Food

7th point

Take only Sentient Food (Sattvika food)

1. Sentient Diet and the Sixteen Points
“A sentient diet produces a sentient body.”
Only food helpful in keeping both body and mind sentient should be eaten. Perfect adherence to the seventh of the Sixteen Points requires eating only a sattvika (sentient) diet.
For the practice of asanas, a sentient diet is also prescribed. However, Baba noted after 1971 that general Margiis may eat some rajásika (mutative) foods. In Caracas, 1979, Baba said: “…one must take balanced food, that is, not too much nor too little. It should be substantial; it should be sentient, or at least mutative in nature for family persons.”

2. The Three Forces of Prakrti
Prakrti (the Supreme Operative Principle) is composed of three guńas (forces):
•Sattvika (sentient): Good for mind and body
•Rajásika (mutative): Good for the body but neutral for the mind (or vice versa)
•Tamásika (static): Bad for the body, mind, or both .

Food Etiquette and Practices :

Accept food offered with genuine affection, but avoid food offered just for appearance's sake.
Prefer to dine in company rather than alone.
Curd (yoghurt) and raw foods are particularly healthy.
During collective meals, kiirtana should be performed while waiting and briefly before eating. •Eating meat for needs that can be met by milk products and vegetable proteins violates the principle of ahiḿsá
No non-vegetarian food should be given before age five.
Introduced around 1974, Baba gave the rule: Eat no more than four times a day. Eat no more than four items at each time.
Find a comfortable sitting position while eating.
It is better to eat in company than to eat alone. •Drink a sufficient quantity of water every day, but do not overconsume at once. Drink water on an empty stomach; eat fruit on a full stomach.
All intoxicants are tamasika and should be discarded as poison.

Benefits

Sattvika Food: Foods beneficial to both body and mind, leading to spiritual growth.
Promotes the growth of sentient cells, which contribute to spiritual and mental development
Sentient food restrains the extrovertial moment of mind and aids in concentrating mind during sadhana.

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