"Food for thought"- by Shri Shri Nimishananda Guruji

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By
Shri Shri Nimishananda Guruji

Vedic Seers and Sages from times immemorial have clearly advocated that thoughts generated by the intellect form the very basis of human beings. Our ability to think sets us apart from animals. The way we think moulds our personality and shapes our life. If our thoughts are so important, what is the prime factor that decides what kind of thoughts we think? Our scriptures tell us that our thoughts depend on the food we eat. Some of us may find this very surprising.

Let us delve a little more into this. It is our intellect that gives us the prompt to eat when we are hungry. The whole beauty is that the intellect derives its own nourishment from the same food. The energy from the food goes not only to our gross physical body, but also to our brain through blood and oxygen. The brain which is the reservoir of the intellect, then acts as a tool and generates thought after thought.

The type of food we eat decides the kind of thoughts we think. If our food consists of meat and other heavy foodstuff, then it takes a long time to digest. Such food is called Tamasic and creates sloth and inertia in us, because of which our thinking becomes very slow and our thoughts are filled with doubt and suspicion. This kind of thinking generates innumerable troubles and conflicts in our life which are very hard to resolve. Our food may also be Rajasic or very pungent if it is laced with a lot of spices, onion, garlic and so on in order to satisfy our taste buds. Then the intellect, acting through the brain, pumps out a stream of hyper and revolting thoughts, bringing out anger, fury and obsessions, which are totally contrary to the very purpose of our life. Such thoughts make the path of life base and repulsive.

If our food is Satvic and consists of cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, milk and so on which are cooked with moderate spices, then soft, pure, divine, subtle energy is released from within us. The intellect churns out benevolent, selfless, sublime, peaceful thoughts making our lives pristine and pure. Such thoughts prompt and motivate us to seek our Soul through spiritual sadhana and establish us in tranquility, contentment, enlightenment and bliss by synchronising our vibrations to harmonise with the Cosmic Energy, which is the source of all creation. We will then engage ourselves in action for the well being of ourselves as well as others.

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