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PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN in CONTROL OF MIND :

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • October 19, 1998 


Dear Bhagavatas:
Presented below is PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN IN CONTROL OF MIND.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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PART 6 ROLE OF DIETARY REGIMEN IN CONTROL OF MIND: 

A.	Items prohibited on hygienic and prophylactic grounds (like our not using
tooth brushes used by others) 

1.	Spittle and food contaminated with spittle or sneeze
2.	Food contaminated by flies, worms, hair, fingernails etc.
3.	Food contaminated by excreta
4.	Food contaminated by cloth, thread, sneeze etc.
5.	Food that has been `smelt' by anybody
6.	Food `that has been tasted' by humans, rodent, crow, hen, cat, dog etc.
7.	Food that has been partially `bitten' by others
8.	Morsel of food partially remaining after eating a portion of it.
9.	Vegetables cooked without first being washed
10.	Fruits, vegetables etc. cut with finger nails
11.	Food prepared by persons who are not clean
12.	Food cooked in other people's homes (Paraannam)
13.	Food that has been found fault with
14.	Foods that have been prohibited specifically
15.	Food cooked along with prohibited items
16.	Foods known to be harmful to vital air and the functioning of sense organs

B.	Items prohibited on `Social' grounds (like the `Table manners' we follow
these days during formal gatherings) As dress regulations are imposed on us
during formal dinners, certain norms and disciplines are prescribed by our
traditions. Some of the restrictions are:
1.	One should not take for self, food intended for all
2.	Food meant for others (especially a sick person)
3.	Food kept apportioned for self and guests
4.	Food remaining after feeding a woman in menstruation*
5.	Food prepared specifically for a woman who has  just delivered*
6.	Food that has not been offered to `Bhagavan' in the first place (during
Aradhana)*
7.	Food before offering to guests (Athithi Sathkara)
8.	Food offered to lesser deities (Devatantara)
9.	Food set apart for offering to such deities as per Sastric injunctions
10.	Products (grains, pulses etc.) not offered to God after the harvest
11.	Food offered by Sanyasis directly
12.	Food taken out from the vessel of Sannyasis
13.	Food offered without love and affection
14.	Vegetables, fruits etc. cultivated in dirty places *
15.	Those that are known to affect concentration and meditation
16.	Those that have been specifically advised against by Acharyas and such
others
17.	Mixed food distributed by hand (Kalandha Saadham)
18.	Ghee should not be served after one commences eating
19.	Foods cooked more than once (Punar Paakam)
20.	Cooked food served with iron ladles or bare hands
21.	Salt served directly by hand
22.	Food should not be eaten using left hand
23.	Food should not be eaten holding the plate by hand (what we do during
Buffet sessions)
24.	Food should not be placed on a seat 
25.	Food should not be eaten keeping them on the lap 
(22 to 25 are precisely what we do during Buffet sessions)
26.	Should not eat edibles sitting on the bed
27.	Food should not be eaten without a lamp burning
28.	Moonlight / Fire are no substitutes for a burning lamp
29.	Lime used for making chunnam out of seashells
30.	Bubbles and foam arising from liquids (as while drinking Coke, Pepsi,
Coffee, etc.)
31.	No food can be taken without taking bath and washing hands, and completing
ablutions (Parishechanam)
32.	Should not leave without completing the final Parishechanam
33.	Should not eat out of a broken plate or other vessels that are not clean
Note: Items marked * are referred to in Srimad Ramayana (Balakanda) also.
(To Continue)
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