Answers By Mr. S. N. Goenka: Food

-Why is vegetarian food helpful for meditation?

Mr. S. N. Goenka: When you eat meat or something, then this being – animal or fish or whatever it is – for its whole life was generating nothing but craving, aversion, craving, aversion. After all, human beings can find some time when they can come out of craving and aversion. These beings cannot come out of it. So every fibre of their body is vibrating with craving and aversion. And you yourself want to come out of craving, aversion and you are giving an input to all of that. So what sort of vibrations you will have. That is why it is not good.    

-Can a non-vegetarian succeed in Vipassana?

Mr. S. N. Goenka: When you come to a Vipassana course, only vegetarian food is served. But we don’t say that if you take non-vegetarian food, you will go to hell. It is not like that. Slowly, you will come out of eating meat, like thousands of Vipassana students have. You will naturally find there is no more need for you to have non-vegetarian food. Your progress in Vipassana will certainly be better if you are vegetarian.  

-I want to know if I can fast?

Mr. S. N. Goenka: No, no. Total fasting is not good for this technique. Neither total fasting nor overeating. It is a middle path. Eat less – what is necessary for the body – that’s all. Fasting you can do later on just for your body’s sake – that’s another question. But for meditation, fasting is not necessary.  

Source: https://www.vridhamma.org