Is there a connection between our food and our meditation. If so, what is that? This slideshow explains that.

1. food & meditation
Is there a connection?
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

2. I quote from two books of
Vedanta to clarify on this
subject:
1. Bhagwad Gita: Chapter 17;
verse 7-10
2. BhaktiYoga by Swami
Vivekananda, Chapter 10
Don’t worry I use very simple
language. 
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

3. As per Bhagwad Gita, based
on their qualities, all foods
can be divided into 3 Sets.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

4. • Set 1 enhances meditation.
• Set 2 increases restlessness.
• Set 3 are poisonous by very
nature.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

5. Now, how to know what is
Set 1, Set 2 & Set 3?
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

6. Interestingly, the book does not
name any food items.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

7. Plus what may be a boon for
one person may be poison for
another.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

8. So, #confusion!
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
Say, sugar,
someone
may need it
for health…
…while
someone may
have to avoid it
to be healthy.

9. Also, food habits depend on
country or region.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

10. What people eat in Scandinavia will be
different from what we eat in India.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

11. So, what’s ‘Set1’ food
for me?
Plus, is ‘my food’ Set 1-
food or yours?
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
How to know?
#confusion again!

12. THERE ARE 3 RULES
No issues!
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

13. • The food that
– purifies life,
– enhances it and
– brings strength to mind &
body
is meditative food and belongs
to Set 1.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

14. • The food that is
– too spicy,
– tangy, pungent &
– prone to leaving burning
sensation in stomach
is Set 2 food.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

15. • Food that’s
– stale,
– tasteless,
– decomposed, putrid
is Set 3 food.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

16. MAY BE…
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
Does that help in arriving at an
understanding?

17. • Interestingly, like every
other matter, Bhagwad
Gita (BG) leaves final
decision on us.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

18. I HAVE TOLD
YOU ALL,
NOW YOU
DECIDE.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
BG’s philosophy is simple:

19. Hence in case
of food as well,
BG says:
these are the
qualities, now
you decide
what you wish
to eat.
Observe;
experience &
decide!
That’s what
Bhagwad Gita
prescribes.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

20. Yes, it definitely says that people interested in
practices like meditation tend to choose Set 1.
Now let’s highlight further on this Set 1.
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

21. In Chapter 10 of BhkatiYoga,
Swami Vivekananda quotes
Chandayogya Upanishad*,
where it is said:
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
*Upanishads are ancient books of Vedanta.

22. ‘If food is pure, mind is pure and one
whose mind is pure can meditate
deeply.’
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

23. Next, Swami ji quotes from
Adi Shankaracharya’s*
commentary on the same
Upanishad,
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
*Adi Shankaracharya: 8th Century CE.

24. ‘When food is
purified; man is
purified.’
© Puneet Srivastava, March 2015

25. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
‘When this purification
of mind happens, one
is instantly brought to
the eternal truth,
wisdom & insight.’
On top of these two interpretations,
Swami Vivekananda adds:

26. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
Lastly, Swami ji warns us all
on our tendency of putting
needless rules that are often
attached to food by people,
societies & communities…

27. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
‘food must be used as a
medium to bring mind
to the level of higher
stability, since no other
medium can do it as
effectively.’
Swami ji says:

28. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
CHOOSE IT CONSCIOUSLY.
Our food is the power for our meditation.

29. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
An inappropriate choice …
… may have matching results.

30. © Puneet Srivastava, March 2015
Gratitude & Dedication:
Author: Puneet Srivastava
Website: www.desiretofly.in
Twitter: @desire_to_fly_
To my revered teacher
Swami Amartayananda &
the message of SDM:
• Satsang
• Disciplined Life
• Meditation