User talk:Mohnotgaurav18

Beyond Vegetarianism
Walking through a supermarket, people may forget a very basic fact of nature – it’s not man but God who makes food. There’s something magical about the way food grows. You plant a small fruit seed in the ground and it grows, and by the mysterious life force within it a food factory is created – a fruit plant creating dozens of juicy fruits. No scientist anywhere in the world has invented anything as incredible as this creation of God.

Instead of admitting the existence of a greater intelligence, scientists misinform the general public with their several theories relating to chemical evolution. Without evidence, they declare that life originates from chemicals. In spite of theorizing thus, they are unable to utilize those chemicals and make a seed that will grow and produce more seeds that will in turn create more fruits.

Once we acknowledge that life comes only from life, it’s reasonable to assume that all forms of life emanate from a single living source, which is the Supreme Lord – to the Muslims as Allah, to Jews as Yahweh, to Christians as Jesus, and to the followers of Vedas as Lord Krishna. At the very least we should offer our food to God out of gratitude. All religions recommend a method of thanks-giving. But the path given in the Vedic scriptures is unique in that the offering of food to God is part of a highly developed form of yoga that helps one to cultivate his relationship with the Lord which is known as bhakti yoga.

All Religions

Each and every soul has a direct relationship with God in the spiritual world. The Vedas stress that the main purpose of life is to revive this relationship. Srimad-Bhagavatam, known as the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic knowledge, says, “The human form of life affords one a chance to return home, back to Godhead. Therefore every living entity, especially in the human form of life, must engage in devotional service.”

Devotional service also called bhakti yoga, is the highest system of yoga. In the Bhagavad gita, Lord Krishna declares, “Of all yogis, one who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service [bhakti], is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is highest of all.” He further says, “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is, only by bhakti yoga. And when one is in full consciousness of the Lord with such devotion, he can enter the kingdom of God.”

The Yoga of Eating

The Lord says, “All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” Therefore offering food is a central part of bhakti-yoga.

The Lord also defines the types of food that He will accept. “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, flower, fruit, or water, I shall accept it.” Krishna precisely does not include meat, fish, or eggs in this. Hence a devotee does not offer them to Him. Out of devotion and love, a devotee offers Krishna only the purest of foods. This will definitely not include decomposing corpses of slaughtered animals or the would-be embryos of hens.

In most religions people ask God to feed them (“Give us this day our daily bread”), but in Krishna Consciousness a devotee offers food to the Lord and thereby expresses his love for Him. Even in ordinary circumstances, one will cook a meal as a mark of love and friendliness. Not only is the meal appreciated, but also the love and affection that has gone into it. Likewise, the method of offering food to God is meant to help us increase our love and devotion towards Him.

But it is indeed difficult to love somebody we have not seen. Fortunately, the Vedic scriptures describe God’s features in great detail. The Vedic notion of God is not vague. In other major religion’s scriptures, God is mentioned briefly as the Supreme Father, but little information is provided about His personality. Jesus said he is the son of God; and Muhammad was His prophet; but what of God Himself? He appears only indirectly.

Nevertheless, once we admit that God has created us, we cannot deny that He Himself has all the attributes of a person – a distinctive form and appearance, and all the abilities of various senses. It is not logical to assume that the creature of God can surpass his creator.

Just as we are persons, God is the Supreme Person, with a powerful spiritual form, but He is a person. It is said that we are created in the image and likeness of God. Giving sway to their fancies, Western artists have depicted God as an old man with a beard, whereas, the Vedic scriptures give a direct description of God’s personality. This information is not to be found anywhere else.

Firstly God is eternally youthful and possesses magnificent spiritual qualities that entice the minds of liberated souls. He is the supreme artist and musician. He manifests unlimited intelligence and humor. Moreover, He enacts transcendental pastimes with His eternal companions.

There is no dearth of descriptions of the attractive features of the Lord which is found in the Vedas. That is why He is called Krishna, or “all-attractive.” When we realize God’s personal identity, it becomes easier to meditate upon Him, particularly when offering Him food.

As Krishna is supremely powerful and fully spiritual, whatever comes in contact with Him also becomes pure and spiritual. Even in physical nature some things have the ability to purify various things. For example, the Sun with its powerful rays, can purify water from a lake contaminated with impurities. If a material object like the Sun can act in this manner, then we can only imagine the purifying potency of the Supreme Lord, who has very easily created millions of suns.

Offering to Lord Krishna

Those who eat food which is not first offered to the Lord will suffer sinful reactions. Bhunjate te tv agham papa ye pacanty atma-karanat. Whoever eats for sense gratification or cooks for himself, without first offering it to Krishna, eats only sin. It is paramount that one eats only the remnants of food offered to Krishna. A Krishna conscious person doesn’t eat anything that isn’t first offered to Lord Krishna. Mohnotgaurav18 (talk) 11:34, 31 May 2017 (UTC)