Is Vegetarianism a Prerequisite to Occult Development?

Some people believe they can eat anything, inhale anything, indulge in anything. Because ultimately Jesus said what comes out is more important than what goes in. So they vape, they eat lots of meat, they indulge in alcohol, they also do drugs. In the end their vibration becomes gross, heavy, misaligned and incapable of harmonizing itself with the energies produced during spiritual practice. 

It is indeed true what comes out is important. If what comes out of us is hatred, envy, jealousy, ego, injury etc, it will only reverberate as impurity within. However, it is equally important what we consume is also pure. It works both ways. One who thinks pure thoughts will naturally not prefer impure food in their dinner table. Taking the words of Jesus literally can cause great misunderstanding. The Bible is both literal and allegorical.

Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov clarified this misunderstanding in his book The Yoga of Nutrition: 
 
“Of course, some will quote Jesus who said that it was not what entered into a man that was important, but what came out of him. Well, you have to know how to interpret Jesus’ words.1 Would it be reasonable to suppose that if you fill your rubbish bin with refuse you will then be able to get something clean out of it? Of course, if you are an initiate you can eat anything, and thanks to your high degree of evolution you will be capable of transforming it and emitting it in the form of light. Yes, but you have to be an initiate to do that.
 
Others, if they eat filth, will produce filth. Look at the impurities coming from people’s mouths and eyes, simply because they have no idea that they have the power to transform and sublimate their food. They swallow dirt, and dirt is what comes out of them. How can they possibly transform anything when they have neither intelligence nor purity, neither love nor kindness?
 
Jesus certainly never advised his disciples to eat anything and everything; it would be unthinkable for an initiate to give such advice. Only when you have accomplished great spiritual work capable of changing impurity into light are you free to eat whatever you like. And the reverse is also true: unless you have made up your mind to work at your spiritual development, even the best food will not have the power to transform you. What counts is the strength of your inner life, of your thoughts and feelings.”
 
– Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov
The Yoga of Nutrition 
 
There are some vegans who turn fanatically judgmental towards others and even go that far to impose their way of eating on others. This is what must be avoided by an occult student. An Esoteric student should be a vegetarian by choice and not due to any religious indoctrination. The reason vegetarianism is recommended in occult development is due to the following reasons: 
 
– Vegetarian food contains more solar prana. It does not decompose as quickly as meat diet. Vegetarian food is more fresh therefore more healthy.
 
– Vegetarianism can be a way of practicing loving kindness towards animal kingdom. Animals have nervous system like human beings. They experience pain just like us. Imagine the amount of suffering animals go through inside factories where they are not even treated as a living being. 
 
– Vegetarian diet makes us more sensitive which assists in occult development, namely higher psychism and clairvoyance.
 
The Agni Yoga Teachings give a very concise illustration as to why vegetarian food must be preferred over meat diet. At the same time it warns against divisiveness that is caused by imposing it on others: 
 

New Era Community

148. “People do not eat corpses, yet slaughtered animals are eaten. One must ask, “Wherein is the difference—is not a slaughtered animal a corpse?” We advise not to use meat for reasons of simple goalfitness. Indeed, anyone understands that to make use of decomposing cells is harmful. But when does this decomposition begin? At the moment of cessation of the functions of life the body loses its protective radiation and decomposition sets in immediately. Therefore, worldly wisdom about not eating corpses is hypocritical. We recommend farinaceous food, dairy products and vegetables, where there is less decomposition.

True, the life process of plants resembles that of animals, but one can see that the decomposition of plants begins much later. Vegetables are better used either fresh or dried in great heat. It is better to use unleavened bread made without fats. There are enough fatty substances in butter and vegetable oil.

Your term vegetarianism is unfortunate; it emphasizes a division according to principle and not according to essence.

In the community food must be vegetable, for the members of the community must follow the utmost goalfitness.

On the path let us not be finicky. Let us not forget the usefulness of resin in all its forms. On the path let us remember that eating twice a day is sufficient. Let us not sit too long at table.”

A vegetarian diet is an energetically pure diet. It contains a lot of solar prana in it. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries are very beneficial if we wish to possess a body that is sattivic (rhythmic). It shouldn’t however be taken to the point of fanaticism that one wouldn’t touch meat or would prefer a separate kitchen. An occult student must be free from religious sentimentalism. Out of compassion, an esoteric student must choose to change the diet. Previous food habit should not be an excuse. 

Millions of animals are slaughtered every day. Most in an inhumane manner inside factories. These animals haven’t even seen daylight because they are chained to a fixed stationary position where they are used as commodities. An esoteric student must be aware of these things and should develop compassion towards the animal kingdom.

The esoteric path bestows life in us and around us. Where there is life, there is God. Life is a gift from God. There is suffering where there is death. We all must practice loving kindness towards the animal kingdom. The words of Mang Samson are true to their core: 

“Man’s inhumanity and cruelty to the animal kingdom must stop as soon as possible. How can we call ourselves human if we allow this barbaric act to continue? In order to minimise the suffering of animals, it is advisable to become a vegetarian at least most of the time.”
 
– Master Choa Kok Sui
Universal and Kaballistic Chakra Meditation on the Lord’s Prayer
 
In many parts of the world most people are predominantly non vegetarians. Esoteric students living in such areas may confront difficulty in changing their eating habits. It is important not to be influenced by culture or habit. With little adjustment it is possible to gradually move towards a semi vegetarian and ultimately a completely vegetarian lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be an immediate change. While we wouldn’t state plainly that a vegetarian diet is a prerequisite to occult development. But, it can be stated that it makes the occult path easier. It assists the practitioner on the path.
 
A vegetarian diet is not compulsory on the spiritual path. But, spiritually speaking, a vegetarian diet is spiritually more healthy compared to meat based diet. Here are some teachings related to vegetarianism from Alice Bailey and Agni Yoga Teachings.
 
Esoteric Psychology, Vol 1, Pages 241-242
“No set diet could be entirely correct for a group of people on differing rays, of different temperaments and equipment and at various ages.
 
Individuals are every one of them unlike on some points; they require to find out what it is that they, as individuals, need, in what manner their bodily requirements can best be met, and what type of substances can enable them best to serve. Each person must find this out for himself. There is no group diet. No enforced elimination of meat is required or strict vegetarian diet compulsory.”
 
 
-Letters on Occult Meditation, by AA Bailey, Lucis Publishing
 
“The building in of matter of the higher subplanes and the elimination of the lower and coarser matter. This is needed because it is impossible for those with coarse bodies to contact high vibration. It is impossible for the Ego to transmit the higher knowledge and guidance through a coarse physical body.
 
It is impossible for the loftier currents of thought to impact the little evolved physical brain. Hence the refinement of the physical body is an essential. It is effected in various ways, all of them reasonable and utilitarian.
 
By pure food. This involves a vegetarian diet, chosen with wise discrimination; it requires the eating of only those vegetables and fruits that vitalize. Careful judgment shown in the choice of food, wise refraining from too heavy eating, and a little pure good food perfectly assimilated are all that a disciple requires. You ask what foods? Milk, honey, whole wheat bread, all the vegetables that contact the sun, oranges (above all, oranges), bananas, raisins, nuts, some potatoes, unpolished rice, and may I again reiterate, just as much of all the above as to insure activity.
By cleanliness. Much use of water, externally and internally, is vitally required.
By sleep. This should be always between the hours of ten in the evening and five in the morning, and as much as possible out of doors.
By sunshine. Contact with the sun should be much sought after, and the vitalization that comes through its rays. The sun kills all germs and frees from disease.”
 
Initiation, Human and Solar – Chapter XIX – Rules for Applicants

Rule 6
The purificatory fires burn dim and low when the third is sacrificed to the fourth. Therefore let the disciple refrain from taking life, and let him nourish that which is lowest with the produce of the second.
“This rule might be summed up in the trite instruction to each disciple that he be strictly vegetarian. The lower nature becomes clogged and heavy, and the inner blaze can not shine forth when meat is included in the diet. This is a drastic rule for applicants, and may not be violated. Aspirants can choose to eat meat or not as they prefer, but at a certain stage upon the path it is essential that all meat eating of every kind be stopped, and the strictest attention must be paid to diet.
 
A disciple must confine himself to vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts. Only thus can he build the [197] type of physical body which can stand the entry of the real man who has stood in his subtler bodies before the Initiator. Should he not do this, and should it be possible for him to take initiation without having thus prepared himself, the physical body would be shattered by the energy pouring through the newly stimulated centers, and dire danger to the brain, the spine, or the heart would eventuate.”
 

"In future, a great hymn of praise will be sung to vegetarianism, and people will tell one another, as if they were speaking of some ancient memory, that their ancestors used to eat meat."

Rudolf Steiner