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There are three types of food in yogi’s philosophy.
1. Tamasi
2. Rajasi
3. Satvik
Yogi endeavours to increase portion of Satvik food to maximum. He then tries to fill in remaining part appropriately with other two (Tamasi & rajasi). There needs to be a separate chapter on food for yogi life but we will take just one cue from food here. The point of attention for this chapter is limited to intoxicating element in food. By and large the satvik food has least to none intoxicating elements. Let’s first understand and qualify intoxicating elements. Something that gives you high, reduces awareness of surrounding or own body and senses, makes you addict to it, makes you dependent on it. many of the problem for your body, you look at that substance as solution. Most of the time that reprieve provided by the external food is temporary. However, one continues to crave for it. Such food would be broadly qualified as external intoxicating food. Now let’s visit examples of what is intoxicating. Caffeine from coffee or similar chemical theanine from tea. Off course none of the herbal teas have such thing. Then all alcoholic or nicotine or tobacco products or drugs that give you high are external intoxicating elements. There will be many that satisfy criteria defined above.
Yogi’s path to samadhi has important milestone of having developed highest form of awareness. Awareness about own body, surrounding atmosphere and people. Such awareness requires highest form of alertness and reflexes. Such awareness is also achieved by mediation which intern also gives you high (yes, you can get elated experiences via meditation). There are differences between this high and high activated by toxins. Yogic high keeps you alert while you are High and leaves you happy and energised once the effect of the experience recedes. The awareness of senses and body is heightened. It is NOT possible to con/trick person into any morally wrongful act if person has achieved the high via Yogic means. However, consumption of intoxicating elements temporarily lets you get high. Depending on the intensity of the toxics, You can easily be tricked into any immoral act or be cheated. In most cases, once the effect of the drug has receded, you will be down in energy level or feel depressed or develop headache.
So far we have tried to understand qualifying criteria for external intoxicants, symptoms of post consumption and their diametrical opposite position to yogi lifestyle.
The lasting effects of intoxicants is we develop insensitivity towards our senses. We become emotionally vulnerable. The sense of dependence prevails in many aspects of our life. We develop fear when denied access to these things and finally such person takes refuge in violence. You would chart on such a destructive path if you sticks to the intoxication and regresses into addiction. The other path of knowledge and meditation however, gives you those regular highs and after effects of energised body full of life. The fear slowly diminishes as person is able to empathise with his body and be sensitive to senses and it’s craving. Where there is knowledge of situation and consequences, there is no space for fear. Yogi thus become confident in his being. Steadily the control is established on the body and mind generates energy from its independence on any external energy inducers. It harnesses it’s internal energy and uses that to keep the flame of life on full throttle. We have already discussed in previous chapter on how yogi generate energy from the task by achieving resonance.
Making sudden changes in life to completely eliminate intoxicants is hard. One must steadily reduce and remove as much toxic elements as he can. As our goal is to achieve awareness about minute details of the body, senses, mind and how they work intertwined with subconscious mind.
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