HPB-SB-10-290: Difference between revisions
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{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |On the Food of the Theosophist*|10-289}} | {{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |On the Food of the Theosophist*|10-289}} | ||
... | {{Style P-No indent|bathe the whole body in warm water with soap, before retiring for the night, for we must not forget that the spiritual day begins at midnight, and all the ceremonies of initiation took place at night; and thus our bedroom ought to be a quiet sanctuary, free from all the distracting influences of the day, and where we can derive the full benefit of the spiritual help giyen us during the hours of sleep. A cold or tepid sponge bath in the morning, quickly taken with plenty of friction after, is most healthful and refreshing, and if our clothes be loose, and not too heavy, this will allow the free passage of air to our skins.}} | ||
In conclusion, it may perhaps be well to give you my own experience as to diet, for it is now nearly five years since I gave up eating meat, on purely hygienic grounds, through reading some works by Dr. Nichols on the subject, never having until then met a vegetarian, and knowing nothing of occultism. I believe that one is better morally, mentally, and physically, for a simple diet makes life easier in many ways, and everything that helps us forward on the road to purity and simplicity ought to be valued by us, for we are told, unless we become like little children, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. | |||
We should eat our food with thankfulness, and practice continual self-denials. | |||
Alcohols are antagonistic to true spiritual development, and salt and condiments not only pamper the appetite, but increase the thirst and irritability of the system. | |||
Jesus, when he sent his disciples abroad, to preach his doctrines, and to heal the sick, said, “Into whatsoever house ye enter, eat such things as are set before you,” and in another place, he says,''''' '''''“not (so much) that which entereth into the body defiles the man.” If so, no hard and fast rule of diet, except temperance, can be laid down for the Theosophist, especially as climate and constitutional characteristics must always modify our practice. | |||
At the same time, Jesus also on one occasion, when his disciples could not cast out a powerful demon, said “This kind goeth not out, except after (much) prayer and fasting,” thus asserting as a fact, that for the highest spiritual powers, fasting as well prayer are necessary, and we know that he fasted forty days before he entered on his miraculous works. | |||
We know, also, that it was after many fastings that the Saints obtained their gifts of prophecy and healing. | |||
The true Theosophist, therefore, must not only be temperate in all things, but he must experiment in fastings, and yet he must see that he does this with wisdom and knowledge. | |||
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Revision as of 12:51, 13 November 2024
Legend
< On the Food of the Theosophist* (continued from page 10-289) >
bathe the whole body in warm water with soap, before retiring for the night, for we must not forget that the spiritual day begins at midnight, and all the ceremonies of initiation took place at night; and thus our bedroom ought to be a quiet sanctuary, free from all the distracting influences of the day, and where we can derive the full benefit of the spiritual help giyen us during the hours of sleep. A cold or tepid sponge bath in the morning, quickly taken with plenty of friction after, is most healthful and refreshing, and if our clothes be loose, and not too heavy, this will allow the free passage of air to our skins.
In conclusion, it may perhaps be well to give you my own experience as to diet, for it is now nearly five years since I gave up eating meat, on purely hygienic grounds, through reading some works by Dr. Nichols on the subject, never having until then met a vegetarian, and knowing nothing of occultism. I believe that one is better morally, mentally, and physically, for a simple diet makes life easier in many ways, and everything that helps us forward on the road to purity and simplicity ought to be valued by us, for we are told, unless we become like little children, we cannot see the Kingdom of God.
We should eat our food with thankfulness, and practice continual self-denials.
Alcohols are antagonistic to true spiritual development, and salt and condiments not only pamper the appetite, but increase the thirst and irritability of the system.
Jesus, when he sent his disciples abroad, to preach his doctrines, and to heal the sick, said, “Into whatsoever house ye enter, eat such things as are set before you,” and in another place, he says, “not (so much) that which entereth into the body defiles the man.” If so, no hard and fast rule of diet, except temperance, can be laid down for the Theosophist, especially as climate and constitutional characteristics must always modify our practice.
At the same time, Jesus also on one occasion, when his disciples could not cast out a powerful demon, said “This kind goeth not out, except after (much) prayer and fasting,” thus asserting as a fact, that for the highest spiritual powers, fasting as well prayer are necessary, and we know that he fasted forty days before he entered on his miraculous works.
We know, also, that it was after many fastings that the Saints obtained their gifts of prophecy and healing.
The true Theosophist, therefore, must not only be temperate in all things, but he must experiment in fastings, and yet he must see that he does this with wisdom and knowledge.
A Theory of Sin
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<Untitled> (Mrs. Hardinge-Britten...)
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Editor's notes