EFFECT OF DIET IN MEDITATION

 

Human body is made of three humours namely Vatt (Air), Kaph (Phlegm) And Pitta (Bile) which are determinant of person’s mental and physical qualities. Usually, only one type of humours dominates. Therefore, one’s diet should be planned keeping one’s respective humour in view otherwise one has to suffer with physical as well as mental health problems. Be choosy and disciplined as far as health is concerned. For Vatt humour, the indifferent things like cereal and oily food are suitable. For Pitta humour, things having cooling temperament are suitable while for Kaph humour, things having heating temperament are fit for consumption.

Do not follow the rule ‘Eat what you get’. Be conscious of your intake. Take food only when your body makes a demand for it. Take meal in time and do not stuff food. The condition of our mind and our life-style are directly influenced with our intake. Our intake modifies the inner climate of mind. The favourable condition for controlling the mind may be moulded with a well thought-out intake of food. As a matter of experience, the practice of meditation just after taking meal is not feasible because digestive system hinders in concentration.

A nutrient, well-balanced, vegetarian and simple diet is called Satwik diet. Satwik diet is fit for meditation because it lets one undergo peace and concentration. A non-vegetarian, fried and spicy diet and highly processed diet is called Tamasik diet. Tamasik diet causes laziness. A mix of both satwik and tamasik diet as well as junk food and fast food is called Rajasik diet. Rajasik diet causes nervousness and a fall in concentration. Although human-being is omnivorous yet a Satwik diet should be preferred as a routine for the purification and the elevation of positive qualities.

Annamaya kosha, the physical body visible to us, is made of the food that we consume. Positive and negative properties of sun energy exist in all types of natural foods and drinks in varying degrees which our body requires in different proportions. Keep yourself away from preserved, high sugar and fatty foods the quality of which becomes low due to high processing. You should take a nutrient, well balanced and fresh diet containing green leafy vegetables, fruit, just cooked vegetables, plenty of salads, sprout and roots rich with high protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fibre etc. As a rule, an ideal ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fats should normally be 100 gram: 400 gram: 100 gram.

Like meditation, the mental balance may also be discovered through food. Avoid intoxicants. Do you notice any person, who is drunk, practising meditation? A person, in case of intoxicant state, is in a darkened state of mind in which meditation is not easily possible. Food items that cause harm to body are also injurious to the mental state. Abstain from those things which are unfit for both mind and body.

In case of empty stomach, no meditation is possible. Mind works well when you are well satisfied with sufficient food. Hunger creates physical and mental disorders and deficiencies. As body becomes weak in case of less, imbalanced and deficient intake, so happens with the mind. As a rule, avoid the practice of both overeating and undereating.  

A good meal is different for different categories of people. A good meal is that, after consumption of which, you feel healthy, you sleep well and your digestive system is in order. More quantity of food is needed in case of men, growing children, people doing hard physical work and pregnant women in comparison to women, people doing mental work, old people and people suffering from illness. However, the quality of food must be high and it cannot be compromised what come may.