This creates an inner conflict, as I worry that consuming rajasic food daily may affect my spiritual growth, yet I also do not wish to give up strength training. Alok Da, please guide me on how to reconcile my physical discipline with my spiritual aspirations. Jai Ma.
The classification of foods does not mean that everybody should eat only Sattwic food or vegetarian food. Man is not moved by Sattwic energies alone. He needs rajas as well. Even tamas plays a role in his life; otherwise, these would not exist at all. Sattwic food is mainly helpful for those mainly engaged in pure spiritual life, especially of the kind that seeks to withdraw from the world or keeps a minimal engagement. But the warrior class or those engaged in excess physical activity or specialised physical training do generally need a richer protein supplement provided in certain forms of non-vegetarian food. However, what is generally advised is not to kill mammals because the first stirrings of the soul, the psychic essence begins to develop in certain mammals and hence it makes them a special category. One can see the development of certain emotions in these animals, which are the first stirrings of a deeper human life itself. These are elephants, horses, cows, dogs, and cats; hence, killing these is generally not good from the spiritual point of view. The other factor is that the higher animals, unlike the fish and chicken, experience fear and rage and eating them means absorbing something of their consciousness, which is not good from an evolutionary point of view.
Of course one should not make a fetish of food either way. Take what is needed and then not think much about it.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
