Elevating The Vibrational Content Of Your Food
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We are what we eat! At first glance, we might take this quite literally, in that the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fat) and the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in the food we consume make up the composition and the sustenance of our body. Yet, spiritual knowledge reveals that the vibrational content of our food is also crucial to our wellbeing.
Vibrational content is derived from the imprint of not only our thoughts, feelings, intentions, and emotions but of all the living beings who had a part in the food chain. When consumed and digested, the vibrations become part of our whole being.
While it may have been unimaginable years ago to believe that there is vibrational content to any physical matter, food’s vibrational content will most assuredly impact the state of our mind. To gain a deeper understanding, let’s explore examples of the vibrational content in three phases of the food journey: (1) categorizing food groups and their impact on us; (2) the intentions we have while preparing food; and (3) how our food is consumed.
The Food Groups
In terms of raw materials, food can be categorized into three groups with their corresponding effects on the mind according to Ayurvedic principles:
- Sattvic foods are thought to be rich in prana, moderate in taste, and inducing feelings of calmness and mental clarity — mainly a vegetarian diet.
- Rajasic foods are described as highly stimulating and pungent food, including meats, fish, dairy, spices, onions, garlic, refined sugar and more, and can result in excited, overactive behavior.
- Tamasic foods are believed to increase physical and mental weakness, add disorientation and confusion, and decrease energy in the body; they include meats, heavily processed and fried foods, alcohol and more.
For the most advantageous vibrational content, it is suggested one consider foods in the Sattvic category.
Non-Violence As A Food Choice
Equally important in our overall health consideration is exploring the spiritual nature of our nutritional choices. The foundational principle in the author’s nutritional philosophy is the cultivation of Om Shanti: “Om” (I am) “Shanti” (a being of Peace). In other words, non-violence is innate to our being.
While aspiring to live in congruence with this understanding of true nature, we are aware that we should avoid causing violence. This is applicable even if that violence might be indirect, such as in an earlier phase of the food. In this respect, It is helpful to note that plants, while living energy, do not create thoughts, nor do they have a nervous system like animals, which are characteristics of a sentient beings. Thus, the harm caused to plants by choosing vegetarian food can be considered substantially less than that caused by eating meat.
Vegetarian food is also healthier for the planet: Based on findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, and as outlined in the Live Earth handbook, not eating meat is the “single most effective thing you can do” to reduce your climate-change impact.
Vibrational Intentions During Food Prep
Consider the impact your intentions have in your food preparation phase; when food is cooked in a peaceful and loving meditative state, those vibrations are imprinted onto your food. Imagine a parent preparing a meal with love for their child, or a lover preparing a meal for one’s beloved. Assuredly, the cuisine would possess a much higher vibrational energy than eating fast food, where the underlying motive is fast profit through time-saving production and consumption. This all comes at the expense of animal life and a negative impact on the individual’s health of body, mind and spirit.
Eating In A State Of Peaceful Consciousness
It is recommended to consume food mindfully, in silence, and in a state of peace and love. It is suggested to avoid having meals while multitasking with our phone or while watching TV. Food eaten in a state of peaceful consciousness creates positive energy much needed for both the body and the soul.
To deepen this mindfulness, we can create feelings of love towards the Divine, such that eating ultimately becomes an experience of having a meal in the company of one’s beloved or one’s close friend. Additionally, we can also invoke a feeling of gratitude for all those who have been instrumental in the creation and preparation of our food, ultimately to the Divine Source of our being.
These practices add tremendous positive energy to the food as it is consumed. If one finds it challenging to integrate mindfulness while eating, try reserving time explicitly for this practice prior to eating a meal.
Food is foundational to our survival, one of our strongest connections to life. Mealtimes are a vehicle for families and friends to bond, and the focus of many cultural celebrations. Imagine how beneficial to our collective health if we elevated the vibrational content of all our food consumed? Om Shanti!
Sudarshan Sundar has been a student and teacher of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga meditation for over 20 years. He loves the positivity, purpose, and joy that this integration brings into daily life. He is a Software Engineer at Microsoft by profession.He helped start and co-coordinated the activities of Inner Space Meditation Center and Gallery in Harvard Square from 2012 to 2020. Sudarshan also volunteers as a “mellow” (Meditation Fellow) at Northeastern University’s Center for Spirituality Dialogue and Service. Visit www.bknewengland.org.
