 Since
food is so central to everyone’s life, it is only natural that it is among the most
effective mediums to initiate a change in consciousness. When a person
is living consciously, they will do so in all their thoughts and actions.
Their lives will be consistent and in harmony with their environment.
And, living consciously begins with conscious eating. The adage “you
are what you eat,” has never been more true in the United States.
As Americans struggle with poor health and obesity, our national
consciousness exudes an air of both arrogance and apathy.
Food is the most basic necessity of life.
Its purpose is to nourish the body, mind, and soul. Food should,
therefore, give
life and cleanse the body and uplift the spirit. Our organization,
Food for Life Global, is based upon India’s Vedic tradition.
This tradition says that food that is old, decomposed, and consisting
of dead flesh will pollute the body and consciousness. Food that
is fresh, alive, and nutritious will, on the other hand, enrich
the body, cleanse the mind, and satisfy the soul. Such foods
include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains.
Food speak all languages
Food also has the unique power to bring people together. All
of us have had the experience of sitting down to a meal cooked
with love and felt an immediate transformation of consciousness.
When prepared with love, food can speak any language. Such food
has the ability to break down barriers, turn anger into love,
fear into trust, and ignorance into enlightenment. Promoting
a culture of non-violence also includes kindness to animals.
Animals have emotions and are living, breathing, conscious beings
just like humans. Recognizing this fact is the basis of a truly
humane society, or one in which the equality of all beings is
recognized.
Food for Life Global has tried to put
all of these principles into practice by becoming the world’s
largest vegetarian food relief organization. It provides vegetarian
meals to the
disadvantaged, malnourished, and victims of disaster (natural
or manmade) wherever there is a need in the world. For example,
in 2006, more than 70,000 people from 40 villages were adversely
affected by floods in Sri Mayapur, India. With limited funds
and resources, Food for Life Global volunteers were able
to distribute hot vegetarian meals and offer medical assistance
despite the
organization’s own facilities being damaged.
Food for Life Global has projects in over 50
countries and currently distributes more than 1,000,000 meals
daily. When
we recognize
the equality of all beings, it becomes natural to share
the bounty of the Earth with others and to give up our selfish
tendencies.
World Hunger World hunger is a case in point. The
issue is not a lack of food resources, but their inequitable
distribution. A former
UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) secretary-general,
Dr. Kay Killingsworth, agreed when he stated that the problem
was not insufficient food production but that “food does
not reach the needy.” This
point is further highlighted when we consider that more than
one third of all grain produced in the world is being fed to
cattle and other livestock.
The Power of the Plate Besides paying attention to these inequalities,
the truly conscious person is socially responsible, honors
the environment, and treats
their body as a temple. Consuming junk food is not only harmful
to the body and one’s consciousness, but also a vote of
support for large corporations that exploit the environment.
Conscious people live their lives in full awareness of their
connection to their surroundings. Such spiritual perspectives
are the foundation of India's Vedic culture of hospitality. By
becoming aware of our human responsibility to maintain and protect
the environment and other forms of life, we will learn to love
our brethren and not to exploit them. This journey begins with
food. Never underestimate the power of the plate. What you put
on your table is both a political statement and a mirror of who
you really are.
Paul Rodney Turner
Director, Food for Life Global
Comments welcome!
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