Brahmacharya: Celibacy With Understanding(Abr.) Brahmcharya: Celibacy With Understanding(Abr.) | Page 58

Brahmcharya
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constantly by eating less. Penance of hunger, eating less means
that if you normally eat four chapattis everyday, then start
eating only two. That is called the penance of staying hungry
by eating less.
Questioner : How big an obstacle is food in maintaining
the awareness in Gnan?
Dadashri : Big obstacle. Food is very hindering because,
as the food enters the stomach, it is converted into a form of
alcohol and then you feel lethargic during the rest of the day.
Those who want to practice brahmacharya must be aware
that sexual impulses increase with certain foods. These types of
foods should be decreased. Fatty foods such as those with fats
and oils should not be consumed. Also decrease the amount of
milk you take, but you can eat curries, rice, vegetables and
chapatis, except just reduce the amount you consume. Do not
overeat. Therefore, the amount of food you eat should be such
that you do not feel lethargic and at night you feel refreshed with
only three to four hours of sleep.
People feed young children magas, gundarpak, rich Indian
sweets made from ghee etc. that has very negative effect through
the effects of sexual impulses, with the result that they deteriorate
morally. Therefore, too much of it should not be given to young
children. You have to have some norms.
I am alerting you to the fact that if you want to practice
brahmacharya, you should not eat any onions and garlic and
potatoes.
Questioner : We cannot eat these three?
Dadashri : It is a wrong philosophy to combine practice
of brahmacharya and eat onions, garlic or potatoes. This is
contradictory to brahmacharya.