The annual Bhagavad Gita discourse series organised by Vedanta Institute, Chennai, begins on February 21. Swami Parthasarathy will be talking on Chapter 17 that deals with the Yoga of Threefold Division of Sraddha Faith.
The chapter covers different types of persons, who worship with faith. Some conduct their life contrary to spiritual injunction, yet worship with great faith. To a confused Arjuna, Krishna explains with an analysis of the three types of sraddha and how they relate to ahara, the food they eat.
Food, the chapter clarifies, is chosen according to one's nature and it does not determine one's nature. But can a person's nature change with a conscious change in the food habits?
Food is gross matter. Mind-intellect is subtle matter. The gross cannot control the subtle. In other words food cannot directly affect an individual through the principle of cause and effect, says Swami Parthasarathy.
Does it mean food has no impact on character?
“The consumption of food has an indirect effect upon an individual just as soil has an effect on the growth of a plant,” Swamiji explains. He elaborates through an analogy. “For example a mango seed alone can produce a mango tree. But the same seed planted in Scotland will not grow. That does not mean the soil controls the growth of a plant. Soil is only conducive and not the cause of the tree.”
How is food related to spiritual pursuits?
“Vegetarian food is conducive for developing sattvika (divine qualities) in a human being which is essentially based on control and eradication of one's desires. Meat has the opposite effect. This is clearly seen in the case of animals. All carnivorous animals are ferocious and cannot be controlled. All vegetarian animals are meek and mild and can be controlled.”
The four-part series concludes on February 24. The venue is the Music Academy, time 6.30-7.45, preceded by classical music at 6 p.m.
