The spiritually minded who eat food that is first offered in sacrifice are released from all kinds of sin. Others, who cook food for their own enjoyment, verily eat only sin. – Bhagwad Gita: 3—13
We cannot ignore the importance of food
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Tag Archives: tamasic
950 – How to live the divine life?
In any form of prayer, a concept if God is essential. The prayers can be tamasic, rajasic or sattvic. At the tamasic level one is using rituals and asking to be protected from the anger of the deities. However, a tamasic (inert) sadhana becomes rajasic and then the puja is more dynamic. The mind becomes more open and one’s awareness increases. Each one of us wants a healthy life free from harm. Then the rajasic puja becomes sattvic, when prayers are offered for forgiveness, forbearance, love and compassion. Continue reading
834 – Saraswati Puja
Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, fine arts and education. Before Saraswati Puja starts, students keep their books and instruments in front of her for blessings. They are not supposed to touch their books as they are kept at the altar. As children, we loved this idea as we would not be able to do our homework. It is believed that if one prays to her with dedication and devotion, one will be blessed with academic success. Also, one becomes Sattvic and all tamasic habits are shed. Continue reading
327 – Shiva Tantra
Shiva is called Mahadeva (great God), God of the Gods. He is the primordial God and Guru. The whole of Tantra is said to be his instructions. In his form which existed before time, he was five faced. The knowledge of the Vedas came from his upward face and that which came downwards was called Tantra. Continue reading
285 – Develop a healthy respect for your food
Eat your food with bhavana (feeling), as a blessing. When you eat your meal, develop respect for what you are eating. Pause and think where your food came from. Where did the wheat grow for your bread, how was it harvested? How many persons were involved in the process? Were they happy when they were involved in the task? Were their stomachs full? The vegetables on your plate where did they grow? Did they receive sunshine, or did they grow under plastic? Continue reading
209 – The divine fruit
The coconut is called the divine fruit, Shri phal. Who does not venerate the coconut? It is used as an object of worship. It is delicious in food, used in medicines and cosmetics. Every part of the tree is utilized.
“The mind has its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of heaven”, Milton. Continue reading
171 – A bandit and then a sage
Rama and Sita
Ratnakara was raised by a hunter as he had got lost in the forest as a child. He had a difficult life and he could not make ends meet. He took to looting and robbing. One day the sage Narada was passing through the forest. Ratnakara saw him and attacked him. Continue reading
109 – Why the lotus is a special flower
In the Gita there are many mentions of the Lotus and its leaves. Krishna said that if we dedicated our lives to the service of God, we would be uncontaminated by evil and compared us to a lotus leaf, which is dirt-free. It is always spotless. Continue reading
093 – In search of yourself
There are three attitudes that control our actions. These are the three gunas, which are sattwic, rajasic and tamasic. When our mind is changing, it goes through these phases. These three gunas interface in our universe and with us all the time. Our mind in its infancy is tamasic and its ultimate experience is sattwic. Our nature goes through trials and tribulations and these result in the development of the gunas. Continue reading