toturntowardsthevegetariandiet.Vegetablesalsohavefats,butthesearemoredi-
gestible than those from meats.
Fat,substanceusedbyanimalstostoreenergyandshieldthemfromthecold.Fats
areestersofglycerinwithcarboxylicacidssuchaspalmitic,lauric,andstearicacid,
whichhave 16 or 18 carbonatoms.Vegetableoilsaresimilartofats,butarevis-
cousliquidsratherthansemisolids,andhavedoublechemicalbondsintheacidmo-
lecules, that is, they are unsaturated. 156
Alongwithanimpairmentintheeliminationofimpuritiesfromthebody,theexcessintakeoffood
causesareducedabilityofthebodytoassimilateandprocessnutrients.Thisconditionleadstomal-
nutrition,andmalnutritionleadstodeficienciesintheabilityofthevariousorgansofthebodytopro-
cessfoodandconvertitintousablenutritiouselementsforthebody.Whenthebodyisyoung,itcan
copewithmuchmistreatment,butasthebodygetsolder,itislessforgivingandrightlivingbecomes
a critical imperative for maintaining proper health.
Thus,theKemeticteachingsofhealthadmonishthatoneshouldeatonlywhenhungryandeating
shouldnotbeoutofhabit,lustorgreed.Further,theadageofeatingtoliveandnotlivingtoeat
shouldbeappliedinallwalksoflife.Foodcanbecomeaddictive,butperhapsnootherpeoplehave
sunktothedecadentstateoftheAncientRomans,whocreatedspecialroomscalled“vomatoriums”
fortheexpresspurposeofprovidingaplacewhereguestscouldvomituptheirdinnersoastogo
backintothehallandexperiencethepleasureofeatingmoreandmorefood,overandoveragain.
Thisissurelytheuttermostexpressionofexcess,gluttonyandgreedforsensualpleasureinhistory.
Greedforfoodorotherworldlypleasuresislikeadrug,whichcanneversatisfythebody.Oneneeds
moreandmoreuntilthebodycollapsesduetotheexcesses.Ironically,lessismore.Themoreself-
controlisperfectedinlife,themorelifeisappreciatedandthemorespiritualabundancedevelops.In
thisthestateofcontrolandhealth,thebodyanditsearthlynaturedonothampertheexperienceofthe
heights of spiritual awareness.
Further,underthisteaching,itmustbeunderstoodthattheideaofbeingoverweightasanacceptable
conditioniserroneous.TheconditioninrealitysignifiesanexcessofstoredupUkhedu,whichis
causinganunduestrainontheorgansofthebodyandwillhaveadeleteriouseffecteventually.Thus,
thereisnowaytomaintainoptimalhealthinthiscondition.Further,theexistenceofundueweight
thatthepersonmustcarryaround,constitutesaforcewhichcausesatendencytowardsworldliness,
andallofitscomponents,i.e.lackofspiritualsensitivity,intensificationofworldlydesires,dullness
ofmentalprocessing,etc.Therefore,thisconditionisundesirablefortheordinaryhumanbeingand
extremely detrimental to the spiritual aspirant’s efforts towards attaining spiritual enlightenment.
Therearesomeimportantbonusesforeatingless.First,thebodyagesmoreslowly,providinganex-
tendedlifespan.Also,whilecertifiedorganicfoodismoreexpensive,whenthereducedamountof
foodneededtosurviveonisconsidered,thesavingsbalancesoffthecostofeatinghealthierfoods.
Thefoodthatwouldordinarilybewastedinovereatingandexcesscouldbeusedforfeedingothers,
andtheenvironmentwillbesparedtheexcessofoverfarmingandexcrementfromsewageand