Introduction 37necessary to observe purity m the means by which one procures
it.
Food, the supporting yet consuming substance of all life, is regarded
as a phase of Brahman. It should be eaten with th.e feeling that with
each morsel one can gain strength to serve the Lord. Then food
becomes pure. Whether or not to be a vegetarian is a purely personal
matter as each person is influenced by the tradition and habits of the
country in which he was born and bred. But, in course of time, the
practitioner of yoga has to adopt a vegetarian diet, in order to attain
one-pointed attention and spiritual evolution.
Food should be taken to promote health, strength, energy and life.
It should be simple, nourishing, juicy and soothing. Avoid foods which
are sour, bitter, salty, pungent, burning, stale, tasteless, heavy and
unclean.
Character is moulded by the type of food we take and by how we
eat it. Men are the only creatures that eat when not hungry and
generally live to eat rather than eat to live. If we eat for flavours of
the tongue, we over-eat and so suffer from digestive disorders which
throw our systems out of gear. The yogi believes in harmony, so he
eats for the sake of sustenance only. He does not eat too much or too
little. He looks upon his body as the rest-house of his spirit and
guards himself against over-indulgence.
Besides food, the place is also important for spiritual practices. It is
difficult to practise in a distant country (away from home), in a forest,
in a crowded city, or where it is noisy. One should choose a place
where food is easily procurable, a place which is free from insects,
protected from the elements and with pleasing surroundings. The banks
of a lake or river or the sea-shore are ideal. Such quiet ideal places
are hard to find in modern times; but one can at least make a corner
in one's room available for practice and keep it clean, airy, dry and
pest-free.
Santosa.. Santosa. or contentment has to be cultivated. A mind that is
not content cannot concentrate. The yogi feels the lack of nothing and
so he is naturally content. Contentment gives bliss unsurpassed to the
yogi. A contented man is complete for he has known the love of the
Lord and has done his duty. He is blessed for he has known truth
and joy.
Contentment and tranquillity are states of mind. Differences arise
among men because of race, creed, wealth and learning. Differences
create discord and there arise conscious or unconscious conflicts which
distract and perplex one. Then the mind cannot become one-pointed
(ekagra) and is robbed of its peace. There is contentment and tranquillity