The teachings is sri Ramana maharshi.

*The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi in His Own Words– 081 *

_Sattvic Diet and Fasting _

Devotee: Are there any aids to (1) concentration, and (2) casting off distractions?

Bhagavan: Physically, the digestive and other organs are to be kept free from irritation. Therefore food is regulated both in quantity and quality. Non-irritants are eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, wine, opium, and so on. Avoid constipation, drowsiness and excitement and all foods which induce them. Mentally, take interest in one thing and fix the mind on it. Let that interest be self-absorbing to the exclusion of everything else. This is dispassion (vairagya) and concentration.

Mrs. Pigott returned from Madras for a further visit and asked questions concerning diet.

Mrs. P: What diet is suitable for a person engaged in spiritual practice?

B: Sattvic food in moderate quantities.

Mrs. P: What food is sattvic?

B: Bread, fruit, vegetables, milk and such things.

Mrs. P: We Europeans are accustomed to a particular diet and change of diet affects the health and weakens the mind. Isn’t it necessary to keep up physical health?

B: Quite necessary. The weaker the body, the stronger the mind grows.

Mrs. P: In the absence of our usual diet our health suffers and the mind loses strength.

B: What do you mean by ‘strength of mind’?

Mrs. P: The power to eliminate worldly attachment.

B: The quality of one’s food influences the mind. The mind feeds on the food consumed.

Mrs. P: Really! But how can Europeans accommodate themselves to sattvic food?

B: (turning to Mr. Evans-Wentz) You have been taking our food. Does it inconvenience you at all?

E.W: No, because I am accustomed to it.

B: Custom is only an adjustment to environment. It is the mind that matters. The fact is that the mind has been trained to find certain foods good and palatable. The necessary food value is obtainable in vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food; only the mind desires the sort of food that it is used to and which it considers palatable.

Mrs. P: Do these restrictions apply to the realised man also?

B: He is stabilised and not influenced by the food he takes.

D: Can fasting help towards Realisation?

B: Yes, but it is only a temporary help. It is mental fasting that is the real aid. Fasting is not an end in itself. There must be spiritual development at the same time. Absolute fasting weakens the mind too and leaves you without sufficient strength for the spiritual quest. Therefore eat in moderation and continue the quest.

D: They say that ten days after breaking a month’s fast the mind becomes pure and steady and remains so forever.

B: Yes, but only if the spiritual quest has been kept up right through the fast.

_Edited by: Arthur Osborne_

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