To: K-list
Recieved: 1999/11/01 02:50
Subject: [K-list] gunas
From: Dharma deva
On 1999/11/01 02:50, Dharma deva posted thus to the K-list:
In every object of the universe, one of three
attributes--Sattva - Sentient, Rajah - Mutative and Tamah - Static --will
always be
predominant. This is also important in yogic diet.
These are referred to in tantra as the gunas or binding principles.
So food is also divided into three categories
according to the dominancy of the attributes.
(1) Sattvika food: All the staple food-grains such as rice, wheat,
barley, etc; all the pulses except masur (an
orange-coloured lentil) and khesari; all fruits and roots;
all kinds of vegetables except violet-coloured carrots,
white brinjals (white eggplants), onions, garlic and
mushrooms; milk and milk products; all green and leafy
vegetables except red puni and mustard. All varieties of
spices except garam masala (hot spices), and all kinds of
sweets, can be taken to be sentient or Sattvika.
A Sattvika diet is required for those
who practise Asanas. Those who find it difficult to give up
the habit of Rajasika food all of a sudden may eat a piece
of haritakii (myrobalan) after the meal. Those who take
Sattvika food should avoid taking a large quantity of
mustard or mustard products.
Rajasika food-eaters should
gradually try to change over to Sattvika food, and Tamasika
food-eaters should try to give up such food as early as
possible.
All foods that are
beneficial to both body and mind are considered Sattvika.
(2) Rajasika food: Any food that is beneficial to the body
but is neutral to the mind, or vice versa, is called
'Rajasika'. Foods that do not fall into the Sattvika or
Tamasika categories are of Rajasika nature. In certain
countries where there is a heavy snow-fall, Rajasika food
can be treated as Sattvika and Tamasika food as Rajasika.
(3) Tamasika food: All kinds of foods which are harmful to
either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the
other are called 'Tamasika'. Stale and rotten food, the
flesh of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, and all
types of intoxicants, are categorised as Tamasika. Small
amounts of tea, cocoa and similar drinks which do not excite
a person to the point of losing his/her senses are in the
Rajasika category. The milk of a newly-calved cow, white
brinjals, khesari dal, green vegetables of the type of red
puni or mustard are Tamasika. Masur dal cooked for one meal
will become Tamasika by the next meal.
These are some vital points known by tantrics of centuries and highly
relevant to yogic tantric newsgroups.
----
"The main characteristic of PROUT-based socioeconomic movements is that
they
aim to guarantee the comprehensive, multifarious liberation of humanity."
P R Sarkar
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