 Pure vegetarianism
combines the physical nourishment of a healthy vegetarian diet with the
spiritual nourishment that comes from acknowledging our dependency on
God and the blessings of Mother Earth.
Rooted in Hindu tradition, the spiritual dimension of pure vegetarianism
has meaning for people of all faiths. Simply put, before we eat our food,
we offer it to God in thanksgiving. The food is then pure, karma-free,
and spiritually nourishing. Hindus call this food prasada, or the mercy
of God.
Pure vegetarianism springs from the belief that
the kind of food we eat affects our spiritual consciousness
and subsequent behaviors. According
to the Bhagavad-Gita, the scripture of Indian spirituality, foods
in the mode of goodness—vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, legumes, sugar,
and pure milk products—can be sanctified, or offered in sacrifice.
Conversely, meat, fish, and eggs, as well as a few vegetarian
items[1], classified in the modes of passion and ignorance, should
not be offered
to God. If the food we eat is prepared by people devoid of spiritual
consciousness (e.g., unhappy employees working in a dirty food
factory), we are sure
to absorb unwelcome mental energies. For this reason, pure vegetarians
avoid such foods in favor of foods prepared with fresh, natural
ingredients.
Purifying Your Meal The following principles are essential to the preparation of pure vegetarian
food:
- Clean hands and work area – This
is the most important principle: nothing impure should
be offered to God.
- A humble and devotional attitude – Refrain
from tasting the food while preparing it. Reflect on the
food as a blessing from the
Lord; respect that blessing, and be happy.
- The offering – You have prepared
the food not only for your own enjoyment, but for the pleasure
of God; you are now ready to
make your offering.
- Prayers and mantras - The simplest form of
offering is to pray, “My
dear Lord, please accept this humble offering of food.” You
can supplement this with more traditional prayers.)
During the meal, reflect on the spiritual quality
of the prasadam . . . remember that it is the Lord’s blessing
that frees one from the effects of bad karma. Above all, enjoy!
[1] Garlic
and onions, for example, are not generally offered because, despite
their medicinal benefits, they are polluting to the mind and
create objectionable odors. The purpose of food is to give strength
to the body and purify the mind.
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