7. NOTHING

MYSTERIOUS AGAIN!

TRADITION DEMYSTIFIED

NOTHING MYSTERIOUS AGAIN! TRADITION DEMYSTIFIED

Q. Swamiji, is vegetarianism necessary for leading a spiritual life?

Yes!

Now you are going to be thinking, Why?

If I say that I talk on the strength of my own experience, it won't be easy for you to believe me, because our minds have got accustomed to demanding 'scientific proof' for everything.

We manage to accept concepts like Einstein's 'spacetime' or the theories of Quantum Physics, even though we have never encountered (and never will encounter) these phenomena in our daily lives. Purely because tests have been made in a laboratory somewhere, and some statistics (which you can't understand) have been produced to support them, you feel compelled to believe.

In fact, the greatest truths of our universe cannot be proved by science; they are beyond science. Even Einstein, and most modern quantum physicists, will agree to that!

Anyway, let me give you a scientific explanation of the advantages of vegetarianism in spiritual life.

To understand this, you must first understand something about the way the human brain works.

The brain registers activity in terms of minute electric currents. When it receives information, or performs certain tasks, it generates electric currents of different frequencies or rhythms. These currents are called brain waves.

There are 4 basic kinds of brain waves, corresponding to different activities:

delta waves (produced during deep sleep), alpha waves (produced during meditation), theta waves (produced during periods of strong emotion) and beta waves (produced when the frontal lobe of the brain is stimulated, during complex mathematical or analytical activity).

Alpha waves induce a feeling of peace, tranquility and relaxed concentration that is typical of meditation and even telepathy. So all meditation techniques, whether consciously or unconsciously, try to create the right conditions for the production of alpha waves in the brain.

The strange thing about alpha waves is, they are produced by the brain at times when the oxygen supply to the brain is low. Normally we assume that lower oxygen supply will lower brain activity. But the fact is, during low-oxygen periods, the brain goes into overdrive. The blood vessels in the brain dilate to allow more blood inflow, and this creates a feeling of relaxation. Simultaneously, the brain starts producing the 'relaxing' alpha waves.

So one main condition for alpha wave production is lower oxygen supply to the brain. Contrary to what we think, this doesn't affect the brain adversely in any way.

Now coming to food.

Meat is highly acidic in nature, and directly increases blood acidity. To compensate for this, the lungs take in lesser carbon-dioxide (which is also acidic) and take in more oxygen instead. So the blood reaching the brain will also have more oxygen and less carbon-dioxide.

By contrast, vegetables reduce the acidity of blood. To maintain the pH balance (acid-alkali balance) in the blood, the lungs take in more acidic carbon-dioxide. So the blood reaching the brain will also have less oxygen.

This creates the perfect condition for the brain to start producing alpha waves, which help in meditation.

This is also why high altitudes with lower oxygen levels (eg. the Himalayas) have been preferred by rishis (sages) since ancient times.

Of course, very few people are aware of the science behind vegetarianism. You don't need to know it, you can automatically feel the difference with a vegetarian diet.

Once you start meditating regularly, your body becomes gradually refined, becomes more fit for meditation. Then, just like your body knows which food to avoid when you have a stomach upset, it will naturally drop the foods which stop you from meditating properly.

But I say to you, don't force vegetarianism on yourself, even if you are going to take up meditation.

If you do that, the repressed desires will grow stronger and you simply won't be able to come out of their influence.

If you can drop meat without much trouble, do it.

Otherwise go ahead and enjoy it without worries or guilt. Please don't feel guilty about it!

Ultimately, the guilt can cause more energy blockages in your system; it can do more harm than the meat!

When your body is ready, it will drop the habit on its own.

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Q. Is fasting really beneficial for health?

Yes.

Done in the right way, fasting is definitely beneficial.

Fasting has become more and more important in our time because of our eating habits, which are getting worse day by day!

Don't think fasting is done just for religious purposes. Behind all these traditions there are definite scientific reasons.

In Sanskrit we say Annam Brahma, Food is God.

Food is the energy which sustains our lives. Eating should be like a form of worship.

But how do we normally treat our stomach? We just keep throwing anything and everything into it! No other animal eats more than 2-3 kinds of food. In fact, other than our domesticated animals, the others just eat one kind of food throughout their lives. The lion eats only meat, the deer eats only grass. Whatever nutrition they need is supplied by that one food.

Not only that, every other animal eats only what is necessary for it at that point of time. Greed is unheard-of in the animal world!

If you notice babies, they won't drink a single drop of milk more than they need, no matter how much you force them! But we are totally deaf to the warning signals given by our stomach. Not only do we dump all kinds of food into it, we also eat much more than necessary. We treat our stomachs like a garbage dump for food!

What is the purpose of food? To give us energy.

But do we normally feel energetic after eating? NO! Usually we would all love to have a good nap after eating! To say that we feel sleepy after eating, is like saying that it grows dark when the sun rises! It is completely unnatural.

What are we doing wrong?

We are choking our system with food!

The energy used up in digestion is more than the energy released by the food. So after eating, we actually become low on energy!

The digestive energy in our body is known as jataraagni, the basic fire.

Of the five major elements (panchabhootas), fire, is the meeting-point of matter and energy. Fire is that shakti (force) which transforms matter into energy.

On normal days, when we tax our stomachs by excessive and careless eating, the entire energy of the jataraagni is used up in digesting this food and cleansing the body of toxins. It is caught up with 'maintenance work'. We don't give the jataraagni a chance to perform its other important duties.

Jataraagni is a great cleansing force. When we practise fasting, jataraagni not only burns away the excess fat from our bodies, but also cleanses the negative energy which we have accumulated.

Just as poor eating habits can cause fat deposits to accumulate in our physical bodies, our suppressed emotions form a layer in our energy bodies. And over the years, just as cholesterol blocks the arteries and disrupts the blood flow in the heart, 'energy blocks' disturb the free flow of energy throughout our body.

On the days when we give the stomach rest, jataraagni is available to dissolve these energy blocks and convert the negative energy into positive energy.

That's why, when you are fasting, you usually feel more light and energetic, not tired! Just try it and see for yourself. In fact, healing and meditation will give you better results on days when you are fasting. Only if you are suffering from diabetes or acidity, it will be better to consult your doctor before deciding on fasting.

The actual days on which you fast don't matter; it's just a matter of social convention. Fasting on a particular day is followed because it's easier to keep track and be regular (e.g. every Friday or every full moon day).

But fasting at least once a fortnight is an excellent way of cleansing the body. Total fasting (drinking only water) is best, but if you can't manage that, at least try a juice or fruit diet.

It's not as difficult as it sounds! After the first few hours of intense hunger, the hunger fades on its own. And don't worry, nothing will happen to you, you won't die!

Do you know, a healthy man can survive up to 90 days on just water; our body contains enough energy reserves for 90 days. I am only asking you to give your stomach a break for 24 hours!

NO THANK YOU!

DON'T SAY IT, FEEL IT

NO THANK YOU!

DON'T SAY IT, FEEL IT

All your life, you use the words Thank You.

Right from childhood, you are taught to say Thank You. By the time we grow into adults, it has become a part of us. We use the words mechanically, in a businesslike way.

The words Thank you rarely carry the emotion that they are supposed to: gratitude.

In fact, we base our whole life on the opposite emotion: expectation.

In our relationships, we demand love. In society, we demand attention. From ourselves, we demand better and better performance. And from God, we demand everything that no one else can give us!

We keep on asking, demanding - without giving thanks for what we already have.

Gratitude is not some kind of morality which is imposed upon you.

It is a basic principle for your own happiness!

As long as you keep wanting, you are under the control of external events. When you live in gratitude, no one or nothing else can touch your happiness.

When you live with expectations, there is bound to be a gap between your expectations and their fulfillment. The moment one desire is satisfied, ten more will spring up.

Of course, in everyone's life, there will be some ups and downs. There will always be some unfulfilled desires. It is natural. As they say, it's simply a question of whether you choose to see the glass as half full or half empty!

As long as you focus on what you don't have, you will sense a vacuum in your life. The words, 'I want…' is like a black hole. It is sure to swallow up whatever you already have in your life, and leave you feeling empty.

Once a man went to Ramana Maharishi and said, Bhagwan, I want peace!

Ramana replied, From your own statement, just remove the word 'I', remove the word 'want' and what remains is Peace!

Remove the ego, remove the expectation, and peace is already yours.

You have heard the story of Shiva and the Brahma Kapala. This Brahma Kapala is inside all of us. It is nothing but our own ego.

The ego is such that it swallows everything!

In your own life, just think of the things you are wishing for right now. Make a list.

Now make a list of the things you already have. Which list makes you happy, and which list makes you uneasy?

The answer is obvious.

So which list should you be focusing on? Every living thing has the sense to focus on preserving its own happiness! Why don't we?

Whether you want to base your life on asking, or on gratitude, is entirely up to you.

There are only two kinds of religion in the world: religions based on prayer, and religions based on gratitude.

The religion of prayer can be followed by the masses. The religion of gratitude can be followed only by a select few. With prayer comes supplication, expectation. With gratitude comes spirituality.

That is the principle behind Sufism, behind Hasidism. It is the art of living in gratitude, the art of living life in such a way that everything becomes holy. The Sufis and Bhavuls sing and dance to express their gratitude to Existence. Singing and dancing is a form of prayer for them.

Showing your gratitude is not a matter of spending hours doing pooja. Just being joyful, being aware of the gift of life, is enough.

Showing gratitude has become such a ritual, such a duty for us, that we have forgotten what real gratitude feels like.

All your life you are taught to be grateful to your parents, to your teachers, to friends and strangers. This is just a conditioning! When real gratitude arises, you will see what a tremendous difference there is! Gratitude is nothing but an upsurge of joy, of compassion. It flows from you without your awareness; you can't help it!

We have not tasted the sweetness of gratitude, the tremendous sense of fulfillment that you feel when you pay your gratitude to Existence.

A small story:

The Sufi master Junnaid used to pay his gratitude to God five times every day. At one time, he and his followers were wandering through some villages where Sufism was not accepted.

In the first village, people refused to give them alms, so they were forced to go without food that day. The next day, the same thing happened. On the third day, the village they passed through was so hostile that they were driven out with sticks and stones.

That night as usual, Junnaid knelt down and offered his gratitude to God. Seeing this, some of his disciples were furious.

For three days we have gone without food, Master! Today we were driven out of that village like dogs! Is this what you are offering your gratitude for? they questioned him.

Junnaid replied, I never used to thank Existence for anything in particular! I never felt grateful for any reason. Then how can I stop being grateful for any reason? My gratitude doesn't need reasons; it simply flows.

Life itself is a great gift from Existence.

Living itself is enough reason to be grateful. Existence is showering on us! The sunshine, the flowers, your body, your life; did you ask for any of these?

Have we worked very hard to deserve life?

Can anyone say that they have spent time in God's kitchen or garden, labouring hard so that they are granted this life?

No!

Life has simply been gifted to us.

That's why we value it so cheaply, that's why we take life for granted. In the beginning, all religions, all cultures used to emphasize gratitude to Life. But gradually, we have forgotten it. In India, we have the phrase, Annam Brahma (Food is God). Christians and Jews say grace before every meal. But how often do we really feel the gratitude? Usually we just mumble the words out of habit.

One of my devotees told me this story; this really happened: He used to call his wife from office every afternoon at lunchtime. Just before hanging up, he always used to tell her, I love you.

One day, his boss called him on the phone at lunchtime. After speaking, he said without thinking, I love you! And unfortunately for him, his boss was a lady! You can imagine what happened after that.

This is what happens when you just act out of habit, without internalizing the meaning of the words. Just as this man used to say I love you casually, without really feeling any love, we also say Thank you without any true sense of gratitude.

In Tantra, before making love, the two people worship each other, because they are going to enter into the merging of two divine energies. They welcome each other with reverence and gratitude.

That is the difference between Sex, Love and Compassion!

This doesn't apply to your relationships alone. It is an evaluation of your attitude towards life itself.

When you give and take with only expectation, and no respect, your relationship with life will be like sex. It is bound to result in short-term pleasure, and long-term frustration.

When you give and take with expectation, but also with respect, then it is Love. This is the way most of us live. We respect life, but we also get hurt when life doesn't give us what we want.

With compassion, there is no expectation; only a free and joyful giving. Like the flower spreads its fragrance without thinking about whether it will be appreciated or not, we just give love out of the overflowing of compassion.

And don't think that if you give without expecting, you will get nothing in return! It is exactly the opposite. When you live in gratitude, you will be blessed by Life.

In compassion, you are grateful that the other accepts what you give, helps you share, eases the burden of your love. Have you ever thought about that? Not to be loved is very difficult, but not being allowed to love is far worse! If someone doesn't return your love, you can bear it. But if someone doesn't even accept your love, can you bear it? We are all born to give; we are just not aware of it.

In India, we have a beautiful concept that is unheard of in the West: in India, it is the giver who says thank you!

This is because, the other has given him a chance to give, has accepted his offering. In India it is considered a sin to take, and a privilege to give. So the giver thanks the taker for doing him a favour, for accepting his offering. But I say, when you give and accept without expectation, both become sacred acts. As Shakespeare says so beautifully about compassion; both he who gives and he who receives are blessed.

The only way to have a live connection with reality, with Existence, is through gratitude.

When you are loving, flowing, filled with gratitude, you will always feel the tremendous energy of Existence flow through you.

Don't say thank you, be a thank you!

Don't pay gratitude, become gratitude!

This is Tathata - accepting whatever life gives you with reverence and gratitude.

Gratitude is the most effortless path to lifelong happiness. Thank you!