8

Enlightenment Journal | Summer 2012

J

ust as everything in the universe is 

a manifestation of the One Life, so 

food is Consciousness. The food 

we eat not only provides carbohy-

drates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, 

enzymes and other necessary nutri-

ents; it also provides life force, the 

influences of the three gunas (the 

attributes in nature), and the three 

governing principle influences which 

determine internal states. Food 

selection and preparation, then, should 

be a conscious exercise because the 

end results will affect body, mind and 

spiritual awareness. 

How we acquire our food is 

important. If harvested, it should be 

collected with care and thankfulness. If 

purchased or received from another by 

whatever means, it should be obtained 

honestly and in a spirit of appreciation. 

Fresh, live foods should be prepared 

in a clean, quiet environment. Every-

thing involved in the process, from the 

state of consciousness of the person 

preparing the food to the utensils used 

in its preparation, should be sattvic, 

or pure and elevating. One's hands 

should be washed well before begin-

ning preparations. A sick or unwell 

person, or one who is angry, moody, 

or emotionally disturbed, should not 

prepare food for others. 

In the Ayurvedic approach, even 

though foods are often recommended 

to meet the special needs of the 

different constitutional types, a wide 

variety of ingredients is available so 

that one will not need to be concerned 

that basic nutritional requirements 

will not be met. In most instances, 

foods from the basic groups can be 

easily utilized to please the most 

discerning palate as well as to satisfy 

nutritional needs. Nutrients will be 

naturally available in suitable quanti-

ties if a sensible approach is taken. 

The major emphasis is upon ensuring 

that the governing principles—Water, 

Fire and Air influences—are properly 

considered to meet individual needs. 

The approach to this matter is 

unique to this system, in that it deals 

with the tastes of foods, because 

it is the taste which influences the 

governing principles in the body. This 

Food as  

Consciousness

 

Roy Eugene Davis