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Photo by Tom Gessner
Making macrobiotically correct meals involves more than preparing fresh vegetables
and grains in aesthetically pleasing fare. Serious followers of macrobiotics find a
balance of Yin and Yang foods correct for their individual needs. Melissa Spangler,
a Glass Onion employee, makes natural foods on a mass scale.
food, philosophy combine
to crecrtG natural wojj of life
Y.
By Mary Kay Wayman
I nu are what vou eat!
if neonle reallv looked like their food,
the campus would be full of pop cans,
Twinkies and potato chips running to their
8 '30 classes
Macrobiotics takes that old phrase seri
ously. Followers of the philosophy strive
to make themselves better by limiting what
they eat to a restrictive diet.
Many claim amazing, changes in health
after taking to the whole grain and veget
able regimen.
Pam Black, former manager of the Open
Harvest, a health food store, has been
following basically a macrobiotic diet for
three and a half years.
"I have a strong impetus," she said. "I
saw it was making me healthy for the first
time in my life."
After beginning work at Open Harvest
she took up vegetarianism, but exema she
had had all of her life persisted. A friend
suggested macrobiotics.
"Within six weeks my skin was perfect
ly clear," she said, noting that the skin
disease returns whenever she goes off the
diet.
Macrobiotics made its debut in the Unit
ed States in 1950 when a Japanese man,
George Ohsawa, claimed miraculous cures
for many health problems.
ORIENTAL philosophy is the heart of
the diet, which Mark Vasina, co-owner of
the Glass Onion, a health food restaurant,
said ties social structure into diet.
"In oriental philosophy there are two
complementary forces in the Universe," he
said. "These are Yin, an expansive force,
and Yang, a contractive force."
Everything in the universe is either Yin
or Yang, Black said, and macrobiotics seeks
a balance between them in all things,
especially food. An imbalance results in
disease.
"It's a philosophy of everything," she
said. "There's no religious connotation.
But it does involve adopting a certain life
attitude and lifestyle."
The adoption of that lifestyle led to
public apprehension about macrobiotics. In
the early 1970s, groups of young people
formed communes where they raised their
own food and lived in a macrobiotic
society.
The macrobiotic diet has evolved since
then, and Black and Vasina said they don't
consider themselves strict macrobiotics
now.
People often think you are allowed to
eat only brown rice on the diet, she said.
The diet begins with a 10-day brown
rice and sesame salt fast, but Black said
even that need not be an absolute. Those
who can't fast that long, like herself,
should fast three or four days and add
some vegetables.
THIS PROCESS, Black said, "is to get
rid of the cravings people have for sugar, to
get in a pure; detoxified state." Then you
begin to notice the effects foods have on
you.
Instead of getting out of touch with
what your body wants to do, Vasina said,
the diet gets your mind in tune with your
body.
Vasina said, people realize the effect
food has on the body when they change
eating habits with the seasons.
Meat in winter gives the body warmth,
i but it would be out of line in summer
when too much would slow the body
down.
Continued on page 7
flnanda fTlarga
Organization leads members down spiritual path
By Alice Hrnicek
or Mary Kris Jensen, it was a way
to prevent getting "burned out from
political campaigning. To Miguel Trist&ni,
ic signified developing trust while adjusting
to a new city. Husband Steve McEIravy and
wife Cathy Cook found it a satisfying
plateau on their mission as spiritual
seekers.
Whatever their reasons for joining, these
Lincolnites look upon the worldwide
spiritual and social service organization,
Ananda Marga, as a fulfilling and integral
part of their lives.
The fundamental practices of the
organization include meditation and
vegetarianism. Members also aspire to
achievement of yoga postures and proper
exercise. The goal of the organization,
founded in India in 1955, is to promote
physical, mental and spiritual growth
among its followers.
Once a person has built up an inner
strength from these practices, he may feel a
"strong desire to share the experience,"
according to Cook, a UNL studenf. Like
the other group members interviewed, a
quiet gentleness seemed to exude from heru
enveloping the area surrounding her.
LINCOLN BOASTS several hundred
participants activejo different degrees, ex
plained Jensenrregistered nurse at the
Lincoln Regional Center. Commitment to
the organization has come gradually for
Jensen. Clad in a stereotypical peasant skirt
and cool top, the nursi Curled up comfort
ably in a hard-backed chair, wrestling to
'explain concepts wjth a tilt of the head and
relaxed look of the eye. .....
Jensen, i member of the group for four
years, stressed that Ananda Marga is not a
religion, but a search for a spiritual path.
She said, however, that members are en
couraged to read spiritual works of their
choice.
Because meditation is the central
practice of Ananda Marga, followers are
told that they should structure their lives
around the practice. A Sanskrit phrase,
"Baba Nam Kevalam," -which roughly
translates, "God is everywhere," serves as
the mantra and is repeated during meditat-
meditation."
For a time, meditation was the extent
of Tristani's involvement. On the physical
level, he said he has noticed he requires less
sleep, an important factor during the
school year.
Openness has created a reciprocity
which has helped him adjust to Lincoln
after his move from the University of
Minnesota. "The goal is to bring yourself
closer to God, to get to a point where you
are one with God. I'm not sure what that
The purpose of meditating is to elevate
or refine the mind to a higher
place . . . pure self."
ion.
The mantra elicits a calming effect, Jen
sen said. "Continuing to meditate really
built a love into my heart. It's hard to de-scribe-kind
of like the personal warmth,of
holding a little tiny baby. It's a special
thing."
Tristan!, a second year UNL graduate
assistant in chemistry, began meditation
classes last fall.
Sitting cross-legged on a countertop in
pronounced guru fashion, the aura of his
frankness permeated the conversation.
He explained that the twice-a-day
sessions, have helped improve in his re
lations with people. "I've begun to relate in
a more loving way. I feel mere open to my
friends, and this is due to some part to
means in concrete terms."
McEIravy, a coordinator in the Divisiop
on Alcoholism with a master's degree in
social work, believes oneness can be achiev
ed through identifying with God in every
day circumstances. "If you allow yourself
to think about God constantly, you are
moving toward a fuller appreciation of God
and a final communion with him.
The coordinator spoke about his six
years of involvement with an excitement
and purposefulness which could not be
hidden by his light-colored beard. After
being introduced to meditation, McEIravy
noticed changes in himself. "1 was opening
up more to others and felt better about
myself."
MEDITATING IN a group is even more
enriching than concentrating alone, the
members of the" meditation group agreed.
A strong force is created when everyone
comes together, Jensen said. "The prupose
of meditating is to elevate or refine the
mind to a higher place, which means God.
This doesn't mean the vision of the old
man in the sky, but for many it is a cosmic
consciousness or a feeling they have of
their most pure self."
Tristani agreed that meditating in a
group is better than striving alone.
For McEIravy, the meditation group
. represents the focal point of the week, he
said. "The effects of the meditation are
much more noticeable when you are with a
group. Afterwards, there we all are to share
what we individually felt."
Each Sunday afternoon, the five con
gregate at the home of McEIravy and Cook.
After the group session, a true vegetarian
style meal is served.
"I find a great deal of continuity in the
growing I have done," Cook said. 'The
more I'm, involved with the group, the
more I feel it affects my basic beliefs."
HER ASSOCIATION with the organi
zation began about the same time as her
husband's, but their growth was individual.
It has become such an essential 'part of
their lives, she reported, that in some ways
they take it for granted.. "The plans for
what we do with our time center around
this. It's been a part of our married life
since we were married.
"Ananda Marga is the supporting force
that keeps our lives and families together,'
McEIravy explained. He admitted that
there are time conflicts between the de
mands of their beliefs and their family
which includes a three-year-old ion.
Continued on page 7
fathom
frkJay, September 21, 1979