“The subtle part of the food that is eaten moves upward and become mind. Thus, mind consists of food.” Chandogya Upanishad 6.6.5
Probably the last person who comes to mind when imagining a dharmic figure would be a professional “entertainment wrestler.” And if his name was Killer, that would place him even lower on that short list.
But surprisingly, there was such a figure in the world of what in 1950’s America was known as Big Time Wrestling: Killer Kowalski.
A Wrestling Villain Goes Vegetarian
Having established himself as a well-known villain of the wrestling ring, in 1953 Wladek “Killer” Kowalski began studying the effects of food on the body. Discovering that the two sprinters who were the first to break the four-minute mile barrier both attributed their success to their vegetarianism, Killer embraced a vegetarian diet overnight.
His diet quickly evolved to one of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, mostly raw. He was an early advocate of unprocessed foods, and he even shunned the “beer, booze, and broads” lifestyle (his words) that his fellow wrestlers pursued.
From Athletic Performance to Spiritual Awareness
Though the initial reason for this change was to improve his athletic performance, this diet unexpectedly opened up a new dimension in his mind and perspective.
“When I got away from animal foods, I became closer to God. I was more conscious of other people. And I was conscious of love. In fact, when you eat more animal food, you hate more, you become more aggressive…The more back away from meat products, the more you elevate yourself. The vibratory level of your whole body changes and you become more conscious of higher levels of existence.”
A Lesson for Spiritual Aspirants
Killer Kowalski would never be the yogi’s first choice for a role model. But certainly all aspirants can learn from him:
“People who eat animals take in low vibrations. You need to elevate yourself above and beyond all that, and the next thing you know, you become an angel walking this earth.”