We are what we eat

There is an old saying, “we are what we eat”. Large number of diseases today are lifestyle diseases with food that we eat, being the most important contributor. While modern research extensively talks about diet and lifestyle, teaching from our shastras including Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Bhagwad Geeta, and the various Upanishads have provided lot of insights on food habits and its impact on our lives. To live a happy and healthy life we need to live a balanced life.

In Chapter 6 Shlok 17, Lord Krishna says,

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु |

युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा || 6.17||

yuktāhāra-vihārasya

yukta-cheṣhṭasya karmasu

yukta-svapnāvabodhasya

yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā 6.17

Meaning: those who are moderate in eating and recreation, balanced in work, and regulated in sleep, can mitigate all sorrows by practicing Yog.

Isn’t this recommendation given by modern medical science as well for balanced lifestyle?

In Chapter 17, Lord Krishna elaborates on food habits and the personality characteristics those habits lead to. In Chapter 9 Shlok 27, Lord Krishna says, “whatever you eat, do it as an offering to Me”. Treating the food we eat, as an offering to Lord, we will be careful about what and how much we eat. The best elaboration of this aspect is given in Chapter 4 Shlok 24.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हवि: ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |

ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ||4. 24||

brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir

brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam

brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ

brahma-karma-samādhinā 4.24

If we understand and chant this shlok before every meal, we will really understand why we are eating and automatically we will incline towards eating right. This shlok reminds that we are nothing, but part of brahma and the brahma resides within us. The food that we are eating is nothing but the offering to the brahma through act of eating as a worship.

The shlok says that everything is nothing but the brahma itself. We are offering the food (havi), which is brahma, to brahma itself. We are offering this brahma to the fire (yajna) which is also brahma. Whatever we are eating is brahma and we are offering it to the brahma. The brahma can certainly be attained by one who always sees brahma in all actions.

If we understand this, we will realize that we are offering food to the brahma. We will never offer anything bad or unhealthy to the brahma. Since whatever we eat is going to the brahma itself, we will refrain from focusing on satisfying out tongue, and focus on eating right. By eating right, eating in moderation, we will stay healthy and happy to enjoy treasures of life.

Hari Aum.