A Vegetarian Diet for Yoga
I’ve subbed quite a few classes over the years and have been quite surprised when the students were asked what yoga was. They answered “Postures; a way to relax; a snack made from fermented milk and bacteria cultures?” It’s difficult sometimes to determine the true purpose of doing something. “I’m working at _____________to get money for rent, kids, to make the world a better place, to get out of the house, etc”.
There are many reasons for doing something. The practices of yoga, however, spells it out for us: yoga=union. śrī Brahmananda Saraswati defines yoga as “The state of missing nothing.” Once we unite things we are no longer able to tell them apart. Through the consistent application of the principles of yoga, we will find that happiness and peace extend beyond our daily yoga class, perhaps beyond the gross physical into the subtle energetic, emotional, and mental. So if that is your purpose for practicing yoga, read on.
We may practice asana. Asana purifies karma: past actions. The process then requires us not to create the same karma we purged ourselves of. Otherwise, it is like going to the gym and burning 500 calories, then immediately eating a snack which contains 500 calories. We don’t get anywhere. We want to purify more karma than we create, or at least create less harmful karma. ie: by eating vegetables instead of other sentient beings. How can we expect to reach a state of union, eternal bliss, when we deprive others of happiness by seeing them as ours to eat? It’s no coincidence that yoga practitioners who adopt a vegetarian diet are more flexible than meat eaters.
śrī K. Pattabhi Jois, the aṣṭāṇga yoga guru, when questioned on the subject of meat eating and yoga:
Questioner: “Some yoga teachers say that a vegetarian diet is not necessary.”
Guruji: (laughing) “Oh… a new method!”
Q: “Many Indians and Westerners eat meat.”
Guruji: ”They are not practicing yoga. Meat eating makes you stiff.”
Q: “What is the most important Yogic practice in this time?”
Guruji: “Vegetarian diet is the most important practice for Yoga.”
महर्षि पतञ्जलि योग सूत्र ।१।
अहिंसा प्रतिष्ठायां तत् संनिधौ वैर त्यागः॥३५॥
Maharṣi Patañjali Yoga Sūtra |1|
ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhāyāṁ tat saṁnidhau vaira tyāgaḥ ||35||
When in the presence of one firmly established in non violence, all hostilities cease.
If we have not yet reached the goal of yoga and still perceive others, the Yama are guidelines as to how we must treat them to maintain the serenity of our minds. Master Patañjali gives the first limb of the eight limbed path of Yoga as Yama: that which we do to others. Ahimsa, or non-harming, is the first practice of the first limb.
All our yoga practices must, if we still believe in the goal of yoga, be based upon a solid scriptural source. We cannot simply create or disregard that which is inconvenient. If I wish to bake a chocolate cake (vegan, of course) I cannot leave out the sugar simply because I don’t have it. The result will not be the same as if I used it. These sutra are also commonly translated and manipulated to suit us: “I practice ahimsa toward myself, I don’t want to hurt myself, so I eat meat.” What!? Meat itself is harmful, both spiritually, as our bodies become the graves of murdered beings, and physically, as our bodies are not suited for meat consumption. Further, there is no nutrient necessary to our survival that can only be gained from the consumption of meat.
Master Patañjali gives the first two limbs as: Yama-Restraints, that which we do to others and Niyama-Observances, that which we do to ourselves ie: cleanliness, contentment… After introducing each Yama specifically ie. ahiṁsā, he then gives the benefit to the sadhak (spiritual practitioner) pratiṣṭhāyāṁ tat saṁnidhau vaira tyāgaḥ. This would be redundant if the Yama were indeed practices we do to ourselves. With this in mind we could turn it into the negative: One who is firmly established in violence or who causes violence to be performed will continuously encounter violence.
The Ethic of Reciprocity states “Do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you.” This is actually an evolution of the commonly known Golden Rule. Every wisdom tradition has a similar version.
We get closer to Yoga when we realize that if we do something to another it will eventually come back to us. Keeping this in mind we strive to practice compassion in our food choices by choosing not to contribute to the suffering of others. We attain Yoga when we realize there are no others.
We may not practice Asana every day but we eat every day, sometimes more than once. Our fork can be a weapon of mass destruction.
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः
om śānti śānti śāntiḥ
Mark Knowles
Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher
www.bahamayogi.com
843.991.2272
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
You are so passionate Mark with your convictions and leading a life that exemplifies your devotion to the traditional yogic philosophy. I totally believe it is of the utmost importance in understanding our roots and and sharing the original intent of what yoga is. I think the Golden Rule says it all and also “making compassionate” eating choices will guide many along on this path. I do think we need to be sensitive to others beliefs and convictions as well. If we tell others they are not real yogis for not following the vegan diet, then we are placing judgments on them and that is harming our neighbor, no? There are some ayurvedic recommendations for the Vata dosha that include meat, and that is an ancient medicine(for more info scroll down and read Ellie Bolland’s post on Ayurvedic) that combines yogic teaching as well. It is clear that traditional yogic teaching believes that is an insult to kill a living thing, for that is an insult to its Creator. Iyengar presented that in “Light On Yoga.” SO what about plants? They are living, no? How far do we go….? I think whether we eat meat or not, we make our choices mindfully and prayerfully. Bless our meals and may it not only nourish our bodies, but also our minds, and souls. If one chooses to eat meat and is a kind, honest, loving person, then how is that not yoga?
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Thanks Rachel
Actually these questions are among the most commonly asked.
1) As Master Patanjali States in YS I.33 we should tell others nothing. If we are asked or, for example, if someone comes to a Jivamukti Yoga class, or reads an article by a Jivamukti Yoga Teacher then we may expound on our “experience strength and hope”. As long as we are simply passing on the knowledge gained from a REPUTABLE source such as Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra we cannot control how others feel. A mother may admonish her child if he gets into the cookies, this is not a judgement, she is simply passing on a valuable lesson of not taking what is not his. She has learned that this may make the difference between his having a happy, joyous, and free life or becoming a burden on society.
2) Plants are indeed living. The point is to do the LEAST amount of damage possible. So, is it doing the least damage by killing a cow or a plant. PYS II.30 even reiterates with Aparigraha-not taking more than is needed. NO ONE consuming meat can honestly claim that is what they are doing when one is fully aware of the resources needed to produce a pound of beef. 3) Ayurveda is the science of Life. Yoga is the science of the mind. I can only speak from the perspective of a Yoga teacher and student. Master Patanjali is quite clear on ahimsa. Furthermore meat shortens our lives-this is proven.
4) How do I mindfully and prayerfully cause a living being to be killed for my unnecessary consumption? How could I pray to an omnipotent, benevolent being to please bless this creation of His which I caused to be tortured, boiled alive, hung upside down with its throat cut still kicking, cut its beak off, or skinned alive.
5) There is nothing kind and honest and loving about the abovementioned things. And if we say that “kind, loving, and honest” only applies to humans, then they’ve completely missed the goal of Yoga-Union. As Yoga teachers we have a responsibility to uphold the lineage of great Masters such as BKS Iyengar and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Master Patanjali, and Lord Krishna by presenting this to the student.
It’s when we try to apply our mere few years to the mix that we as a race get into trouble, we may actually believe the lies we tell ourselves!
If we’re not practicing for the real experience of Yoga then of course, none of this applies.
Mark
November 24th, 2009 at 11:55 am
An important revelation that many people need to understand or just pure exposure to the original intent of yogic philosophy. I totally admire your heart and your compassion to share this principle with us, it is moving, passionate and convicting, and very real. Thank you Mark. I do still believe that there are loving, kind, generous, giving, honest, people out there that are not vegan, practice and teach yoga. And there are Swamis that I have met and retreated with even, who hold dear to the traditional doctrine of a vegan life style, and are rude, cold, and basically unkind.
Bless you for sharing so openly. AwesOMe work.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Absolutely! A vegan diet doesn’t make kind people. Kind people choose a vegan diet.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Well said! Have a have healthy and happy Thanksgiving.