Non-vegetarian food is the cause of several diseases like cancer.
You might have read in journals and newspapers that most of
the people in Singapore eat fish. Consequently, they are
infected by several harmful micro-organisms. Similar instances
were reported from various parts of Bharat. It is because of
unhealthy food that people suffer from diseases. Many are
under the mistaken notion that non-vegetarian food gives
them strength, but in reality it makes them weak.
Once you spoil your health by partaking of non-vegetarian food,
you will never be able to regain your health even if you spend
the rest of your life in forests eating fruits and tubers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As is the food so is the mind. As is the mind so is the man.
Hence, one must necessarily partake of sacred and sattwic food
to lead a happy and healthy life.
Our body is made up of flesh. Why should you feed it again with flesh?
Such unsacred food gives rise to unsacred thoughts.
When you are in the company of others, make sure that your body
is clean and your mouth does not emit bad smell. You should take
proper care of your health in every possible way. When your body
is clean and healthy and when your thoughts, words and deeds are pure,
you will be loved by one and all.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you may go, ensure that you are presentable and acceptable in every way.
Only then will you earn the respect of others. Always keep your mouth clean.
Bad breath leads to various diseases. Not merely that, it will cause inconvenience
to others. If your mouth emits foul smell, people try to avoid you. Hence, the moment
you get up from bed in the morning, you should brush your teeth and clean your tongue
thoroughly. When you keep your mouth fresh and clean, you will enjoy good health.
You should take care that no food particle sticks between your teeth. Some people use
a hard brush to clean their teeth. As a result, their gums start bleeding. But I use a very
soft brush. Even now My teeth are so strong that I can crack a betel nut. My students
are struck with awe and wonder when they witness My physical power.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It will be a matter of shame that you spoil your health and submit yourself to the hands of a doctor.
Hence, each one has to take care of one’s own health. One should never be dependent on others.
This is what I teach to My students quite often. Get up early in the morning, do some jogging and
exercise so as to keep your body fit. During examination time, students try to keep themselves awake
in the night for late hours to study. They keep dozing with books in front of them. Such studies will
take you nowhere. Do not force yourself to study when you feel sleepy. Keep the books aside and
go to bed peacefully. You should study only when your mind is fresh and attentive.
Students!
First and foremost, take care of your health. Your education will prove as mere waste if you do not maintain proper health. Do not rest content with secular education. You should also acquire Educare. Education is related to gathering outside information, whereas Educare relates to inward transformation. Educare is that which makes the human values blossom from within. Whether you have acquired educare or mere education will become evident in your speech. A word of caution in this regard - you should not talk loosely. Especially when you speak to elders, you should carefully frame your sentences and speak with all humility and respect. True education is not limited to textual knowledge. You should manifest the human values of truth, righteousness, love, peace and non-violence. Truth should not be confined to mere words. It should be translated into deeds.
- from the Divine Discourse delivered by
(Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 16th March, 2005) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mothers in ancient India used to teach good
things
and good habits to their children thus:
Get up early in the morning at the crowing of the
cock,
Have a bath after your morning ablutions,
Wear a proper dress.
Eat properly and moderately.
Go to school and study diligently.
Earn a good name.
Don’t move out when it is raining,
And never go near the ditches.
Take part in games,
Run and play.
If you abide by all these rules,
You will have both health and wealth.
- from the Divine Discourse
delivered by
(Sri
Sathya Sai Baba on Easwaramma Day on 6th May, 2005)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.................. keep your mouth always fresh and clean. Several
diseases will affect you due to unclean mouth. It is not good
for you to eat anything that you come across, when you feel hungry.
Whether it is for keeping good health or happiness,
God’s grace is important. Hence, always pray to God
- from the Divine Discourse
delivered by
(Sri
Sathya Sai Baba on Easwaramma Day on 6th May, 2005)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...Normally, I do not like to speak about My physical
self. However, I am revealing certain aspects of My daily routine
with the hope that they will serve as guidelines for you. I wake
up four times during night. Usually I get up from bed at 12 hours
at midnight, brush My teeth and also clean the tongue and mouth
thoroughly. Again, I repeat the process at 1.30 a.m., 3 a.m. and
4.30 a.m.
I strictly adhere to this routine so that My tongue,
mouth and teeth are always clean. I feel happy only when My tongue
and mouth are clean.
A clean tongue helps in maintaining purity of body
and mind. ... During our sleep, bacteria get generated and they
stick to our tongue and teeth on all sides of the mouth. They
have to be removed by proper brushing of the teeth and a thorough
cleaning of the tongue and mouth. Only then can we be healthy
and happy. Apart from physical cleaning, our tongue must be engaged
in speaking sacred and pure words. ... I am always pure in body
and mind. My words are pure, My thoughts are pure and My acts
are pure and sacred. ... A human being should always be natural
and pure.
- from the Divine Discourse
delivered by
(Sri
Sathya Sai Baba during DASARA on 21st Oct, 2004)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As is the food, so is the head.
The feelings of the heart reflect the thought in the head (mind).
Therefore, we must take the right food. You should never take
such food as would kindle the flames of anger and envy in you.
Since ancient times, sages in India have observed
strict diet regulations. They always made it a point to consume
sattwic food, not rajasic food. By consuming rajasic food, anger
is generated. On the other hand, if you
consume thamasic food, you will feel sleepy even
while you eat. Therefore, both rajasic and thamasic types of food
must be avoided. Only sattwic food must be taken. Excess of chillies,
salt and sour items must be avoided in food.
Before you take food, never forget to offer your
prayers:
Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam
Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam
Brahma Karma Samadhina.
(Brahman is the ladle as well as the oblation.
He is the sacrificial fire as also the sacrificer.
And finally, Brahman is the goal of one who is engaged in the
act of
sacrifice.)
When you pray in this manner before you partake
of your food, God immediately responds thus:
Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva
Praninam Dehamasritah
Pranapana Samayukta
Pachamyannam Chaturvidham.
(I am present in all beings in the form of digestive
fire. United with the Prana (exhalation) and Apana (inhalation),
it is I who consume the four kinds of food.)
While taking food, you must always ensure that you
take only such items which you can easily digest. Never consume
food which you cannot digest.
Just as you sit down happily for taking food, so
also when you get up after taking your food, you must feel happy
and light. Some people sit for food with a light stomach and get
up with a heavy stomach after eating bellyful. This is not the
proper method of taking food.
Always take light food.
- from the Divine
Discourse delivered by Bhagawan
(Sri
Sathya Sai Baba on Ganesh Chaturthi, 2004
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God has created natural remedies for various ailments
that afflict man, but man is unable to understand this truth.
People take bath in the sea, but after they return
home,
they again take a fresh water bath. They do not recognise
the benefits that they get out of sea water bath. After you take
a bath in the sea, do not again take a fresh water bath for the
whole day. The salt that gets stuck to your skin will cure you
of various skin diseases.
You find grass lawns in many places. They are lush
green, soft and comfortable to sit. You find white grass in the
midst of green grass. If you eat just two blades of white grass,
you will be free from diarrhoea. Even dogs know more than what
man knows in this respect. When people let loose their pet dogs
once in a week, they go to the lawns and eat white grass. They
do so as they are aware that white grass cures their indigestion.
There is God in dog also.
Whenever a dog has high temperature, it does not
eat anything. Even if you offer milk, it does not drink. What
is the reason? The dog knows that when it has fever, it should
starve. But today even the educated do
not observe the dietary regulations when they are
sick. They go to a hotel and eat Dosa even when they have fever.
Don't they know that they should
not overload their stomach when they have fever?
Even a dog is careful in this respect but not man.
Modern man does not think before he acts. He is always in haste.
Haste makes waste, waste makes worry. So, do not be in a hurry.
Hurry, worry, curry, these are the main causes for heart diseases.
Never be in a hurry. Give up all worries and reduce the intake
of curry (fat). Then you will be free from heart diseases. When
a fat person goes to a doctor, the first thing the doctor tells
him is to reduce his weight.
It is said, Vaidyo Narayano Harihi (doctor is verily
God). God is your doctor, God is your friend and God is your relation.
Forms are different, but God is one.
- from the Divine
Discourse delivered by Bhagawan
(Sri
Sathya Sai Baba on 22-OCT-2001
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We often do certain acts inadvertently. For example,
while drinking milk
or coffee we indulge in conversation. Then the milk
will spill and spatter on our dress and may even get our throat
choked.
We should never talk while drinking something or
eating. In the olden days the great Rishis used to maintain silence
while eating or drinking. Not only that; they invariably used
to chant the following mantra before partaking of the food.
"Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam
Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam
Brahma Karma Samadhina.”
You affirm that the food is an offering to Brahman.
Then where is Brahman? He is within. So, immediately God replies
from within:
Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva
Praninam Dehamasritah
Pranapana Samayuktah
Pachamyannam Chaturvidham.
If you talk while taking food, the digestive
system will be spoiled. Once the digestive system is spoiled,
several diseases will confront you. Pray to God silently keeping
your eyes closed and then partake of your food. Most of the children
do not know this rule. Take your food in silence in a calm atmosphere.
Do not howl, talk and chit chat. Do not laugh or cry while taking
food. Do not entertain any worry before or while taking food.
These are some of the precautions one has to take to lead a happy
daily life.
- Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba
(
Discourse by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 12-OCT-2002)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God has created natural remedies for various ailments
that afflict man, but man is unable to understand this truth.
People take bath in the sea, but after they return home, they
again take a fresh water bath. They do not recognise the benefits
that they get out of sea water bath. After you take a bath in
the sea, do not again take a fresh water bath for the whole day.
The salt that gets stuck to your skin will cure you of various
skin diseases.
You find grass lawns in many places. They are lush
green, soft and comfortable to sit. You find white grass in the
midst of green grass. If you eat just two blades of white grass,
you will be free from diarrhoea. Even dogs know more than what
man knows in this respect. When people let loose their pet dogs
once in a week, they go to the lawns and eat white grass. They
do so as they are aware that white grass cures their indigestion.
There is God in dog also. Whenever a dog has high
temperature, it does not eat anything. Even if you offer milk,
it does not drink. What is the reason? The dog knows that when
it has fever, it should starve. But today even the educated do
not observe the dietary regulations when they are sick. They go
to a hotel and eat Dosa even when they have fever. Don't they
know that they should not overload their stomach when they have
fever? Even a dog is careful in this respect but not man.
Modern man does not think before he acts. He is
always in haste. Haste makes waste, waste makes worry. So, do
not be in a hurry. Hurry, worry, curry, these are the main causes
for heart diseases. Never be in a hurry. Give up all worries and
reduce the intake of curry (fat). Then you will be free from heart
diseases.
- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba
(
from a Discourse Bhagawan during Dasara Festival 22-10-2001)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The food that we eat contains many metals
like gold, copper, iron, etc. Iron content is more in leafy vegetables.
Our food is responsible for the formation of lakhs of cells which
constitute human body. So it is food that developes and strengths
our body Take care that the food you eat helps you to maintain
good health. Do not consume stale food. It is like poison.
- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba
Discourse
on (13th October 2002)
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since ancient times, Bharatiyas adhered to
such sacred traditions implicitly. People decorate their houses
with buntings of green leaves on festival days. Big pandals of
mango leaves and plantain leaves are erected at the time of marriages.
Green leaves are given place of prominence in such decorations.
What is so special about them?
Can’t we have a shamiana instead? No, that
is not in accordance with our ancient tradition. What is the logic
behind this tradition?
As you are aware, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon
dioxide which pollutes the atmosphere. At the time of marriages,
many people gather at one place. As a result, more and more carbon
dioxide is released into the air and the atmosphere gets polluted.
The green leaves of the pandal inhale the carbon dioxide and release
oxygen and thus purify the atmosphere. In this manner, they bestow
health and happiness on us. Thus, every tradition of Bharat has
a profound inner meaning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In villages, people sprinkle cow dung mixed with
water in front of their homes. It is considered to be auspicious.
What is the reason? Cow dung destroys disease-causing germs and
thus helps maintain good health. It can cure many diseases. Today
people of other countries have recognised this truth and are taking
full advantage of it. But the Bharatiyas are not making efforts
in this direction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In earlier days, cow dung was used as a remedy for
wounds. People used to bandage the wound with cow dung. In modern
times, people have a wrong notion that the wound becomes septic
if cow dung is bandaged over it. It may become gangrain also,
they argue. It is a baseless argument. If cow dung is applied,
the wound will be healed in three days. The cow dung has such
sacred power.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even the cow urine has medicinal properties. It
is mixed in water and sprinkled on people infected with the pox.
But, the modern trend is against such natural remedies, which
are in fact, beneficial to one and all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strive to attain purity of heart. Let this be your
foremost endeavour. With purity of heart, you can achieve anything.
In order to attain purity of heart, you have to partake of sacred
food. One who cooks food should have sacred feelings. In olden
days, orthodox Brahmins used to insist on partaking of food prepared
by their wives only. The reason being, housewives wish for the
well-being of the entire family and prepare food. On the other
hand, if you employ cooks, God knows with what feelings they prepare
the food! The unsacred thoughts of the cook enter the food, which
in turn poisons your mind. Annam Brahma (food is God). Hence,
it should be prepared with sacred feelings. Mere physical cleanliness
will not suffice, the mind also should be pure.
—
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Discourse
on 15th April. 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should see to it that the vegetables used for
preparing food are procured in a righteous manner. For example,
husband brings vegetables from the market. He might have misused
his position of authority and brought them without making payment
or the vendors themselves might have procured the vegetables by
unfair means. When such vegetables are consumed, your mind gets
polluted. You do not realise that the food you eat is responsible
for the actions you perform. Unsacred food makes you do unsacred
deeds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A car needs petrol to run. In the same way, the
body requires food to sustain it. So, one has to eat something
or the other to sustain the body. Sometimes, you get bad dreams
and bad visions during meditation. This is the result of unsacred
food. You have to enquire before cooking whether the provisions
are got through sacred means. Only then the food becomes fit for
consumption.
Before partaking of food, you should pray,
Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam
Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam
Brahma Karma Samadhina.
If you pray with sacred feelings, the food
gets sanctified. Before partaking of food, chant the sacred Mantra.
Then no unsacredness would enter your heart.
— Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Discourse
on 23rd Nov. 2002
Food
Habits
On this day of Vinayaka Chaturthi,
people make Kudumulu and Undrallu as special dishes and offer
them to Vinayaka. They are special and unique in the sense that
they are cooked on steam without any oil content. Til seeds, rice
flour and jaggery are mixed, made into balls, cooked in steam
and offered to Vinayaka. You should enquire into the purpose of
making such an offering.
- Till seeds are good for the eyes.
- Steam-cooked preparations without any oil content
are good for your digestive system.
- One who partakes of such food will be free from
blood pressure and blood sugar and will always enjoy sound health
and happiness.
- Food preparations, which are cooked on fire with
oil content, are harmful to Jatharagni (digestive fire). Such
food gives rise to various diseases.
- One can lead a long, happy and healthy life,
if one avoids food with oil content.
Vinayaka has a pot-belly but he has
perfect health as he partakes of steam-cooked food without oil
content.
—
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Source:
From VINAYAKA CHATURTHI Discourse (12th September 2002) http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/
Food Habits
Excessive intake of food results in obesity and,
consequently,
- Heart will be subjected to greater strain to
pump blood.
- Blood travels a distance of 12,000 miles in the
body with each heartbeat
- With increase in obesity, the circulation of
blood and hence the functioning of heart will be impaired.
Hence, one should exercise control over one's
food habits. In fact that is what Vinayaka does.
— Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba
Source:
From VINAYAKA CHATURTHI Discourse (12th September 2002) http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/
Today, a sixteen-year-old boy looks like a sixty-year-old
man!
Bad habits are the main reason for this premature ageing.
- In the first instance, as soon as you arise form bed,
brush your teeth well and clean your tongue.
- The mouth is the main entry point to the entire body.
There is always the danger of germs entering the body
from an unclean mouth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintaining such good health was common in ancient
India.
Bheeshma was 115 years old when he assumed the command of the
Kaurava army! Bheeshma, Arjuna, and Krishna all had healthy,
active and strong bodies and hence were always happy. They were
those men and women who set ideals to the society. Their good
health was caused by correct diet and sleep at the right time
and in right quantity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some helpful hints to maintain good health would
be:
- Wake up at the crack of dawn, when the cock crows;
- Finish your ablutions and bath;
- Never move about in slushy areas and places where garbage is
dumped;
- Participate in games and sports with Joy.
Today, people get up at 8/9 AM! This is because
the entire night is wasted away in watching TV or listening to
the radio.
—
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Discourse on 27th May 2002
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