Sept. 7, 2025
Balance and Harmony in Relation to Food and the Nourishment of the Body
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 167This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/balance-and-harmony-in-relation-to-food-and-the-nourishment-of-the-body/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,800
It is a human trait.
We tend to oscillate between
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,280
extremes.
Too much or too little seems to
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,400
be our method of living.
Wise men, sages and rishis
4
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,600
throughout the ages have
counselled moderation in all
5
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,240
things.
The middle way, the way of
6
00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:25,880
balance.
These tenets for living are also
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:30,000
helpful in our understanding of
our physical body and its proper
8
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,400
maintenance.
Too much eating frequently
9
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,080
occurs nowadays through
inattention, social pressure, or
10
00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,400
through habit.
We see people who eat while
11
00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,960
watching television, watching a
movie in a theater, attending a
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,560
sporting event, or who are
scrolling on their mobile
13
00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:54,080
devices without monitoring or
controlling portion size.
14
00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,320
They are not paying attention to
what they are eating nor how
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,080
much they are eating.
It is a mechanical reflex that
16
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,800
occurs while the mind is
occupied elsewhere.
17
00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,480
In many cases, there's a subtle
pressure to join with family and
18
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,760
friends in a social eating event
such as a holiday meal or some
19
00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:20,200
form of celebration.
Many times guests are plied with
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,800
food beyond reasonable limits to
show some form of welcoming
21
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,760
goodwill.
In some cases, food becomes a
22
00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,280
substitute for other forms of
desire that are being
23
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,200
suppressed, such as when sexual
energy is repressed and the
24
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,640
social environment provides no
outlet for that force and it has
25
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,960
not been transformed or
transmuted.
26
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,760
In such cases, we see the vital
pressure channelled into eating
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,440
food.
In some cultures, the social
28
00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,600
status of a heavyweight
represents financial success and
29
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:59,920
thus is seen as positive.
In other cultures, particularly
30
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,120
those that consume large amounts
of highly processed foods that
31
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:09,720
are inexpensive, overweight is a
sign of lack of wealth rather
32
00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,000
than prosperity.
There is often a greed for food
33
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,040
that is either based in former
experience, social pressure, or
34
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,320
in becoming accustomed to food
that builds some form of
35
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,840
addictive response within the
being.
36
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:31,360
A major snack food brand in the
USA even uses the tagline Can't
37
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,240
Eat Just One to signify and
reinforce its addictive
38
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,880
characteristics.
Young children are trained to
39
00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,160
crave certain tastes as part of
a reward cycle their families
40
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,480
utilize.
This habit continues through a
41
00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:52,920
lifetime in many cases.
Those who lead a more sedentary
42
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:57,720
life, either through career
pressures or, for spiritual
43
00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,160
seekers, a focus on long times
of meditation.
44
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:05,160
There can be a tendency to take
in more calories than are being
45
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,800
burned, and thus they may tend
to put on weight.
46
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,400
Similarly, as people age, they
may experience a change in their
47
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,960
metabolic rate and thus utilize
less calories than they are
48
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,360
habitually used to consuming.
Thus, they may put on weight as
49
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,720
they age if they are not able to
adjust the caloric intake
50
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,600
suitably to the change in
metabolic function.
51
00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,440
On the other side of this, there
is a strong social pressure,
52
00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,080
particularly through the mass
media and film industries, for
53
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,680
people to appear thin.
When this pressure comes up
54
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,600
against the opposing tendency
for weight gain, there can be
55
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,520
events of extreme dieting,
anorexia and bulimia which
56
00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,200
weaken the frame.
Some spiritual traditions
57
00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,360
include fasting and strict
dietary restrictions as part of
58
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,640
their framework of discipline in
an attempt to school the vital
59
00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,800
and physical being to temper
their demands and expectations,
60
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,480
and this can lead to a framework
that is unduly weakened.
61
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:20,040
With all the pressures on both
sides and the amount of
62
00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,360
unconscious eating that takes
place, it is difficult for most
63
00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,600
people to find a suitable
balance.
64
00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,160
A middle way.
By understanding these various
65
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,800
pressures and through
observation as a separate
66
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,640
witness consciousness, the
seeker can gain mastery over
67
00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:43,840
these impulses and instead
utilize a more balanced approach
68
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:49,400
both as to caloric intake and
quality of the food being eaten
69
00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,680
to ensure the body gets what it
needs in the right amounts and
70
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:59,440
in the right way.
A major factor will be to eat
71
00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,560
with attention and avoid the
unconscious intake of food that
72
00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,600
occurs through a focus that is
directed elsewhere at the time
73
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,520
of eating, Triorrobindo notes
quote.
74
00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,920
Too much eating makes the body
material and heavy eating too
75
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:18,920
little makes it weak and
nervous.
76
00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,240
One has to find the true harmony
and balance between the body's
77
00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:30,560
need and the food taken.
End Quote Reference Sri Orobindo
78
00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,840
and the Mother Looking from
Within, Chapter 5.
79
00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 167.
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,800
It is a human trait.
We tend to oscillate between
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,280
extremes.
Too much or too little seems to
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,400
be our method of living.
Wise men, sages and rishis
4
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,600
throughout the ages have
counselled moderation in all
5
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,240
things.
The middle way, the way of
6
00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:25,880
balance.
These tenets for living are also
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:30,000
helpful in our understanding of
our physical body and its proper
8
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,400
maintenance.
Too much eating frequently
9
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,080
occurs nowadays through
inattention, social pressure, or
10
00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,400
through habit.
We see people who eat while
11
00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,960
watching television, watching a
movie in a theater, attending a
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,560
sporting event, or who are
scrolling on their mobile
13
00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:54,080
devices without monitoring or
controlling portion size.
14
00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,320
They are not paying attention to
what they are eating nor how
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,080
much they are eating.
It is a mechanical reflex that
16
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,800
occurs while the mind is
occupied elsewhere.
17
00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,480
In many cases, there's a subtle
pressure to join with family and
18
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,760
friends in a social eating event
such as a holiday meal or some
19
00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:20,200
form of celebration.
Many times guests are plied with
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,800
food beyond reasonable limits to
show some form of welcoming
21
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,760
goodwill.
In some cases, food becomes a
22
00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,280
substitute for other forms of
desire that are being
23
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,200
suppressed, such as when sexual
energy is repressed and the
24
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,640
social environment provides no
outlet for that force and it has
25
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,960
not been transformed or
transmuted.
26
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,760
In such cases, we see the vital
pressure channelled into eating
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,440
food.
In some cultures, the social
28
00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,600
status of a heavyweight
represents financial success and
29
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:59,920
thus is seen as positive.
In other cultures, particularly
30
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,120
those that consume large amounts
of highly processed foods that
31
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:09,720
are inexpensive, overweight is a
sign of lack of wealth rather
32
00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,000
than prosperity.
There is often a greed for food
33
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,040
that is either based in former
experience, social pressure, or
34
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,320
in becoming accustomed to food
that builds some form of
35
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,840
addictive response within the
being.
36
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:31,360
A major snack food brand in the
USA even uses the tagline Can't
37
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,240
Eat Just One to signify and
reinforce its addictive
38
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,880
characteristics.
Young children are trained to
39
00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,160
crave certain tastes as part of
a reward cycle their families
40
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,480
utilize.
This habit continues through a
41
00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:52,920
lifetime in many cases.
Those who lead a more sedentary
42
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:57,720
life, either through career
pressures or, for spiritual
43
00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,160
seekers, a focus on long times
of meditation.
44
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:05,160
There can be a tendency to take
in more calories than are being
45
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,800
burned, and thus they may tend
to put on weight.
46
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,400
Similarly, as people age, they
may experience a change in their
47
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,960
metabolic rate and thus utilize
less calories than they are
48
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,360
habitually used to consuming.
Thus, they may put on weight as
49
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,720
they age if they are not able to
adjust the caloric intake
50
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,600
suitably to the change in
metabolic function.
51
00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,440
On the other side of this, there
is a strong social pressure,
52
00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,080
particularly through the mass
media and film industries, for
53
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,680
people to appear thin.
When this pressure comes up
54
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,600
against the opposing tendency
for weight gain, there can be
55
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,520
events of extreme dieting,
anorexia and bulimia which
56
00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,200
weaken the frame.
Some spiritual traditions
57
00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,360
include fasting and strict
dietary restrictions as part of
58
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,640
their framework of discipline in
an attempt to school the vital
59
00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,800
and physical being to temper
their demands and expectations,
60
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,480
and this can lead to a framework
that is unduly weakened.
61
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:20,040
With all the pressures on both
sides and the amount of
62
00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,360
unconscious eating that takes
place, it is difficult for most
63
00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,600
people to find a suitable
balance.
64
00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,160
A middle way.
By understanding these various
65
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,800
pressures and through
observation as a separate
66
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,640
witness consciousness, the
seeker can gain mastery over
67
00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:43,840
these impulses and instead
utilize a more balanced approach
68
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:49,400
both as to caloric intake and
quality of the food being eaten
69
00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,680
to ensure the body gets what it
needs in the right amounts and
70
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:59,440
in the right way.
A major factor will be to eat
71
00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,560
with attention and avoid the
unconscious intake of food that
72
00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,600
occurs through a focus that is
directed elsewhere at the time
73
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,520
of eating, Triorrobindo notes
quote.
74
00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,920
Too much eating makes the body
material and heavy eating too
75
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:18,920
little makes it weak and
nervous.
76
00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,240
One has to find the true harmony
and balance between the body's
77
00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:30,560
need and the food taken.
End Quote Reference Sri Orobindo
78
00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,840
and the Mother Looking from
Within, Chapter 5.
79
00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 167.