The Yoga Of Eating - A Perspective From The World's Largest Vegetarian Food Relief

Food for Life Global represents the world's largestFood is the most basic necessity of life. It's only
vegetarian food relief. With roots in India's Vedicpurpose is to nourish the body, mind and soul.
food culture, projects in 50 countries, a strongFood therefore should give life and cleanse the
heritage of respect for the environment, and abody and uplift our spirit. Food that is old,
current distribution of more than 400,000 mealsdecomposed, and consisting of dead flesh, will
daily, the charity is beginning to make a significantpollute the body and consciousness, while food
impact on world consciousness.that is fresh, alive and nutritious will enrich the
How so? The mission of Food for Life is to bringbody, cleanse mind and satisfy the soul.
about peace and prosperity in the world throughTaking such conscious eating a step further, when
the liberal distribution of pure vegetarian meals.we recognize the equality of all beings, it will come
Food for Life strongly believes that the reasonnatural to us to share the bounty of the earth
there is so much violence in the world is becausewith others and give up all selfish tendencies.
of man's inability to see the equality of all beings.World hunger is a case in point, for the issue is
The pure vegetarian meals we serve, therefore,not a lack of food resources, but inequitable
are a statement of respect for other species anddistribution.
a call to a more humane way of life.The truly conscious person therefore, does not
Just like us, animals feel pain. Granted, they maydisrespect other living beings; they honor the
not have the intelligence of man, but they doenvironment and love their own bodies treating it
have emotions and are living, breathing consciousas if it were a temple. They live their lives in full
beings just like humans. Recognizing this fact isawareness of their connection to their
the basis of a truly humane society.surroundings. Such spiritual perspective is the
Since food is so central to everyone's life. It isfoundation of India's Vedic culture of hospitality of
only natural that it is the most effective mediumwhich the Food for Life program was founded
to initiate change in consciousness. All of us haveupon.
had the experience of sitting down to a mealThe conscious person fully embraces a socially
cooked with love and felt an immediateresponsible and environmentally respectful lifestyle.
transformation of consciousness and reciprocalBy becoming aware of our human responsibility to
love for the person that cooked the meal. Themaintain and protect the environment and other
fact is, when prepared with love, food can speakforms of life, we will learn to love our brethren
any language. Such food has the ability to breakand not exploit them. The same applies to our
down barriers, turn anger into love, fear into trustchoice of clothing and habitat.
and ignorance into enlightenment.The beginning of this journey in raising our
When a person is living consciously, they will do soconsciousness begins with the tongue. Never
in all their thoughts and actions. Their life will beunderestimate the power of the plate. What you
consistent and in harmony with their environment.put on your plate is as much a political statement
They will compliment their surrounding and notto the world as it is a mirror of who you really
disturb them. Living consciously begins withare.
conscious eating.