Why being a Vegetarian strengthens our devotional growth?
A Woman devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Jai shree Krishna.. can u please explain about why we have to be pure veggi? If possible can u post on ur wall then everybody can read. thank you.”
REPLY:
Man is controlled by three gunas. Satva Guna, Rajo Guna and Thamo guna.
Everyone of us have all the three gunas as a blend. That is why, we have taken birth on earth and as a human.
A section of people have more satva guna and less other gunas; so, they mostly remain good people and fear for offences.
(If I stop meat eating, will my past sins of eating meat be forgiven? READ HERE!)
Another section of people have more Rajo guna and less other gunas; so, they stand first in starting problems and also like fighting with people that adds severe karma to them. They also have more lust.
Some other people have more thamo guna and less rajo and satva gunas. So, they always do foolish things and gets cheated and always take wrong decisions.
My above classification shows that, satva guna is the most preferred guna in which a person can start and perform devotional practices without much intervention and agitation of senses.
That is why, many devotees start devotional practices from being in Rajo or thamo guna and then stop the devotional practices in the middle and again fall in the sense related activities.
They try to follow both devotion as well as body related enjoyments and emotions. This is practically impossible and these unwanted gunas will drag them back into material sense gratifications.
I can say in other words like this: Maya can easily attack Rajo and thamo guna people whereas satva guna people will not give space for maya to easily attack them.
You may be now clear about our dominating gunas. Now, let me come to the point.
(Should one Offer food to Krishna in meat eating families? READ HERE!)
Krishna clearly says in Bhagavad Gita that the food we consume determines and controls our gunas.
If a person eats animal fat and animal protein rich foods, they get more Rajo and thamo gunas. That is why, most of the non vegetarians are aggressive and involve in emotional offences.
In fact the people eat the flesh of animals, ie, animal themselves, to develop their body flesh.
Same protein and fat are available in vegetarian foods also. But, these fats and proteins will have satvic effects only, not aggressive effects.
So, most of the brahmanas (true brahmanas) and vegetarians like to avoid physical crimes. Even sexual crimes will be less in vegetarians compared to non vegetarians.
So, I can simply say that vegetarian foods develop brahminical consciousness and qualities in men. In such brahmanical consciousness, folowing devotion is easy and the chance of committing offences will be less or nil.
(Should we avoid cow’s milk since Cows are exploited commercially? READ HERE!)
Not only devotion, even for leading a satvic life without much offences, we have to consume vegetarian foods.
Of course, eating vegetables also adds karma. But, as Krishna has said in Bhagavad Gita to offer Him just a leaf, water, fruit, etc, we can understand that He expects us to take vegetables only.
As Krishna says so, we take vegetables and hence our karma added by taking vegetables will be forgiven by Lord.
And, as Srila Prabhupada beautifully advised, if we offer even those vegetable foods to Krishna and then honour (consume) it as Krishna prasadam, it becomes 100% karma free because the prasadam is the food blessed and offered by Krishna back to us. This is a wonderful strategy recommended by our beloved Srila prabhupada.
By honouring prasadam only, we can avoid adding karma and we get full mercy of Krishna just by honouring prasadam, because there is no difference between Krishna and His prasadam.
Even among vegetables, there are some vegetables that enhances Rajo and thamo gunas that we are advised to avoid. Eg: Onion, Garlic, tobacco, coffee and tea leaves, etc.
In brief, we take vegetarian foods as prasadam TO DEVELOP SATVA GUNA, TO LEAD A PEACEFUL LIFE AND TO COME UP FAST IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS.
So, be a vegetarian.
It will help you to be a devotee for ever without fall down because you will be able to have sufficient sense control!
When others are adding karma, we can feel free from guilt if we avoid meat.
(Is Krishna a Vegetarian or non vegetarian as he was a Kshatriya? READ HERE!)