Supersensible Effects of Plant and Animal Food on the Human Being
The food we are consuming is coming from our environment. The original raw
materials from which our foodstuffs are made are to a great extent products
of nature. Even in numerous cases when we have an artificial product, the
raw material is from a plant or animal source (e.g. high fructose corn syrup
made from corn starch). Therefore we need to look at what kinds and
quantities of food ingredients have been usually provided from the four
kingdoms of nature:
- From the mineral kingdom come small quantities of
specific mineral substances, such as salt, sodium bicarbonate, etc. [1]
- From the plant kingdom we obtain the greatest amount of food we
consume, such as grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, etc.
- From the animal kingdom we obtain a large amount of the food we
consume (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc).
- From the human kingdom we get mother milk as the first food for the
newborn. [2]
Usually plant food and animal food are compared in respect of their
essential nutrients and consequently in respect of their impacts on the
human health. However, there are not only physical substances affecting the
human being, but also supersensible forces related with various substances,
because "a mineral, a plant, or anything in our
environment, is material only in regard to its one side. For spiritual
science everything around us is the gesture of the spiritual, the expression
of a spiritual element. Most certainly man stands in a relationship to
nature through the fact that he takes into himself surrounding nature in a
certain way and joins himself together with that which is in it. The
question then arises: Through the fact that man thus consumes what is
outside, does he not then become subject to these forces that work outside
him? Is there a possibility that man can become free of this influence of
his surroundings caused by foodstuffs, so that he can gain a certain power,
a certain influence over the surroundings?
Man, in order to satisfy the needs of his organism in this regard, eats
a so-called mixed diet. He acquires the main constituents of his nourishment
partly from the animal kingdom, partly from the plant kingdom. Among our
contemporaries today, many more prefer a mixed diet than a one-sided one,
such as only an animal diet or only a plant diet. We must ask ourselves the
question: How do the laws of the surroundings out of which man takes his
food, stand in regard to the true forces and needs of the human organism?"
[3] Only on the basis of knowledge of these influences
can we then choose such a diet that is the most suitable to our needs. This
includes also the choice between plant and animal foods.
In the introductory text FOURFOLD HUMAN BEING we
can see how "man stands before us with
three invisible members and one visible member, the physical body. If we
look upon men in contrast to the plant, then we see the plant before us as a
two-membered being. The plant has a physical body and an etheric body. We
can also point to how the plant builds up its organism. It combines
inorganic
materials into its body. It has the power to compose its body out
of single dead constituents in the most wonderful way. The light that
streams to us for our delight and can also stimulate us in our soul, is at
the same time the magnificent helper for the composition of the organism of
the plants. Behind this process of the building up of the plant
organism there lies a spiritual foundation, for spiritual science shows us
increasingly that what appears for us as light is also only the external
expression of a spiritual substance. Spiritual substance constantly flows
into us through the light. What is concealed behind this physical light also
appears in the astral body. In the sunlight it appears in its physical form,
in the astral body, in an astral way. The spiritual substance contained in
the light works inwardly in us in the building up of our nerve system. In such a wonderful way do plant life and
human life work together.
Now let us suppose that the human being through nourishment enters into
a relationship with the animal world. Then this matter is entirely
different. The essence which he then takes out of his nourishment, the
process, has in a certain sense already been carried out. What he otherwise
takes out from the fresh and virginal plant has already been partially
transformed, prepared in the animal, but in an incomplete manner. For the
animal has already incorporated an astral body and a nerve system into
itself. Thus man then takes up something which does not come to him
virginally, but something that has already undergone a process which has
already taken astral forces up into itself, and this man first has to
overcome. What lives in the animal already has within itself astral forces
that have undergone specific development. [4] Now one could think that through this,
man would be spared some work. However, this is not quite right. Just think
of the following: I make a house with various materials and implements. If I
take the original materials and implements, then I can build the house
entirely in accordance with my original plan. But let us now assume that
three or four other persons have already worked on parts of it and now I am
to make a single whole of this in accordance with my plan. Will this make my work easier? No,
certainly not." [5]
If we compare the plant and human being we see that "in sunlight we have
the same force which, in the nervous system, is active spiritually and
manifest itself as carrier of consciousness. Thereby the plant world, which
has its life by virtue of the external sun forces, and people and the animals,
which build up their soul body out of inner sun forces, are lawfully related
to one another." [6] By the help of this explanation we arrive to "the
fundamental difference between nourishment from the plant kingdom and
nourishment from the animal kingdom. Nourishment from the animal kingdom
works in a very specific way upon the nerve system and therefore upon the
astral body. However, with plant nourishment the nerve system remains
untouched by anything external to it. Then to be sure, man has to be
indebted to himself for everything in regard to his nerve system. But it is
through that fact that no alien products stream through the functioning of
his nerves, but only that which originates within him. Whoever knows how
much is dependent upon the nerve system in the human organism, he will
understand what that all means." [7]
In this case we consider the nervous system as an instrument which
enables activity and development of the soul-spiritual forces of man. As the
type of instrument defines the type of music, likewise we can see that we
influence via EARTHLY NUTRITIONAL STREAM the composition and functions of
our nervous system, the instrument for the development of our thinking.
Therefore we should not be surprised that "whenever man elevates himself to
the great overviews of existence, then he is not chained to common,
passed-on tradition; whenever man regulates his life and existence from a
freer and higher point of view, he is indebted for this flexible
comprehension of the world to the nourishment from the plant kingdom.
Wherever man lets his actions be guided by anger, sympathy and
antipathy, or prejudices which show everything in a narrowly delimited
light, he is indebted for that to the nourishment from the animal world."
[8]
This doesn't mean that consumption of meat is something entirely
negative. "On the contrary – animal nourishment was
necessary for man and it is still often necessary today because man should
stand firmly upon the earth inside the personal element. Everything
that man has raised to the level of his personal interests is connected with
animal nourishment. That there have been human beings who have had sympathy,
antipathy, and sensual passion for one another, who have fought the battles,
this originates from animal nourishment. However, that human beings have
not been satisfied in narrow interests, that they can grasp more general
interests, they owe to their relationships to the plant world in regard to
their nourishment. The tendency is to go more toward the spiritual with
certain peoples who predominantly consume plant nourishment; whereas other
peoples develop more towards bravery, courage, and boldness – which are
indeed also necessary for life. [9] These things cannot exist without the
personal element and this element is not possible without animal
nourishment." [10]
For an accurate understanding of this topic we need to be aware that
both types of diet – plant diet and meat diet – have positive effects and
some dangers as well. For a suitable choice one needs to take into account
one's life goals and tasks and adapt one's diet accordingly. One also needs
to take into account the inherited characteristics which may help or
obstruct a person in the choice of whichever diet (s)he would like. However,
one needs to know that human beings have inside them the potential to
overcome even hereditary traits if one works consciously on the development
of his individuality. [11] For
that reason one should not start from the fact that "the teeth and digestive
tools of the human beings are an intermediate thing between those of the
ruminants and the carnivores and in this way nature itself indicates that
human beings should eat mixed diet. We need to take into account also that
everything in the world is in flux, in growing and becoming. Not how man
looks today, but what he can become tomorrow is the real concern. If the
human being will go over to plant nourishment, then the organs that
correspond more to meat eating will recede, and those organs will be further
developed that are necessary for plant nourishment. We have to take into
consideration what things were like in the past and what might happen in the
future." [12] Of course, changes of this sort cannot happen overnight.
What is important is that we choose the path we really want and then start to implement gradual
changes that are leading towards the set goal.
Supersensible Effect of Dairy Products and Eggs on the Human Being
Now after we have gained a basic understanding of the effects of the
consumption of plant versus animal food the legitimate question arises: What
are the supersensible effects of dairy products and eggs on the human being?
Although milk comes from animals it does not have the same effects as animal
flesh. The reason is in the fact that "milk is a product which in its production in the
animal is primarily involved with the etheric body; the astral body
participates only to a minimal degree. Indeed, in the first period of his
life, a suckling babe can only live from milk. Everything that he needs is
in it. In its preparation the milk is only in contact with the astral body
to a limited extent." [13] It is similar in regard to
the chicken egg because "it is excreted by the mother-being from its own
organism. A similar process accompanies this 'gesture' of excretion from
within, as in the formation and excretion of milk. This process includes
renunciation of the animal astral forces and restoration in the realm of
life forces" [14] which are active via proteins
present in the egg and milk.
There is a different supersensible effect on man in the case of meat than
in the case of milk and eggs due to the fact that the latter are related
more with etheric than astral animal forces. Dairy food contain forces
"which binds him, as it were, to the Earth, to our planet; it connects him
with the human race on the Earth as a member of it, belonging to a common
family. All that is
carried into the human organism through milk prepares man to be an earthly
human creature, it unites him with earthly conditions, but it does not
really chain him to the earth. It makes him a citizen of earth, but does not
hinder him from being a citizen of the whole solar system.
It is different with animal-food. Animal-food which is taken from the
kingdom that is specifically earthly, and which is obtained not, like milk,
directly from the life-processes of the human or animal living being, this
animal-food chains man specially to the earth. It makes him into a being of
earth, so that we have to say: To the extent that a human being fills his
own organism with the effects of animal-food, he deprives himself of power
to become free from the earth at all. Through animal-food he binds himself
in the highest degree to the planet earth. Whereas milk renders him capable
of belonging to the Earth as the temporary scene of his development,
animal-food condemns him – unless he is uplifted by something else – to make
his sojourn on Earth permanent, a residence to which he adapts himself
exactly. The resolve to live on milk diet means: 'Though I will stay on the
Earth, and fulfil my mission there, I will not be attached exclusively to
the Earth.' The will to eat meat means: 'I so pledge myself to the
Earth-existence that I renounce all spiritual world, and prefer to be wholly
and solely engrossed in the conditions of earthly existence.'
It would facilitate the whole evolution of a man's life if he could
refrain from eating meat. On the other hand, serious consequences might
ensue if a person were to become such an extreme vegetarian that he avoided
milk and all milk-products. [15] In avoiding milk and all milk-products, a person
may very easily acquire a love of striving to get away from the earth and
lose the threads uniting him to his human tasks upon the earth. In order
that we may not become too eccentric when striving for psychic development,
in order that we may not become estranged from human feeling and human
effort on the earth, it is well for us to load ourselves in a certain way
like travellers upon the earth, by the use of milk and milk-products. Such
person will thereby relate his organism, his physical sheath, to the earth
and to humanity, but not chain it to the earth, and weight it with earthly
existence, as he would were he to enjoy meat." [16]
People have a choice because each "man has the potential
to break out of the rigid nutritional requirements which rule in the animal
world. Man can select his nutrition according to his stage of development,
his race, his constitution, his country, and finally his individuality." [17]
But for that purpose we need to take into account the evolution of
humanity throughout various cultural epochs with various forms of nutrition. Our nutritional needs were not the same in the past and will not
be the same in the future. While in the past the consumption of meat was
necessary for stimulating the instinctive life of the will, in the future
"progress will consist in this: the human being, in so far as the supply of
protein that he needs is not prepared within him, in human nature itself –
he will limit himself in regard to animal nourishment to that food not
irradiated by passions, such as milk. Plant nourishment will in the future increasingly
occupy a larger portion in human nourishment." [18]
This means that we live now in the transition period when we are gradually
passing over from the mixed diet based on plant and animal foods to the
plant based diet of the future epoch that will be based exclusively on the
plant food.
Now we can summarize the supersensible effects of animal and plant food
on the human being. [19] First we have food of animal origin such as
meat and meat products. They have the following impacts on man:
- They affect the nervous system in the manner that is
more in accordance with the astral body of an animal than with the astral
body of man;
- By help of such foods people develop in them the personal attributes of
physical strength, courage and initiative, which are needed for the creation
of suitable conditions for life in the various environments; at the same
time this development brings, to a similar extent, specialisation as is
evident in the animal world;
- The development of the personal element simultaneously brings the
danger that man sees everything from the perspective of personal sympathies
and antipathies which creates the wall of prejudices hindering the
development of more universal spiritual perspectives.
Then we have food of animal origin such as
milk, dairy products, and
eggs. Such foods have the following impact on man:
- His nervous system doesn't come under the
influence of the astral body of an animal because, in the production of milk
and eggs, chiefly active is the etheric body of an animal;
- Such foodstuffs are not estranging him/her from the human feelings
and efforts and thus prevents him/her to lose the connections with his/her
human tasks on the Earth;
- Although such food connects man with earthly conditions, it doesn't
chain him/her on the Earth to such a degree that (s)he would be hindered in
the development of an understanding of the universal questions of the world existence.
Finally we have food of plant origin which exerts influence on man in the
following ways:
- The nervous system of man remains untouched by
anything external to his human nature; in its building there is active the
spiritual substance present in the background of sunlight;
- The consumption of plant food prepares the nervous system in such a
manner that it enables the development of spiritual life and the universal
understanding of the world that allows for freer decision-making of man;
- The human being is indebted to the food from the plant kingdom for the
development of living thinking which is enabling him to regulate his own
life on the basis of genuine insights into the higher dimensions of the
world existence.
For a complementary perspective see:
♦ LOCAL vs GLOBAL FOOD
DIETARY CONCLUSIONS & PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS
Now we can return to the initial question: "How must the nourishing of
man be formulated, so that he can become free of the coercion from
foodstuffs so that he can consistently be lord and master over what goes on
within himself?" [20] If we want to find the proper practical answers then it is not
enough to focus one-sidedly on the physical aspect of food, but we need
above all to take into account the supersensible effect of plant and animal
foods on human body, soul and spirit. For that we need to be aware that
impacts of such nature as described in this nutritional principle are
general impacts which can greatly vary from person to person due to his/her
level of spiritual development. Because of this it is a logical conclusion
that each person must have individual choice in regard to his/her own style
of nourishment, taking into account his/her specific characteristics and
circumstances.
The general rule in regard to these circumstances is: If one is capable
of adopting a vegetarian diet and still continues with eating meat (because
of habit or pleasure), then such a person doesn't develop all his potentials
and thus suppresses his development. And if one adopts a vegetarian diet
without simultaneously engaging in his own spiritual development, then such
a person can also harm himself. [21] This is one case when dietary choice becomes the choice between two different life-styles.
There are the following choices on the ladder from mainly animal to
exclusively plant nutrition which lead toward greater independence from the
outer world:
- Plant food and red meat
- Plant food and white meat from birds (chicken, turkey, etc)
- Plant food and fish
- Plant food and dairy produce plus eggs
- Plant food and dairy produce
- Plant food with grains and legumes as the main source of protein
In recent times we are witnessing the promotion of protein based
diets, such as the Atkins diet and the Palaeolithic diet, which exclude the main
sources of carbohydrates, such as grains and grain products. [22]
The problem with these diets is that are based on a materialistic perspective,
not taking into account the spiritual effects on the human being. Although there
are still people who – because they belong to the groups with a long tradition
of meat consumption – cannot completely abandon meat consumption, we need to
understand that we live in the transition period from meat to plant diet. For
that very reason everyone should try with all that is in their power to minimise
consumption of meat as much as possible.
But this also cannot be more than general advice in order to stimulate people to
find out for themselves what is their own minimal amount needed.
In regard to an exclusivelyplant diet – such as in case of a vegan
diet – we have the same problem: a materialistic approach with no
consideration of the supersensible effects of food on the human being.
Although the main reason for adopting this diet is very positive – the
compassion for the suffering of animals – it will not automatically bring
positive results if we don't take into account personal circumstances. For
it doesn't matter only that one wishes to lessen the amount of sufferings of
animals which is a consequence of mainstream food production [23],
one must also have enough power to live an active life in the physical realm
without the support of dairy foods and eggs. In the contrary case one can
seriously endanger own health and even own spiritual progress.
Here we need to mention another issue: promotion of veganism on the basis
of stories of people who have dramatically improved their health with the
transition from vegetarian to a vegan diet. In such cases people don’t take
into account all possible impacts – such as quality of food, quantity of
specific foods, personal food biography, unique individual needs, etc. –
before ascribing a healing effect solely to the exclusion of dairy products
and eggs. And even when it is undoubtedly true that in the cases of some
people the choice of vegan diet is the best choice, we
cannot transfer such a conclusion to all people. And last, but not
the least, one needs to know that there exists an option to eat relatively
small amounts of dairy products, but not consume milk. This can be the best
choice for another group of people.
In this way we arrive to the middle path – to the vegetarian diet – a
diet of predominantly plant foods with an addition of dairy products and/or
eggs. With the help of this nutritional principle we can recognise the
spiritual background for the emergence of millions of vegetarians in the
last decades in predominantly meat eating societies, especially in the
affluent societies of western and northern hemispheres. This is a sign of
the times which shows that many people intuitively feel the right impulse is
to make a step further towards the exclusively meatless diet. [24] But
even this path is not without dangers. The main danger is that one-sided
"vegetarian life without spiritual striving leads to illness" [25] such
as harmful forms of eccentricity, dogmatism, and fanaticism. Without an
active spiritual life one might be better with continuing to eat meat – of
course, not in such excessive quantities as is the habit in modern
societies.
Finally we need to stress the great importance of
food quality which is not the same for foods coming from the
conventional or natural food production. This is especially important in the
case of meat, dairy and eggs that are coming from industrial animal
husbandry. In such cases we are dealing not only with harmful remnants of
various chemical substances used in their production, but also with
the negative energetic patterns of the stress of
animals that accumulate in their astral and etheric bodies. Eating
such meat products on the regular basis must contribute something to the
modern phenomenon of depression which is regarded as one of the ‘plagues’ of
the modern time. For these animals live the most miserable lives among all
sentient beings on planet Earth. For sure such food cannot contribute to the
wellbeing of people who eat it.
WARNING: You always have to put the above
practical dietary instructions inside the framework of
GENERAL NUTRITIONAL
GUIDELINES with the aim to know their limits when looking for a solution
of a specific nutritional problem. You also need to be familiar with
THE ROLE OF NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES
with the aim to avoid any one-sided conclusions.
