Vegetarianism: Non-Violent Diet

The word Vegetarianism is mostly used to refer to the commonly accepted meaning of a dietary practice that avoids the use of flesh foods. Vegetarianism is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts of our times, ‘Grass-eaters, salad eaters, freaks, eccentrics, cranks, and herbivores’ are some of the terms used with derision and affection alike to refer to vegetarians. Along with such attitudinal descriptions, misconceptions and prejudices are also attached to this maligned dietary system. Twenty or thirty years ago, it might have been difficult for us to find unbiased, systematic, comprehensive information on Vegetarianism in the form of a book or website. It was a time when Vegetarianism was regarded as ‘the cult of the crazy’. Today, however the tide is turning. Apart from those who are born into a vegetarian lifestyle, several thousands of people in the east and west are turning to Vegetarianism as a lifestyle that promotes health and well-being. The firm belief is that food of non-violence is the diet of the new age. Vegetarianism is the way of life for the 21st century- indeed, for the new millennium.

Vegetarianism is no longer the diet of the neglected few, the freak or the eccentric. People all over the world are turning to vegetarian diets, for reasons related to health, disease prevention, nutrition, lifestyle, ideology and philosophy. The time has come when we must decide once and for all that all types of exploitation, all types of human tryanny must cease, if we are to have lasting peace in the world.

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.”- Mark Twain

In the Indian context, vegetarianism is never about eating grass and lentils, but is about respecting all forms of life as an organic unity, says Pratiksha Apurv. The 18th century French lawyer Jean Anthelme Brillat- Savarin, famously said, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” Savarin was perhaps the first person, though not a chef, who realised that whatever we eat directly reflects in our being. Fifty years later, German philosopher Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach made it a little more explicit by saying, “Man is what he eats.”

The Upnishads describe food as ‘Brahmn’ and that is why we always stress on an appetising and nutritious meal, because it affects our senses, making us more alive, more aware. The effect of food on our mind, body and soul has been the centre of discussion even in ancient Greece, when Pythogoras argued in favour of a healthy vegetarian diet. Though at the time when the philosopher lived, in around 500 BC, the term ‘vegetarianism’ was not known; his diet came to be known as ‘Pythogorian diet’.

Many of us know Pythogoras for his theory on geometry, but few will be aware of his profound wisdom on food habits that weaves together materialism and spirituality- body and soul- into a harmonious whole. Of course, it is a personal choice whether one wants to be vegetarian or a non-vegetarian, but the recent craze about vegetarianism in the west that has largely been non-vegetarian, perhaps, derives the motivation from Pythogoras.

Unlike in the west, religions in India since ancient times, have favoured vegetarianism. In the Indian context, vegetarianism was never about eating grass and lentils, but was about respecting all forms of life as an organic unity. Indian spirituality always emphasized that man is not an island but an orchestra in this universe, and life without animals, birds and fish would be monotonous. That is why our vegetarianism sutra says that life is God, and any form of destruction would be like destroying the very root of the universe.

It is said that vegetarian food is light and non-vegetarian food is heavy. This is significant. Eating meat makes one heavy and tethered to earth while a vegetarian diet makes one feel light. This by no means is to say that non-vegetarians cannot be mediators. Both vegetarians and non-vegetarians can meditate, but for the former, diving deeper and sitting in stillness will be easier, while the latter may have to put in extra effort because of the heavy nature of the food they eat.

Even the Budhha. who allowed non-vegetarian food, realised that whenever he ate meat, meditation became an effort, but he avoided it, he could meditate easily. Jain Tirthankars who, before embracing the ascetic life,  were non-vegetarians, turned vegetarians, breaking all conventions; this was the result of experiments with meditation.

Pythogoras was admired because he was the first western seeker who realised that by consuming meat, a person absorbs the animal inside and to reach the peak of consciousness, this unconscious heavy food habit is to be avoided. Although Pythogoras was ridiculed for this idea, thousands of years later, the world is now recognizing that he was not just promoting a particular dietary habit, but was propagating the need for meditative energy for people to become more aware and touch the peaks of consciousness.

Italian physician Antonio Cocchi, born in 1695 and best known for his work on anatmy, endorsed Pythogoras’ views that a new way of living or opting for vegetarian food was not because of superstition, but because of the desire to improve the health and manners of men.

Osho says that vegetarianism is an alchemical change within, which creates the space where the baser metal can be transformed into gold. He said: “Try vegetarianism and you will be suprised that meditation becomes far easier. Love becomes more subtle; loses its grossness; becomes more sensitive and less sensuous, and becomes more prayerful and less sexual. And your body also starts taking on a different vibe. You become more graceful, softer, more feminine, less agressive, more receptive.”

Chhandogya Upnishad says: Aharasuddhau sattvasuddhih, sattva suddhau dhruva smritih, smrtilambhe sarva-granthinam vipra- moksah, meaning, “Purity of thought is a consequence of the purity of the food that we eat. When food is pure and subtle, it transforms the very basic nature of man.”

Besides food, our senses too play a major role in transforming our body’s alchemy. Our senses respond differently to different types of food- vegetarian and non-vegetarian. And that is why the Chhandogya Upnishad stresses on the need to purify the senses through te food we eat. Not every vegetarian as a non-mediator. We should also not project every non-vegtarian as a non-mediator or someone doing somthing wrong. The messages from spiritual masters and scriptures are about unburdening the heavy baggage that we are carrying in our journey towards the peak of consiousness, in an easier and faster way.

The essence of vegetarianism which the Upnishads termed as purity must be received and transcended beyond our sense organs including sight, touch, smell, listening and taste order to turn into unadulterated nature. Only then can our mind become more firm. A stable mind is more conducive to be transformed into thoughtlessness- a state of deep meditation.

Matter referenced from:

1. The Speaking Tree, Times of India Publications; Ahmedabad Ed. The Speaking Tree; November 24th, 2019, pp.03- ‘Non-violent Diet for world peace’ by Dada J P Vaswani.
2. The Speaking Tree, Times of India Publications; Ahmedabad Ed. The Speaking Tree; November 24th, 2019, pp.06- ‘You’re what you eat’ by Pratiksha Apurv.

By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.

Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.