Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 60

CONTROL OF TASTE
Even the practice of non-violence and celibacy face several difficulties. The mind remains predominantly occupied with the ideas and analysis of what is to be prepared, how, where, at what time and under what circumstances the food will be consumed and so on. Under these conditions, how will the mind remain applied or get fixed in remembrance and devotion to God and self-study ?
It is obvious therefore, that persons endowed with discrimination can have no voluptuousness of food. We waste a lot of time, huge energy and incur great expense in the preparation of certain tasty dishes and the taste lasts only while the item is in the mouth. Once the item goes beyond the palate, it has only one final shape it turns to stool or other waste of the body. Discriminating persons should therefore be cautious about all matters regarding preparation and consumption of food and must apply a sense of propriety and due discrimination in the subject.
Elephants, fish, bees, butterflies, and deer lose their lives by submitting to one of their senses. If an intelligent human being also behaves this way, then what is so uniquely superior about him? Would that person not be enduring results of the voluptuousness? Considering this again and again, Sadhaka accepts balanced amount of simple and nutritious meal on a regular basis.
GLORY OF CONTROL OF TASTE
1. When a person with proper food-habits resorts to spiritual activity (Yoga-Sadhana), all his sufferings end.
2. Food is for life and not life for food.
3. Well planned and regular food habits are conducive to rapid spiritual development.
4. The purpose of human life is neither to inflate one's possessions nor to fulfill sensual pleasures, but to achieve higher values in life.
LIVING EXAMPLES OF CONTROL OF TASTE
(1) Two persons named Tribhovanbhai and Maneklalbhai were close and devoted disciples of Shrimad Rajchandra, a great spiritual prophet.
RASA-SWADA-JAYA
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