Taittiriya Upanishad 3.8
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अन्नं न निन्द्यात्। तद्व्रतम्। प्राणो वा अन्नम्। शरीरमन्नादम्। प्राणे शरीरं प्रतिष्ठितम्। शरीरे प्राणः प्रतिष्ठितः। तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्।
annaṃ na nindyāt | tadvratam | prāṇo vā annam | śarīramannādam | prāṇe śarīraṃ pratiṣṭhitam | śarīre prāṇaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | tadetadannamanne pratiṣṭhitam |
"One should not disparage food. That is the vow. Prana is food. The body is the eater of food. In prana, the body is established. In the body, prana is established. Thus food is established in food."
What This Means:
Never despise food - this is a sacred vow. Prana (breath) is itself food, and prana and body depend on each other. Everything is food to something.
Going Deeper:
The interdependence of all levels is shown. What eats is also eaten. The mutual support of prana and body illustrates cosmic reciprocity.
How To Apply This:
Respect all food. Recognize the sacred cycle: everything feeds everything. Give and receive with gratitude.
#food#respect#interdependence#vow