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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Why can live few days without food but not without water?

I am always fascinated with the concept of food (though am not a great eater) and its impact on us as an individual and the society. The fascination actually stems from how our ancestors have understood the prakriti (nature) of a person, food and the the impact of food on the individual. When you start thinking about this you really don’t know when you are crossing the boundaries of Ayurveda (Medicine), Yoga, culinary and Psychology and all look seamless.

There are 2 familiar statements which we all know and often debate on a peaceful evening with our friends.
· We are what we think.
· We are what we eat.

Being a firm believer of both statements I was always wondering the impact of food on our thoughts and our constitution (physically and mentally) till I came across this piece of information from chandogya Upanishad.

This is a discussion between Svetaketu Aruneya (the grandson of Aruna) and his father (Uddilaka, the son of Aruna), when Svetaketu returned to his father, at the age of twenty-four, having then studied all the Vedas, conceited, considering himself well-read, and stern. His father being a very wise man wanted to teach his son a lesson in humility and wanted to highlight that his self conceit does not befit him.

So he starts by asking him, have you ever asked for that instruction by which we hear what cannot be heard, by which we perceive what cannot be perceived, by which we know what cannot be known?' When his son acknowledges his ignorance on this he starts explaining things from evolution.

He says that water is produced from fire and explains whenever anybody anywhere is hot and perspires, water is produced on him from fire alone. Water he says produces food (earth). Further more he says that Fire, Water and Earth are the basic elements which manifest themselves in all the loving beings.

'The red colour of burning fire (agni) is the colour of fire, the white colour of fire is the colour of water, the black colour of fire the colour of earth. Learned men knew that 'Whatever they thought looked red, they knew was the colour of fire. Whatever they thought looked white, they knew was the colour of water. Whatever they thought looked black, they knew was the colour of earth. 'Whatever they thought was altogether unknown, they knew was some combination of those three beings (devata).

The most interesting aspect of food and its manifestation is as follows.

1. 'The earth (food) when eaten becomes threefold (16 parts); its grossest portion (10 parts) becomes feces, its middle portion flesh (5 parts), and its subtlest portion mind (1 part).
2. 'Water when drunk becomes threefold (16 parts); its grossest portion becomes water (5 parts), its middle portion blood, and its subtlest portion (1 part) breath.
3. 'Fire (i.e. in oil, butter, &c.) when eaten becomes threefold (16 parts); its grossest portion (10 parts) becomes bone, its middle portion (5 parts) marrow, its subtlest portion (1 part) speech.
4. 'For truly, my child, mind comes of earth, breathe of water, speech of fire.'
'That which is the subtle portion of curds, when churned, rises upwards, and becomes butter. 'In the same manner, my child, the subtle portion of earth (food), when eaten, rises upwards, and becomes mind. That which is the subtle portion of water, when drunk, rises upwards, and becomes breath. That which is the subtle portion of fire, when consumed, rises upwards, and becomes speech. For mind, my child, comes of earth, breath of water, speech of fire.
His son Svetaketu already realizing his mistake, requests his father to tell him more and his father continues.

Man (purusha), my son, consists of sixteen parts. Abstain from food for fifteen days, but drink as much water as you like, for breath comes from water, and will not be cut off, if you drink water. Svetaketu abstained from food for fifteen days. Then he came to his father and said: 'What shall I say?' The father said: 'Repeat the Rik, Yagus, and Saman verses.' His son replied: 'They do not occur to me, Sir.'

His father explains that your mind is weak and the recollection of your knowledge is difficult since you have not had food for 15 days. He asks his son to have food and realize that he can recollect his knowledge. The discussion continues this way.

This small section answered few questions and emphasized a lot:
· Why we can survive without food for few days and not without water?
· The depth of knowledge in understanding the nature of almost everything our ancestors possessed.
· Importance of vinaya (humility) and not just vidya (education.)
· It also highlights the way son has a respectful discussion with his father and his father’s concern in making his son realize his mistake.

Happy reading!

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