Is Vegetarianism Vital To Success in Meditation?

[mamatha]

Purity is of paramount importance for an aspirant. This purity we must establish in the body, in the vital and in the mind. When we eat meat, the aggressive animal consciousness enters into us. Our nerves become agitated and restless, and this can interfere with our meditation. If a seeker does not stop eating meat, generally he does not get subtle experiences or subtle visions. The mild qualities of fruits and vegetables help us to establish in our inner life, as well as in our outer life, the qualities of sweetness, softness, simplicity and purity. If we are vegetarians, this helps our inner being to strengthen its own existence. Inwardly, we are praying and meditating; outwardly, the food we are taking from mother earth is helping us, too giving us not only energy but also inspiration. Many spiritual seekers have come to the conclusion that a vegetarian is in a position to make quicker progress in the spiritual life. But along with a vegetarian diet, one aspiration, the vegetarian diet will help considerably; the body’s purity will help one’s inner aspiration to become more intense and more soulful. These passages are drawn from Sri Chinmoy’s Meditation, Man- Perfection in God – Satisfaction.