Well Jhanananda the sixth book gave me some good teachings on how to live as a yogi which included abstaining from gambling which can only lead your mind into an agitated state and hinder your meditation sessions
I have read several translations of the Mahbarata and the Ramayana. While I agree with some of the good advice as above, a contemplative would of course avoid drunkenness and gambling, and embrace a peaceful lifestyle. I dedicated myself to a life of peace when I was 15. I have maintained that dedication for 57 years, and I have avoided gambling all of that time.
In 2000 I celibrated 27 years of complete abstinance from mind altering substances, as a contemplative that entire time I found mind altering substances did not serve a contemplative well. I celibrated my 27 years of abstinance with a 12 oz bottle of beer to demonstrate to myself and anyone who cared that I had overcome addiction through leading a contemplaitve life that consistently produced depth. At that time I did not like the taste of beer so I went down to the local co-op in Tucson to see what kind of roganic beers they had. I selected Pyramid Apricot Ale, because I like apricots. I bought a six-pack, because I planned to share it with friends as witnesses. It just so happens that I have been deeling with episodes of rheumatoid arthritis since I was 15, and in 2000 I was dealing with the worst such event I had up till then had to deal with. Anyway, I sat in the evening with my son as a witness and sipped one of these ales. I noticed that before I had finished the bottle all of the pain and stiffness had left my entire body for the first time in 9 months. At the time I couldn't believe the seemingly miraculaous shift in my health. The pain stayed away for three days. By the evening the the third day I felt pain and stiffness return, so I had another of the ales, and found the same results freedom from pain and stiffness for 3 days. I kept this up until the 6-pack was gone, then when pain returned I bought another. This went on for about 3 months until the pain did not return, so I stopped drinking the ale. A few years later pain and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis returned so I bought another six-pack of the ale and drank one a day for three days for a few months until that episode passed.
Fast forward 20 years I have done some research to find out why Pyraamid Apricot Ale, and I have found a few other ales that have similar results, and found that a combination of hops and a source of anthocyanin has a powerful anti-inflamatory effect. Now, at 68 I find having one a day every day helps improve my health, and the combination of hops and anthcyanin must be fermented to be effective. So, in conclusion some fermented beverages are poweerful medicines that reduce suffering, so blanket rejection of fermented beverages does not serve the greater good.
as well as staying away from eating animals of higher intelligence such as pigs and cows .From what I have heard about pigs is that their dna is very similar to a humans so that makes sense! The book was very strict of refraining from eating beef because of a cows ability to produce milk and therefore nourish a person with it. There is another verse that comes to mind that says that if you need meat it is okay to eat lower life forms such as chickens.Even deer is acceptable as meat.
I was vegan for 37 years before I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol. In an effort to use diet to reduce my blood sugar I kept reducing my carbohydraate consumtion. Eventually I ended up eating only eggs, cheese and meat. I find many of the injections regarding eating meat or kinds of meat that we see in religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam reflect more a rejection of the diet of another culture than any kind of wisdom. For instance these religions all tend to reject eting pork. It just so happens that pork is originally a European food, because the animal originated as a wild animal in Europe. And, chickes originated in India, and catle originated in the middle east. Also, vegetarianism tends to be very high in carbohydrates, which diabetics need to avoid. So, we should not become ill due to embracing a philosophy that causes us disease.
Other things it talked about were very fascinating such as enlightened beings upon leaving their bodily incarnations on earth have the choice to visit other planetary solar systems in the universe or go back to source.
Yes, through leading a rigorous, self-aware contemplative life for 47 years in my experience I have been traveling to many planets and domains of existence for that entire time. So, I agree such a lifestyle allows one to travel out of body to many planets and domains of existence; however, I found no useful instruction for that in either the Mahabarat or the Ramayana; however, I found the Pali Canon very instructive.
I was able read over the last page which said to be as meek and harmless as the blades of grass and trees. I think this book demonstrated to me that enlightenment is possible for beings of various walks of life in this incarnation but you must meditate regularly and have discipline! 
While I agree with embracing a harmeless lifestyle is essential for leading a contemplative lfie that leads to depth in meditation; nonetheless, I found the Mahabarata and Ramayana only introductory, and offered no instruction fro depth; whereas, the Pali Canon has excellent instruction.
This forum is in serivce to people who meditate deeply. Do you meditate deeply? If so, why are you here promoting a book that is so naive and lacks depth in instruction? I recommend that you read the Pali Canon, and take up a rigorous, self-aware contemplative life. If you do I am confidence that you will find the book you are promoting is only introductory.
