Special
food for immortality had been a topic of concern through the history. In Greek
mythology ambrosia and nectar were the important food for the Greek gods which
sustained their immortality. Bet the older traditions say that the Greek gods
fed their immortality by sniffing the dead bodies of their enemies. The energy
(frequencies?) of the dead bodies nursed the immortality of the deities. But
later this purpose was given to ambrosia which is nothing but the food that come from the horn of a magical goat
named Amalthea, the foster-mother of Zeus. Ambrosia was brought by white doves
from earth to the gods, including baby Zeus so that they would be immortal.
When Achilles was
mourning about the death of his friend Patroclus Zeus tells his wife Athena to
feed Achiles with ambrosia and nectar so that he would not be hungry and
thirsty in his mourning (Homer, Iliad
XIX. 336). Not just that Homer identifies the immortals drank nectar for
immortality: “The gods all sat assembled in the golden courtyard, with Zeus
there, too. Gracious Hebe went among them, pouring nectar. They toasted each
other in golden cups, as the immortals looked out on Troy” (Homer, Iliad IV. 1-4).
Zoroastrian religion had Haoma
drink which had similar function as ambrosia, which is similar to Soma drink of
the vedic tradition. While ambrosia is an exclusive drink for the divine haoma
was made available even to the people who would drink its juice in their
rituals. It was believed that the haoma plant has was useful for healing (Yasna 9.16-17,
9.19, 10.8, 10.9), sexual arousal (Yasna 9.13-15,
9.22), physically strengthening (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 9.27),
stimulating alertness and awareness (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 10.13),
intoxicating (Yasna 10.8), and nourishing (Yasna 9.4,
10.20), espeically ‘most nutritious for the soul’ (Yasna 9.16). In
addition, in later tradition, in the Mithraic sacramental banquet wine took the
place of haoma which formed the community taking part of ‘communion’ where this
wine gave special vigor to the body and brought prosperity, wealth, health and
immortality. Usually, in later Mithraic sacramental banquet this special wine
was drunk along with the flesh of a bull, considered as the flesh of god Mithra
himself. Thus, in the later Mithraic tradition, the followers drank the wine,
the blood of Mithra (a derivation of haoma) and the flesh of Mithra so that
they could attain immortality. Interestingly Haoma in some Zoroastrian
traditions were considered as son of god, similar to Jesus Christ, who was both
“victim and priest in a sacrificial sacramental offering in worship”
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991, Rites and
Ceremonies). Some believe that this Mithraic tradition of communion for
immortality crept into Christianity (John 6).
In Sanskrit writings, nectar is
called as amrta, which means no (a) mortality (mrta). The synonymous word for it is soma which is found to be the
food for the immortality of the gods. Rig Veda talks about amrta and its
importance in bringing immortality. Rig Veda VIII. 48.3 says “We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we
have attained the light, the Gods discovered.” The Soma drink is said to give
immortality even to gods or to the ones who want to become gods. It is the idea
that the one who drinks the Soma gets immortality and consequentially he becomes
god. In yogic philosophy it is believed that the pituitary gland of the humans
has the capacity to secret amrita. By doing the yoga properly one could make
the pituitary gland secret amrita so that he could attain immortality. Vishnu
in his female form, Mohini carries a pot of amrita and shares only to the devas
(gods) and leaving out the asuras so that immortality is given only to the
gods. Vishnu also churns out amrita when he churned the ocean. This story is
beautifully told in The Vishnu Purana:
Hari, the creator of the universe, being thus prayed to by the
prostrate divinities, smiled, and thus spake: "With renovated energy, oh
gods, I will restore your strength. Do you act as I enjoin. Let all the gods,
associated with the Asuras, cast all sorts of medicinal herbs into the sea of
milk; and then taking the mountain Mandara for the churning-stick, the serpent
Vásuki for the rope, churn the ocean together for ambrosia; depending upon my
aid. To secure the assistance of the Daityas, you must be at peace with them,
and engage to give them an equal portion of the fruit of your associated toil;
promising them, that by drinking the Amrita that shall be produced from the
agitated ocean, they shall become mighty and immortal. I will take care that
the enemies of the gods shall not partake of the precious draught; that they
shall share in the labour alone."
Being thus instructed by the
god of gods, the deities entered into alliance with the demons, and they
jointly undertook the acquirement of the beverage of immortality. They
collected various kinds of medicinal herbs, and cast them into the sea of milk,
the waters of which were radiant as the thin and shining clouds of autumn. They
then took the mountain Mandara for
the staff; the serpent Vásuki for the cord; and commenced to churn the ocean
for the Amrita. The assembled gods were stationed by Krishńa at the tail of the serpent; the Daityas
and Dánavas at its head and neck. Scorched by the flames emitted from his
inflated hood, the demons were shorn of their glory; whilst the clouds driven
towards his tail by the breath of his mouth, refreshed the gods with
revivifying showers. In the midst of the milky sea, Hari himself, in the form
of a tortoise, served as a pivot for the mountain, as it was whirled around. …From
the ocean, thus churned by the gods and Dánavas, …Dhanwantari, robed in white,
and bearing in his hand the cup of Amrita, next came forth: beholding which,
the sons of Diti and of Danu, as well as the Munis, were filled with
satisfaction and delight… The powerful and indignant Daityas then forcibly
seized the Amrita-cup, that was in the hand of Dhanwantari: but Vishńu,
assuming a female form, fascinated and deluded them; and recovering the Amrita
from them, delivered it to the gods. Śakra and the other deities quaffed the
ambrosia. The incensed demons, grasping their weapons, fell upon them; but the
gods, into whom the ambrosial draught had infused new vigour, defeated and put
their host to flight, and they fled through the regions of space, and plunged
into the subterraneous realms of Pátála. The gods there at greatly rejoiced, did homage
to the holder of the discus and mace, and resumed their reign in heaven.” (The Vishnu Purana, IX)
Chinese mythology used “Peaches of Immortality” (xiāntáo) as the food for
immortality. Peaches in Chinese mythology usually implied immortality and
longevity. Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) (2852-2255 BCE) seemed to have found
the formula for the golden elixir of immortality through his experiments with
metals and herbs. After taking the drug he is believed to have mounted on a
dragon and left to the world of immortals. One Emperor, Shih Huang Di (259-210
BCE) sent a famous Fang-Shih on a quest to find the Isle of immortals and to
bring back the elixir of immortality. It seems the saman who went on the quest
found the Isle of immortals drank the elixir of immortality but stayed back and
didn’t return to the Emperor.
For Daoists, The path
to immortality was divided into two streams with different emphasis and methods: the outer elixir (wai-dan) and the
inner elixir (nei-dan). The followers of the outer school sought to produce the
pill of immortality from metals and herbs through alchemical processes. A pill
of gold and cinnabar combined with other ingredients such as lead and water
were touted as the key ingredients of the elixir because they would restore,
balance, and harmonize the individual’s personal Qi with the cosmic Qi.
Cinnabar (red mercury ore) and gold. For Ko Hung (284-364) who wrote the
Pao-p’u tzu, only the pill of immortality could fulfill the promise of eternal
life. Physical exercise, sexual yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation
could prolong life but could not bestow the gift of immortality. In in the
inner elixir, similar to Hindu belief of internal
soma secreted of the pitutory gland, Daoists believed that semen and
female ejaculation kept inside the body increased life that during lovemaking
through various techniques people would avoid ejaculation so that the semen (Jing) would go back to the spinal
passage as refined life-force (Qi)
and to the brain where it would nourish the spirit (Shen).
The legend Jade
Emperor’s wife Xi Wangmu was said to have held banquets, for immortal deities
living in her palace, called feasts of Peaches because peaches were said to
bring immortality. Even the Eight Immortal, who are usually seen in the
paintings as crossing the sea are seen carrying peaches.
In
Medieval times, the elixir of life was a popular quest. Elixir of life was believed
to give immortality on Earth. Elixir of life drank in a certain cup was said to
have properties which could sustain life for eternity and even have properties
to create life. Elixir of life sometimes was connected with Philosopher’s Stone.
In
recent times several people have claimed to have immortality or at least said
to know the secret of Immortality. Wiley Brooks, who runs Breatherian Institute
of America claims that the secret of Immorality lies in not eating any food
except McDonald’s Double Quarter-pounder Burger with Diet Coke. Interestingly,
for Brooks, only Double Quarter-pounder does not have the qualities which will
pollute the body and hinder immortality.
In
addition, a modern breatherian, Kirby de Lanerolle claims that to attain immortality
one must forego eating normal food. He claims that his secret of immortality
lies in the Holy Communion. He says he only ate five normal meals in 10 months.
The
quest for immortality is not a new quest. It has been there centuries. Men
through history were fascinated to live in this world forever. This fascination
to live forever had always been an unattainable enthrallment. To attain this
immortality people tried to eat special food. This fascination and the means to
attain immortality have never left humanity, however. Recent times show that
McDonalds’
Double-quarter-pounder and Diet Coke, Holy Communion seem to take the role of
special food in attaining this immortality.
Kirby seems to
interpret Jn 6:58 literally: “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as
the fathers ate and died; he who eats
this bread will live forever.” Interestingly,
Jn 6:54 seems to contradict his interpretation of 6:58. Jn 6:54 says, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood
has eternal life, and I will raise
him up on the last day.” In Jn 6:54 it is clear that the one who takes part
in the Holy Communion will be raised up on the last day, as he will die. Jn 6:54
is a clearer verse than 6:58 as it explains the eternal life better. In Jn
6:54, eternal life is being raised up after death on the last day. If it is so,
Jn 6:58 cannot mean that the one who takes part in the Holy Communion will not
die. If 6:58 talks about Immortality on Earth 6:54 must be wrong, as it
indicates death and declares resurrection on the last day. A good interpreter
must not just make a doctrine with one verse. He must take all verses into
consideration and must interpret the text in its context. As 6:54 shows that
the one who takes part in the Holy Communion will eventually die Jn 6:58 must
not be interpreted as a verse talking about Immortality on Earth.
Jn 6:49-50 is used by the
immortality preachers to identify that Jesus preached immortality. For them, the
one who believes in Jesus will not die as he/she will be made immortal in
salvation. Jesus says in 6:47, “Truly,
truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” In addition, in 6:48
Jesus identifies himself as the ‘bread of life.’ In 6:49, he says that the
forefathers of the Jews ate mannah in the wilderness and they died. However,
the one who eats “the bread which comes
down out of heaven” will not die
but have eternal life (6:50). Jesus further says in v.51 that “if anyone eats of this bread he will live
forever.” Thus, for the immortality preacher if anyone believes in Jesus
he/she will not die but will live forever. For him, the word “die” in 6:50 should
not be taken as figurative (eternal death not physical death) but it should be
understood literally. The preacher who “always” reads the whole chapter must
read few verses before and after 6:50. The same concepts mentioned in 6:47-51
are repeated again in 53-54 which give more clarifications. 
