I studied books on great yogis for years and noted that the most miraculous, long-lived and advanced yogis also seem to have the most abstemious eating habits, yet are lively, full of energy, bliss and joviality. Most assume the long fasts and not having to eat that much as just one of many aspects of their miraculous lifestyle. And another assumption is they are so advanced because of lifetimes of yoga self-discipline thereby excluding most of us ordinary folk from the status enjoyed by these miraculous Christ-like beings!

I have a different theory which is based on where these spiritual giants originated from and the real, underlying cause of their amazing spiritual status. Why do most of them originate on the high mountain regions of the Himalayan wilderness and other remote parts of India and Tibet and never in the middle of the Los Angeles basin?

The pristine environment plays a huge role in the development and origination of these great beings who often mastered breath, death and disease seemingly through advanced yogic disciplines alone such as the Kriya yoga and other intense forms of deep meditation practiced throughout their lifetime. All kinds of saints and avatars sprang forth from remote and pristine locations where the atmosphere is quite rarified, not so much from more conventional and "civilized" locations if at all. After all, how many awesome saints and avatars originate from the western hemisphere or from other countries besides India and Tibet? There are still many from other parts of the world but never reaching quite the same level of absolute power as the yogi-Christs of ancient and perhaps more recent India.

The knowledge of Yoga enriched many other parts of the world, thanks to great masters like Vivekananda and Yogananda. However, we do not find those of the same calibre of the great yogis of old such as Mahavatar Babji or Sri Yuckteswar Giri originating from any of the new places! My theory is, real yoga, and I mean really advanced yoga to the point where death is mastered completely is possible only where the chemistry of the diet and water consumed is perfectly balanced. The alkaline effect of massive quantities of minerals and perhaps their incredibly spicy food could be the real cause behind some of the terrific spiritual states and powers attained. The alkalinity of these minerals could be neutralizing metabolism and metabolic wastes to the point of metabolic suspension and an entirely different and advanced level of supra-biophysical function. Hot, spicy food and many of the other special and exotic herbs, etc., often present in Indian cuisine may help to increase circulation to all the nerve-centers (chakras) organs of the body while increasing endorphins dramatically, making it vastly easier to meditate deeply and fast longer.

Because the modern American (or western) diet (MAD)* or something similar to this madness prevails widely throughout the world, we are experiencing a massive decline in spirituality. Much of this way of eating is exactly the opposite of the way the great yogis of old had their food and mineral-rich water. The unpolluted soil in those areas was extremely rich in very beneficial minerals of every kind known; at least 74 macro and trace minerals. The glacial run off, called "glacial milk" was a perfectly balanced source of negatively charged silicon, calcium, magnesium, etc., that created perfectly beautiful pastures of rich green grasses that the goats, sheep and cows would graze on daily, creating a perfect supply of fresh, raw, mineral rich milk and a "factor X" butter. The crops would yield perfect, mineral-rich fruits and vegetables of enormous size, variety, number and beauty.

It was almost impossible not to get all one needed from the locally grown fruit, spices, vegetables, nuts, seed, legumes, rice, and locally pasture-grazed animals. The original organic farmers kept their soils from depletion by regularly mixing in a mineral rich wood ash. There was never any tooth decay, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, crime nor mental illness found on these high places! In such high-energy, pristine, ultra-high pranic environments, it was quite easy and natural to enjoy long fasts, and long periods of breathless meditation in deep samadhi. Any yoga technique would work under those situations!

Unfortunately, no one can bring down all the benefits, diets and lifestyles of the high, pristine Himalayan environment into the cities and western countries. Only the yoga techniques, teachings, spiritual blessings, and philosophy have been exported and to some extent they worked in the west, but literally, they (the gurus) casted their seeds of ageless yogic truth on the stony ground of incorrect nutrition instead of the nutrition directly from the mineral-rich soils of mountain-valley Himalayan pastures.

However, as long as one can supply all the minerals and a highly enriched diet fortified by all the correct spices, herbal and antioxidant supplementation, it may become possible for the same absolutely breath-taking states of spiritual bliss to occur anywhere in the world. I know this is true because I am experiencing some of these effects myself!

*The MAD or modern day American diet consists of nearly all typical foods eaten in western countries such as breads, cheeses, red meats, pizza, french fries and other fried food, hamburgers, hot dogs, pasteurized dairy products, processed food, sugar, and all commercially grown fruits and vegetables rather than what is grown in mineral-rich soil on organic farms. All the "health-disaster" beverages such as coffee, pasteurized milk, diet sodas, colas, beer and other alcoholic drinks are also part and parcel of this diet. At the same time, many vital components are missing.

In contrast is the natural diet of ancient times (before agriculture) consisting of fish, raw eggs, raw butter, herbs, spices, nuts, seed, legumes, fruit, greens and tubers found in 100% natural soil with absolutely no minerals missing. We can start to reclaim our oringinal birthright of natural bliss and yogic states of deep meditation by using the following regimen:

Two tablespoons 70-74 mineral colloidal formula, four capsules full-spectrum mineral powder, and one or two teaspoons (or take tablets which might be more convenient) of dolomite, and 1/4 to 3 teaspoons cayenne pepper for every 2 quarts of ionized water constitutes a "mineral milk" being consumed on a regular basis between whole, complete meals of sardines, salmon (or include black soy and red kidney beans and other legumes if your metabolism allows vegetarian food), raw eggs, whole pasture grazed butter, plenty of raw nuts and seed, pasture-grazed butter, cod liver oil, vegetable and tomato juices, fresh fruit such as black and blue berries, herbs and antioxidants. One should also add cayenne pepper, ginger, turmeric, kelp, and many adaptogenic herbs such as ashwaganda, rhodiola rosa, saw palmetto, etc., as needed.

Directions: shake the mixture extremely well until contents dissolve. Contents will settle and therefore will require reshaking each time before consuming. One should also dilute or balance intake with drinking water and/or add diluted kombucha tea, lemon or other fruit juice as needed. I discovered cayenne pepper to be essential, I therefore add cayenne pepper to this formula as desired to enhance circulation. Never drink too much right before or with meals (could interfere with digestion). Do NOT overdose, otherwise, because of the high magnesium content of most mineral supplements and dolomite, one will suffer the same effect of having taken too many laxitives resulting in poor absorption of other vital nutrients. Much higher dosages could lead to an iron toxicity, therefore as with any supplement, NEVER overdose.

This formula is so powerful it expands the time between meals greatly. I found this way of eating by "following my bliss." What feels the greatest benefit, and by what gives me the greatest sense of uplifting energy and fulfillment.

This regimen is my latest "yoga" of eating. One can meditate, be perfectly celibate and do yoga pranayama until blue in the face, but many don't experience real progress until they also modify their approach to eating as well. This special regimen is the most basic and essential foundation stone of all the parts of wholeness. The biochemistry of one's cells are a major factor in the process toward a whole new level of meditation, spiritual growth and inner joy.

The economic benefit is also great helping one to save significant amounts on grocery and medical bills. When one gets all the minerals one needs in large enough amounts while expanding circulation with cayenne pepper as well, one does not seem to need food as much, while feeling more and more sustained by bliss or pranic nourishment. One's dependency on expensive doctors, medicine and health insurance also diminishes in proportion to how much and how long one follows through on this way of eating. Only half as much of what most people consume is actually needed and one can go for long fasts between whole, complete meals quite often.

I easily limit my food intake down to every other day, thus saving me tons of money on groceries and food supplements. I have found this regimen an absolute lifesaver. Some yogis have been known to live quite blissfully on one meal a week, and I sincerely hope I too will eventually get to that degree of seemingly miraculous, abstemious eating and such advanced levels of pranic nourishment. One can tell one is on the right path by the amount of bliss one feels and also by the amount of weight loss. If one loses too much weight, and experiences no increase in lightness, joy, and bliss, certain steps or types of food or supplements may be missing: they are still not ready for this level of abstemious eating and would have to back-off to a former level until they find the missing link in their diet and/or lifestyle.

CONFESSIONS OF A GOD SEEKER Amazon.com editorial reveiw: A strong look into the profound mysteries of the spirit: A Journey To Higher Consciousness by educator and public lecturer Ford Johnson ably attempts to put together answers for the most profound and universal questions such as: Why are we here? Is there a spiritual purpose to life? The author's personal and diverse journeys in search of God have taken him from the Christian church, to studies in Transcendental Meditation, Rosicrucianism, Yoga, and more. Johnson's catalyzed search for reality and pursuit of truth are quite candidly and articulately recounted, and taken together, provide the reader with a strong look into the profound mysteries of the spirit and their impact on human life in the present. Confessions Of A God Seeker is especially recommended for students of Religion, Spirituality, and Metaphysics -- Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) Dec. 14, 2003. Go here for more information.

Confessions of a God Seeker by Ford Johnson Buy it Now from Amazon.com