Guruthwam on Greenfire

It is very difficult for one to follow fully the principles of a pure diet.When a person sees other people eating all sorts of things,he sees that observance of the principle of sattwic diet is more or less an unwelcome restraint. Experience tells us that one's diet is closely connected with one's thoughts and conduct so much so that a wise man has said, "Tell me what a man eats and I will tell you what character he has." Hence, he, who wishes to purify the thoughts and elevate his character, should not take to diet which is not sattwic and pure. 1 The saying goes, "The mind is as the diet is , " or, as is expressed in another way; "Speech is of the same character as the water one takes."2 So, he, who wishes to rid his mind of vices and desiresto keep his mind deeply in thought of God, must look at his diet. Thoughts become dark and impure when the diet is Rajsic or Thamsic, i.e. not congenial spiritually. The mind becomes fickle when the diet is exciting, intoxicating, inebriating and the character consequently declines, and sorrow and disquiet have to be endured, and these deprive the aspirant of the happiness there is in the spiritual communion.