요가 수행의 식생활

Abstract

Traditionally recommended and emphasized eating behaviors for practitioners of yoga are to take a nutritionally proper diet, eat moderately, and ultimately to fast. The pivotal point of a proper diet and fasting/food abstinence depends on food choices. In terms of this matter, the principle of food choices for practitioners, as well as laypeople, is based on the triguṇas(‘three qualities’) theory that originated in Sāṃkhya philosophy, but which is now also a key concept in various other schools of Hindu philosophy. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the beneficial diet for mental and physical health is one that activates the sattva quality(goodness and harmonious temperament), while a stimulating diet promotes rajas quality(passionate, active, and confused temperament). In addition, inauspicious foods increase tamas quality(dark, destructive, and chaotic temperament). It is based upon these priorities, then, that an appropriate diet for yoga practitioners is one that is based upon foods that are rich in sattva quality. The performer who adopts a vegetarian diet understands that it is beneficial in activating the sattva quality. Considering, however, the difficulty in distinguishing the relationship between foods and the triquṇas, food abstinence is the safest bet for yoga practitioners. It is the immediate principles of classical yoga that suggest the ideal diet of yoga practitioners, and these are represented in Hatha yoga as an example that can be specifically applied to the principles. The school of Hatha yoga for Yoga practitioners adheres to fasting diets and food abstinence suggested in classical yogic doctrines, while also recommending the taking of mostly specific vegetarian and dairy products as appropriate foods. Hatha yoga, however, is not limited on this point but tends to be flexible. It is encouraged for practitioners who eat to be inclined toward sweet and soft foods and those sufficient in nutrients. Yoga is yet keep to this flexibility, simultaneously adheres to the principles of vegetarianism even more stringent than Buddhism. Nevertheless, given the relationship between food and yoga, implicitly represented the scope of practice, many foods normally eaten by layperson in their daily lives and in sufficient abundance would be an appropriate diet for yoga practitioners as long as this does not include the eating of flesh.