Page 17 - Living Aloha Magazine January February 2017 Issue

The next category of food is called rajasic. Rajasic disturbance leads to an agitated mind-state that hinders
foods may be good for the body and not the mind, or the practice of meditation. A great substitute for the flavor
good for the mind and not the body. Some examples of onions and garlic is an Indian spice called asafoetida,
of these foods include coffee, black tea, chocolate, hot also known as hing. This spice is available at many natural
spices, and some medicines. These foods can cause the foods stores and Asian markets. It only takes a little, as the
mind to become agitated, nervous and restless. Rajasic spice is very powerful. In addition to enhancing the flavor
foods are not the most conducive for those who are of your foods, asafoetida is beneficial for digestion.
trying to calm and direct the mind through yoga and
meditation practices. Some rajasic foods are acceptable Mushrooms can be good for some medicinal uses, but due
for yogis in small amounts on an irregular basis. to the nature of mushrooms living on decaying matter, the
life force coming from this food is considered static and not
The third category of food is called tamasic. According beneficial for spiritual progress. Mushrooms can also decay
to yoga philosophy, Tamasic foods are not good for the rapidly, producing highly toxic ptomaine alkaloids.
body nor the mind. Tamasic foods are not recommended
for those following a spiritual path and practicing In yoga philosophy eggs are considered dulling for the
meditation and yoga. Foods in this category include mind. Since it is important in meditation to keep the mind
meat, fish, onions, garlic, mushrooms, eggs and alcoholic fresh and concentrated, eggs would not be beneficial.
beverages, as well as old food and foods which have been Also, eggs contain high levels of bacteria and cholesterol,
prepared by mean-minded or negative people. Tamasic not the best for one’s health.
food imparts a static energy and can leave one tired A good test of the foods we eat comes when we practice
and sluggish. Also, it is said that the fear and anger of an meditation. Meditators experience two main problems
animal being killed is transferred to the person eating the during meditation. One is falling asleep, the tamasic
flesh . Leftover cooked food is considered tamasic on the effect. The other is an over-active mind, the rajasic effect.
following day. Lastly, over eating is tamasic.
In order to quiet the mind and maintain our alertness to
Both onions and garlic are irritants to the mind and the explore our subtle nature, the sattvic diet is best.
body. When you chop onions your eyes begin to water Sattvic foods are best when prepared with love
and burn and your nose sniffles. Onions have this same and awareness. Just as our food affects our mind,
irritating effect on the mind. When one eats garlic, due our thoughts and emotions affect our food. One may
to its irritating nature, the body immediately tries to consume healthy food, but if prepared or eaten in anger,
throw it out, through the skin, the breath and the blood it will have a disturbing effect. The goal is to absorb that
stream. This is one reason it works well to control viruses. which is nourishing and eliminate that which is not, and
As the body throws out the garlic, the viruses go along to keep positive thoughts when eating or preparing food.
with it. Garlic and onions can be good medicines, but if
used on a daily basis, they can overwork the body and The sattvic universal force is one of self-awareness,
deplete one’s energy. Onions and garlic are also known as love, peace, purity and joy. When the sattvic force is
scavenger foods, absorbing toxins from the earth. Eating predominant in our minds, we feel peaceful, relaxed
them can increase levels of toxins in the body. Onions and calm, and our minds flow easily to higher levels
and garlic also increase acidity in the stomach and over of consciousness. Sattvic foods are those in which the
acidity is one of the chief causes of disease. Additionally, sattvic force is dominant. Sattvic foods are perfect for
these foods can cause much heat in the body and can those on the spiritual path, for they are the most
affect the delicate balance of the nervous system, making conducive to physical health, mental peace and
it difficult to relax. Lastly, they tend to disrupt the balance spiritual growth.
between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This

steve is a member of Ananda Marga (path of Bliss). he has been practicing and teaching meditation and yoga for more than 40 years.
he has traveled twice to india to meet his guru, where he received inspiration for a lifetime of dedication to the art of Yoga (union
with god). steve currently lives in West Maui and owns and manages Local harvest, LLC, whose mission is to build the local food
supply in hawaii. he started and manages sattvic Kitchen (sattvickitchenmaui.com), a producer of raw and sattvic food products on
Maui. steve also coordinates the napili Farmers Market in napili. he has worked for cooperative businesses on the mainland for 22
years, and is an advocate of a cooperative-based economy and local self-reliance.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2017 | Living Aloha FEATURES 17