Taittiriya Upanishad: All bodies are composed of food. Food is the most important of all things; therefore, it is the best medicine for all the body ailments. Those who look upon food as the lord’s gift, shall never lack life’s physical comforts. The physical sheath is made up of food, within it is contained the vital sheath, which has the same form, with prana as head, space as heart and earth as a foundation.

Bhrigu was one of the seven great sages in Hinduism and he was the son of Varuna who is venerated as the god of water. Bhrigu asked his father, “What is Brahman”. Varuna advised that he should first learn about food. Bhrigu meditated and learnt that food is Brahman. From food are born all creatures, by food they grow and to food they return.

Respect food

The body is made up of food. Do not waste water, do not waste fuel, avoid animal torture. We must learn to see ourselves in all creatures. They sing in wonder; I am the food of life, I link food, water, earth air and space.

Swami Vivekananda often recalled the teachings of Ramakrishna, which was “Jiva is Shiva” meaning each individual is divinity itself. He further developed this idea into the concept of “Daridranarayan Seva” that the service of God is firstly achieved through the service of the poor and hungry. Appreciate what he said. If we think of everyone as being our family, then we encompass and include the world. Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam means that the whole world is one family. We all have to understand that there is food enough for the world, if we venerate Mother Nature and do not exploit and destroy of the elements which compose it.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Chandrashekara in the seminar Indian Vegan Cooking with Nalini.