Sattvic Diet – A Diet Of Sages, Yogis, & Spiritual Teachers
A Sattvic diet is a purely vegetarian diet that increases life, purity, strength, and health. It raises sattva or our consciousness levels and brings joy and cheerfulness. It renders the mind pure and calm. A Sattvic diet includes Milk, barley, wheat, cereals, butter, tomatoes, honey, dates, fruits, almonds, and sugar-candy are all sattvic foodstuffs. It intends to cultivate a calm, clear and compassionate mind.
Ayurveda, a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, which can be said as a sister science of Yoga, offers an intricate understanding of how different foods can affect our physical health, mental, emotional and even our spiritual health. Ayurveda describes three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Among these three Gunas, Sattva is the pure quality of spiritual goodness and equanimity, which manifests as intelligence, awareness, virtue, and joy. Sattvic foods promote the purity of both body and mind.
Sattvic foods are very important for Sadhakas, who intend to venture into higher realms of consciousness. They are both soothing and nourishing. They promote and maintain a quiet and steady mind. They help to sharpen your intellect and can help you to develop higher concentration and ultimately enter into the tunnel of meditation.
As stated above, Sattvic foods are purely vegetarian and do not include foods derived by harming the animals. They are grown naturally and do not contain preservatives, artificial flavors, or additives.
A sattvic diet generally consists of
- fruit and vegetables
- whole grains and nuts
- dairy products such as milk, butter, and ghee
- beans and lentils
- mildly sweet foods (natural, unrefined sugars), honey, etc.
- spices such as cinnamon, basil, coriander, ginger, and turmeric
- Dry fruits such as almonds, dates, etc.
Sattvic foods comprise the diet of all sages, yogis, and spiritual teachers. Sattvic means pure essence. This is the purest diet for spiritual life. These foods that are abundant in Prana – the universal life-force that gives life to all sentient beings. Foods prepared with lots of love will add to their Sattvic quality. They have a quickening and lightening effect on the body’s nervous and digestive systems.
If sattvic foods are combined with a healthy lifestyle, yoga, meditation, and spirituality the result will be higher consciousness levels ultimately leading to enlightenment. One has to make a habit of sattvic diet and sattvic thoughts. A sattvic diet gives a healthy body and a balanced mind.
For more on diet, also read –
Diet And Yoga – Fasting Benefits – Tamasic Food, Rajasic Food, Sattvic Food
