
"Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a devotee or not, he should give up meat eating. Why? Meat eating promotes only animal qualities. It has been well said that the food one consumes determines one’s thoughts. By eating the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these animals are imbibed. How sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained by the same five elements as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies, besides committing the sin of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely seek to become devotees of God have to give up non-vegetarian food. Calling themselves Sai devotees or devotees of Rama or Krishna, they fatten the chickens. How can they be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such a person as a devotee? Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside, they should give up this instant meat eating. Therefore, those who aspire to become devotees of God must give up meat, liquor and smoking." ~ Sathya Sai Baba
"Man has two varieties of troubles: the physical due to the imbalance between the three humours, Vatha, Pittha and Sleshma, and the spiritual, due to the imbalance of the three gunas, Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas.
One peculiar fact about these two types of illness is that the cultivation of virtues cures both. Physical health is a prerequisite for mental health and mental health ensures physical health. An attitude of genrosity, of fortitude in the presence of sorrow and loss, a spirit of enthusiasm to do good, to be of service to the best of one's capacity; those build up the mind as well as the body. The very joy drived from service reacts on the body and makes you free from diseases. The body and mind are so closely interrelated." ~ Sai Baba
(Source: Sadhana the Inward path, P. 179)He further declares:
"Spiritual health is preserved and promoted by attention to three Gunas: Sathvika, Rajas, and Thamas. Health is preserved and promoted by attention to three humours: Vatha (wind) Pitha (bile) and Kapha (phlegm). Thri-dosha has to be avoided, that is to say, the three humours must not get vitiated or unbalanced. A healthy body is the best container for a healthy mind, illness makes the mind agitated and anxious. The material and the spiritual are the two pans in the balance. They have to be attended to, in equal measure, at least until a certain stage of progress is attained in spiritual development."
(Source: Sadhana the Inward Path, p. 178)
Sathya Sai Baba encourages His devotees to adopt a vegetarian and sathwic lifestyle. A sathwic lifestyle promotes harmony, peace, love, truth, dharma (right living), purity and balance in daily living. A vegetarian diet keeps our minds calm and tranquil; it also nourishes our bodies with pure, health-sustaining foods. The following are quotes on diet from our Divine Baba:
"Sathwic food is food that will not disturb the equanimity you earn through spiritual practice. Baba stresses that not only is food of major importance in maintaining physical health, but, “It is the food that determines the shape of the mind and it is the mind that will lead us to Godhead.” Swami calls for discrimination in choosing food that is “tasty, sustaining and pleasant...not too hot or too salty...” “dairy products in moderation, fruit, nuts, uncooked or half-cooked vegetables and greens...” “food which is juicy, food which is associated with oil, not with fat...and brings happiness on the physical plane.
"Krishna said, “Food is the formative force. Food makes man strong in body; the body is intimately connected with the mind. Strength of mind depends upon strength of body too. Moral conduct, good habits, spiritual effort – all depend upon the quality of the food; diseases, mental weakness, spiritual slackness – all are produced by faulty food.” Food to be sathwic should be capable of strengthening the mind as well as the body. It should not be too salty, too hot, too bitter, too sweet, or too sour. It should be not be taken while steaming hot. Food which fans the flames of thirst should be avoided. The general principle is that there should be a limit, a restraint. Food cooked in water should not be used the next day; it becomes harmful. Even fried articles should be consumed before they develop unpleasant odors. Rajasic food is the opposite of sathwic. It is too salty, too sweet, too hot...too sour, too odorous. Such food excites and intoxicates. There are three “purities” to be observed: purity of provisions; purity of the vessels in which the food is prepared; and the purity of the persons who serve the prepared food.
"Sathwic food, according to some, consists in milk and fruits. But, it is much more, it may not even be these. For the calories that one takes in through the mouth are but a small part of the intake of man. The intakes by the senses are part of the food that builds the individuals. The sounds heard, the sights seen, the tactile impressions sought or suffered, the air breathed, the environment that presses for attention, appreciation and adoption – the character and career of the individual. The quality of the food is determined by the vibrations that it is charged with, through the thought processes of the persons who handle it, prepare it and serve it. The 17th chapter of the Gita clearly defines the nature and tastes of the three types of “food” eaten by man, the food that promotes love, virtue, strength, happiness and cordiality is Sathwic; that which influences, arouses, intoxicates and heightens hunger and thirst is Rajasic; the food that depresses, disrupts, and causes disease is Thamasic.
"Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a devotee or not, he should give up meat eating. Why? Meat eating promotes only animal qualities. It has been well said that the food one consumes determines one’s thoughts. By eating the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these animals are imbibed. How sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained by the same five elements as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies, besides committing the sin of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely seek to become devotees of God have to give up non-vegetarian food. Calling themselves Sai devotees or devotees of Rama or Krishna, they fatten the chickens. How can they be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such a person as a devotee? Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside, they should give up this instant meat eating. Therefore, those who aspire to become devotees of God must give up meat, liquor and smoking." ~ Sathya Sai Baba
