Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Gurudeva.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We are all here to help each other become perfectly Krishna conscious. We have the mercy of our spiritual master and the spiritual master connects us to the entire disciplic succession. There should be no doubt that as we continue to strive sincerely, we will all be fully qualified to receive the mercy of Krishna.
"Bhakti Yoga is the art of the possible", quoting Devamrita Swami. At every moment, we should do our best to follow the principles. With practice, our ability increases, just like if someone practices running or other physical exercise diligently every day, then their body becomes stronger. So, again quoting Devamrita Swami, Bhakti Yoga is all about "strengthening our choice muscles". At every moment, we make a decision, to service Krishna in the shelter of His internal energy, or stay under the control of His external energy... we choose whether we serve Krishna or go according to our past material conditioning...
Regarding food, as far as possible, we should try to take Krishna Prasadam always. In fact, one of the first instructions I received from a Godbrother of my spiritual master Bhaktimarga Swami, was "Eat only Krishna Prasadam, and Chant Hare Krishna". Food cooked by those who are not in spiritual consciousness affects our own consciousness adversely. I have many personal experiences in this regard. Especially, food grains have this special power of transmitting consciousness of the person preparing, even the person serving. If one has to unavoidably eat outside, then it is better to avoid foods containing grains. Best to stick with salads, vegetables, juices, etc.
In unavoidable situations, food cooked outside may be offered to the spiritual master mentally and sincerely, as the spiritual master is more merciful and lenient than Krishna, but obviously foods that the spiritual master will not take should not be offered. Once I offered mentally a soup containing a small quantity of onions without knowing the ingredients having been assured it was purely vegetarian, but I couldn't even eat that soup myself after the first spoonful due to finding the flavor of onions distasteful, so I also mentally apologized to the spiritual master and discarded that soup.
In a work situation, it is best to carry your own Prasadam. Srila Gurudeva (Sankarshan Das Adhikari) does this. He travels all over the world and always carries Krishna Prasadam. Srila Gurudeva & Gurumata would rather starve than eat outside food. I carry Prasadam from home that my wife cooks and offers to our deities every morning. The food I take from home is far far better in cleanliness, quality and taste than anything one can get outside anyway. Sometimes my colleagues also share the Prasadam with me, so appetizing it is. Sometimes, if she was unable to cook in the morning, I am able to bring Prasadam from the previous day - even that is better than eating outside.
At home, please cook for Krishna in a clean way according to the regulations - you can take instructions from any local devotee you may meet in person as to practically how to cook and offer. Then, after cooking, please offer in a clean plate reserved for Krishna, on your altar by chanting the mantras. Wait for the spiritual master to offer the food to Krishna, for Krishna to taste it, at least 10-15 minutes. Then, the food on the plate may be collected - no one should eat from that plate, and now the Prasadam is ready to serve to everyone else. When cooking and offering, the love with which the food is offered is key, and that translates to cleanliness and care and proper consciousness also.
Sweets mixed with eggs cannot be taken. I look carefully at the ingredients and if there is doubt that there may be gelatine or meat-contaminated ingredients, then I simply don't take. If we do it tactfully and if asked, explain with patience and kindness why we are unable to take something, other people will understand and respect our choice. Over time, they learn also. Recently, some of our friends invited us over for a party. Unavoidably, we had to go. But they took the effort to prepare vegetarian food without any onions or garlic, especially for us. It was not ideal, as they are in material consciousness, but we appreciated their effort and their feeling, so we mentally offered the food to the spiritual master and took it. In another situation, a friend actually ordered special food takout from the local temple restaurant especially for us! Just see how Krishna takes care of His devotees, however unworthy they may be!
Please look out and try to follow the higher principle always and surely you will be successful and more and more your circumstances will become favorable to practice Krishna consciousness all the time.
Mushrooms are in the mode of ignorance and must not be offered to the spiritual master or Krishna.
Vinegar is made by fermentation process also, and should be avoided, but many devotees and temples use vinegar in cooking, in that case follow the guidelines of your spiritual authority. For example, I know my spiritual master does not take vinegar, so I leave it out, instead if sour taste is needed for a dish, I use lemon juice or tamarind, or tomato, or any other variety of sour ingredients.
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
Comments
Very informative. Thanks for sharing. Hare Krishna...!