Sept. 6, 2025
Understanding and Addressing the Desire and Craving for Food
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 166This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/04/understanding-and-addressing-the-desire-and-craving-for-food/
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
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,520
We have a fixation on food.
We do not seek food just for
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,920
nourishment and proper care of
our bodies generally.
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,840
Rather, we use food to provide
us with comfort, emotional
4
00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,920
support and fulfillment of
desires for various tastes.
5
00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,200
We centre many of our
relationship rituals around
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,680
food.
At some point, many individuals
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,680
conclude that they need to
adjust their eating habits,
8
00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,680
whether through dieting or
fasting.
9
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,840
The disease conditions of
anorexia and bulimia are extreme
10
00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,120
examples of our attempts to
incorporate our manner of
11
00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,640
addressing food issues in
relation to societal
12
00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:48,760
expectations and norms.
Spiritual seekers also have, at
13
00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,520
some point in their spiritual
growth, frequently adopted
14
00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:57,200
various habits related to food,
nutrition, and taking care of
15
00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,160
the body.
In many cases, when they try to
16
00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,400
control the impulse for food,
they try to enforce a discipline
17
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,480
on the body and work to suppress
the response.
18
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:12,800
This does not necessarily solve
the issue.
19
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,120
The attention to the drive for
food or for particular types of
20
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,720
food remains, and at times this
attention asserts itself and
21
00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,360
distracts the seeker from the
spiritual effort.
22
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,280
This can lead to a cycle of
attention, suppression and
23
00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,600
obsession that does not resolve
the issue satisfactorily.
24
00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,440
There is a need to get to the
real root of the issue, which
25
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,840
can be understood through a
process of detailed observation.
26
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:47,960
Most times the individual is
focused elsewhere and thus there
27
00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,280
is not a constant pressure.
When the interruptions arise,
28
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,600
the observational standpoint of
the witness can engage to
29
00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,840
determine the actual causative
factors so that they can be
30
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,600
removed, modified or
transformed.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,199
All actions of the outer nature
are driven by the action of the
32
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:14,600
three gunas, qualities of
nature, tamas, rajas and sapwa.
33
00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,000
There are thus different factors
involved depending on which guna
34
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,320
is predominant at any point in
time.
35
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,400
Cravings and desire for food
that arise during the ascendancy
36
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,200
of Thomas include habits that
are built up by repeated
37
00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,160
experiences regardless of the
actual needs of the body.
38
00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:40,680
Also as a response to stress, as
well as hormonal triggers based
39
00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,600
on despondency, feelings of
weakness and alienation, et
40
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,960
cetera.
A craving for sweet taste
41
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,800
frequently arises during Temasek
events.
42
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,360
Those that arise as a result of
rajas tend to include a drive
43
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,800
for particular responses or
tastes, such as a hankering for
44
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,920
highly spiced or salted foods.
Rajas also responds easily to
45
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:10,520
energies that the individual is
exposed to in daily
46
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,920
interactions.
Engagement with individuals who
47
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:17,760
are filled with desires or
ambitions, where pressures that
48
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:23,080
arise due to societal tendencies
and expectations, frequently
49
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,640
translate internally into a
sense of hunger.
50
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,560
There are even responses of
hunger associated with the
51
00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:35,000
predominance of satwa, for
instance, when one undertakes to
52
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:40,280
focus intensely on the body, its
nutritional needs, a scientific
53
00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:46,080
way of eating or some particular
dietary preference, and thus the
54
00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,400
fixation on eating is translated
into a process justified as
55
00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:56,080
having a rational and necessary
basis, whichever causative
56
00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,840
factor may be involved.
The physiological response
57
00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,200
includes the release of
hormones, neurotransmitters and
58
00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,400
signals that spur a response to
food or a particular food.
59
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,320
Feedback loops are created by
repeated habitual activities
60
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,760
such that the body expects food
at certain times and will send
61
00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,640
signals around that time to
remind the being that it is time
62
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,520
to eat.
Once we can begin to understand
63
00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,680
and identify the mechanism, the
next step is to specifically
64
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,840
unravel these varying motive
forces and apply a suitable
65
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:38,920
corrective.
In some cases, simply denying
66
00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,920
the impulse repeatedly will work
if the basis is a habitual
67
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,720
response that the body has
cultivated.
68
00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,920
In other cases, recognizing the
influence of external pressures
69
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:56,480
or the force of rajasic desire,
a conscious shift of attention
70
00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:01,160
to a higher level focus and
calling forth subwick support
71
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,280
can aid the process.
In some instances, we can
72
00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,000
actually recognize the need for
a particular nutritional element
73
00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,880
and satisfy that, noting then
that the craving is resolved and
74
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,800
does not return once the
underlying missing element has
75
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,400
been provided.
In modern day life, processed
76
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,760
foods are actually made with
tastes and chemicals to enhance
77
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,400
the addictive nature of the
foods and thus avoidance of
78
00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,560
highly processed foods can yield
fast and highly advantageous
79
00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,800
results both to help resolve
cravings and for the
80
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,280
individual's overall health and
well-being over time.
81
00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,360
Some paths try to solve the
issue by asking the practitioner
82
00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,000
to simply accept whatever comes
into the begging bowl that day.
83
00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,720
Others try to enforce the body
through discipline and in some
84
00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,840
cases elements of torture.
Still others counsel a specific
85
00:06:02,840 --> 00:06:07,080
dietary regimen to follow, such
that the scope of craving and
86
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,080
desire is held back.
The issue, then, is to
87
00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,560
understand and solve, rather
than to put a lot of energy
88
00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,520
obsessing about food, the
craving for food, or the
89
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,040
suppression of the craving.
In the end, the energy spent in
90
00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:27,520
the obsession is energy that
could be better directed to the
91
00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:32,360
spiritual pursuits, Trioro Bindu
observes quote.
92
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,240
Perhaps with regard to the greed
for food, your attitude has not
93
00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,600
been quite correct.
Greed for food has to be
94
00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,600
overcome, but it has not to be
given too much thought.
95
00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:48,480
The proper attitude to food is a
certain equality.
96
00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,120
Food is for the maintenance of
the body and would one should
97
00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,280
take enough for that what the
body needs.
98
00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,520
If one gives less, the body
feels the need and hankers.
99
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:04,560
If you give more than that is
indulging the vital.
100
00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,480
As for particular foods, the
palate likes the attitude of the
101
00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:15,240
mind and vital should be If I
get, I take, if I don't get, I
102
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,920
shall not mind.
One should not think too much of
103
00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,480
food either to indulge or unduly
to repress.
104
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:28,680
That is the best.
End Quote Reference Shriora
105
00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,720
Bindu and the Mother Looking
from Within, Chapter 5,
106
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,640
Attitudes on the Path, page 166.
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,520
We have a fixation on food.
We do not seek food just for
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,920
nourishment and proper care of
our bodies generally.
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,840
Rather, we use food to provide
us with comfort, emotional
4
00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,920
support and fulfillment of
desires for various tastes.
5
00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,200
We centre many of our
relationship rituals around
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,680
food.
At some point, many individuals
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,680
conclude that they need to
adjust their eating habits,
8
00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,680
whether through dieting or
fasting.
9
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,840
The disease conditions of
anorexia and bulimia are extreme
10
00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,120
examples of our attempts to
incorporate our manner of
11
00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,640
addressing food issues in
relation to societal
12
00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:48,760
expectations and norms.
Spiritual seekers also have, at
13
00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,520
some point in their spiritual
growth, frequently adopted
14
00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:57,200
various habits related to food,
nutrition, and taking care of
15
00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,160
the body.
In many cases, when they try to
16
00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,400
control the impulse for food,
they try to enforce a discipline
17
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,480
on the body and work to suppress
the response.
18
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:12,800
This does not necessarily solve
the issue.
19
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,120
The attention to the drive for
food or for particular types of
20
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,720
food remains, and at times this
attention asserts itself and
21
00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,360
distracts the seeker from the
spiritual effort.
22
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,280
This can lead to a cycle of
attention, suppression and
23
00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,600
obsession that does not resolve
the issue satisfactorily.
24
00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,440
There is a need to get to the
real root of the issue, which
25
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,840
can be understood through a
process of detailed observation.
26
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:47,960
Most times the individual is
focused elsewhere and thus there
27
00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,280
is not a constant pressure.
When the interruptions arise,
28
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,600
the observational standpoint of
the witness can engage to
29
00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,840
determine the actual causative
factors so that they can be
30
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,600
removed, modified or
transformed.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,199
All actions of the outer nature
are driven by the action of the
32
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:14,600
three gunas, qualities of
nature, tamas, rajas and sapwa.
33
00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,000
There are thus different factors
involved depending on which guna
34
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,320
is predominant at any point in
time.
35
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,400
Cravings and desire for food
that arise during the ascendancy
36
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,200
of Thomas include habits that
are built up by repeated
37
00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,160
experiences regardless of the
actual needs of the body.
38
00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:40,680
Also as a response to stress, as
well as hormonal triggers based
39
00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,600
on despondency, feelings of
weakness and alienation, et
40
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,960
cetera.
A craving for sweet taste
41
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,800
frequently arises during Temasek
events.
42
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,360
Those that arise as a result of
rajas tend to include a drive
43
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,800
for particular responses or
tastes, such as a hankering for
44
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,920
highly spiced or salted foods.
Rajas also responds easily to
45
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:10,520
energies that the individual is
exposed to in daily
46
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,920
interactions.
Engagement with individuals who
47
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:17,760
are filled with desires or
ambitions, where pressures that
48
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:23,080
arise due to societal tendencies
and expectations, frequently
49
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,640
translate internally into a
sense of hunger.
50
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,560
There are even responses of
hunger associated with the
51
00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:35,000
predominance of satwa, for
instance, when one undertakes to
52
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:40,280
focus intensely on the body, its
nutritional needs, a scientific
53
00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:46,080
way of eating or some particular
dietary preference, and thus the
54
00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,400
fixation on eating is translated
into a process justified as
55
00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:56,080
having a rational and necessary
basis, whichever causative
56
00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,840
factor may be involved.
The physiological response
57
00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,200
includes the release of
hormones, neurotransmitters and
58
00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,400
signals that spur a response to
food or a particular food.
59
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,320
Feedback loops are created by
repeated habitual activities
60
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,760
such that the body expects food
at certain times and will send
61
00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,640
signals around that time to
remind the being that it is time
62
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,520
to eat.
Once we can begin to understand
63
00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,680
and identify the mechanism, the
next step is to specifically
64
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,840
unravel these varying motive
forces and apply a suitable
65
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:38,920
corrective.
In some cases, simply denying
66
00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,920
the impulse repeatedly will work
if the basis is a habitual
67
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,720
response that the body has
cultivated.
68
00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,920
In other cases, recognizing the
influence of external pressures
69
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:56,480
or the force of rajasic desire,
a conscious shift of attention
70
00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:01,160
to a higher level focus and
calling forth subwick support
71
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,280
can aid the process.
In some instances, we can
72
00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,000
actually recognize the need for
a particular nutritional element
73
00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,880
and satisfy that, noting then
that the craving is resolved and
74
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,800
does not return once the
underlying missing element has
75
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,400
been provided.
In modern day life, processed
76
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,760
foods are actually made with
tastes and chemicals to enhance
77
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,400
the addictive nature of the
foods and thus avoidance of
78
00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,560
highly processed foods can yield
fast and highly advantageous
79
00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,800
results both to help resolve
cravings and for the
80
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,280
individual's overall health and
well-being over time.
81
00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,360
Some paths try to solve the
issue by asking the practitioner
82
00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,000
to simply accept whatever comes
into the begging bowl that day.
83
00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,720
Others try to enforce the body
through discipline and in some
84
00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,840
cases elements of torture.
Still others counsel a specific
85
00:06:02,840 --> 00:06:07,080
dietary regimen to follow, such
that the scope of craving and
86
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,080
desire is held back.
The issue, then, is to
87
00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,560
understand and solve, rather
than to put a lot of energy
88
00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,520
obsessing about food, the
craving for food, or the
89
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,040
suppression of the craving.
In the end, the energy spent in
90
00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:27,520
the obsession is energy that
could be better directed to the
91
00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:32,360
spiritual pursuits, Trioro Bindu
observes quote.
92
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,240
Perhaps with regard to the greed
for food, your attitude has not
93
00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,600
been quite correct.
Greed for food has to be
94
00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,600
overcome, but it has not to be
given too much thought.
95
00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:48,480
The proper attitude to food is a
certain equality.
96
00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,120
Food is for the maintenance of
the body and would one should
97
00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,280
take enough for that what the
body needs.
98
00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,520
If one gives less, the body
feels the need and hankers.
99
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:04,560
If you give more than that is
indulging the vital.
100
00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,480
As for particular foods, the
palate likes the attitude of the
101
00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:15,240
mind and vital should be If I
get, I take, if I don't get, I
102
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,920
shall not mind.
One should not think too much of
103
00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,480
food either to indulge or unduly
to repress.
104
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:28,680
That is the best.
End Quote Reference Shriora
105
00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,720
Bindu and the Mother Looking
from Within, Chapter 5,
106
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,640
Attitudes on the Path, page 166.
