Podcast details
Prana and nourishment
Prāṇa is the cosmic life force, and our food should be a source of it. What we consume now often lacks this vital energy because human greed has damaged the planet in a short time, unlike over millions of years. We must eat fresh, vegetarian foods like fruits and nuts which contain Prāṇa; consuming dead bodies or meat provides none. Modern high meat consumption began after the Second World War, influenced by wartime scarcity and the association of meat with wealth. This demand causes animal suffering and, in turn, illness in humans. Therefore, nourishment should be chosen not just for taste but for its Prāṇa. Āyurveda classifies food by three guṇas: sāttvic (balanced, pure, organic), rājasic (fiery, causing aggression), and tāmasic (dead, causing illness and dullness).
"Mother Earth has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."
"Sāttvic food is that which is balanced, pure—now I would add one word: organic, vegetarian."
Filming location: Sydney, Australia
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
