Better Ways Of Eating For Krishna And Prabhupada

Now comes the controversial part where I attempt toAyurvedic injunctions in the name of religion. But, the
explain how many of our habits (that we confuse withAyurveda has been given to us by Krishna.
Kcon) or activities may be harming us or at least notFor example one Ayurvedic injunction is that one
contributing to our health. Lets take eating for example.should wait at least 6 hours between heavy meals.
Most of us were brought up in Kcon eating tons ofNowadays in ISKCON (it wasn't like that in the early
Halvah, Sweet Rice, fried foods, etc. We thought: Itsdays) devotees will load up on a super heavy meal for
prasadam, so how can it be bad for our bodies?"breakfast (that is usually eaten too late due to a much
Well I got news for you. A saturated fat or sugartoo long morning program), then eat lunch 4 hours later
even if it offered to Krishna has the same affect on(10 AM to 2 is 4 hours for you non- mathematicians).
our arteries, kidneys, liver, etc. that a saturated fat hasThere are many other examples of devotees ignoring
when it is not offered to Krishna. That may be areality (such as sleeping habits, safety habits etc), but
radical statement but it is true. Ask any devotee whomy intention is not to attack those things that are near
is suffering from high blood pressure, kidney disease,and dear to you (habits that you may have confused
liver disease, diabetes, etc. whether it is true or not.with Krishna consciousness), but to help you
Ask an ayurvedic physician about the saturated fat,understand how to live longer in the present body so
high sugar diet and see what he says about it. He willthat you can serve Krishna and Prabhupada with
advise you to avoid this type of diet. Even in the facemore energy for a longer period of time.
of all this evidence we may deny reality.I state these things simply out of a desire to serve the
Another example is most of the kirtans that we haveVaisnavas. It pains me to see devotees unnecessarily
in our ISKCON temples and programs. We think thatsuffering or leaving their bodies. I have seen too many
because we are chanting the holy name no earof my fellow devotees succumb to illnesses that could
damage will occur even the sound level is high enoughhave been prevented, by lifestyle adjustments. So,
to freak out a regular disco club customer. Now weplease do not be in denial of reality in the name of
have many devotees with tinnitus (constant ringing ofreligion. I am not going to prescribe a diet for you or
the ears) or partial deafness. As we know, the earslifestyle for you, but I am going to advise you to do
are the most important sense in Krishnasome research into Ayurveda and common sense
consciousness, so we need to keep them functioningnutrition. Don't do things because: "that's the way we
properly.always did things.", or "that's the way I was taught to
I now carry a decibel (sound level) meter with me anddo things." number of years ago my health was
have seen that it a rare kirtan in ISKCON that fallsdeclining because of improper lifestyle habits. My diet
within the safe level (below 90 dB) or is softer than thewas full of saturated fats (I loved cheese on
sound of a jet taking off from 50 ft away. Anothereverything and also fried foods in ghee), tons of salt,
example is that we ignore the fact that the byproductsetc. I got a wake up call when I collapsed one day with
of combustion (ie: incense, etc.) may cause cancer orheart pain (it wasn't an attack but some indication). I
lung disease even if it is spiritual combustion or even ifhad high blood pressure (180/108 an auspicious
the ingredients are completely natural and organic.number!).
Interestingly enough, we oftentimes ignore even