PREFACE
EXCERPT: COOKING TAOSHOBUDDHA WAY VOL 2
AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.COM
Cooking lovingly! Cooking meditatively! Cooking for Buddhas! Cooking for the transformation of human consciousness is what Taoshobuddha means by cooking. And this is the central theme of ‘Cooking Taoshobuddha way or Buddha Way!’
It is indeed cooking for Buddhas. A strange, yet still a meaningful title for a cook Book!
Cooking lovingly! Cooking meditatively! Cooking for Buddhas! Cooking Taoshobuddha way or Buddha way or cooking for Buddhas means the same thing. It is indeed a strange yet still a meaningful title for a cook book.
It says a lot. And this is the beauty of it. First let me explain something of the title. Taoshobuddha is an enlightened master. Very rarely a master goes into cooking or does something like this. Although each master remains particular about eating food cooked by each and every one yet no effort was ever made in the past in this direction. When I asked Taoshobuddha about this, very pleasantly in his usual manner he said something that reveals the compassion of a master, his insights into cooking and its relation to human consciousness. Only an enlightened one can say such a thing. This is what he said:
“Cooking Taoshobuddha means ‘Cooking for Buddha’; ‘Cooking lovingly’; ‘Cooking meditatively’.
Only then there can be total transformation of human consciousness. Only then we can create a new man who is balanced both inner and outer. WE go on speak of spirituality and we propagate spiritual growth. However the question remains unanswered if we really understand what spiritual growth really means.
Life is a journey of transcendence. It is a moment to moment journey of awareness. As such man exists at three planes. In ordinary human being these planes remain muddled. And because of this there is no clarity and inward journey gets impeded.
In case of an enlightened one the planes remain the same. However these exist in their right perspective and pristine clarity. Also these do not overlap one another in an enlightened one.
These three planes are:
1. The plane of silence the unheard the uncreated one. This is the plane where the master or the enlightened one dwells. He prefers to remain there. But from this plane the transformation cannot happen. Very unlikely you will find aspirants who are at this plane. However when the aspirant is within the energy field of the enlightened one he is touched by this state of awareness at times. Still this state is not permanent. This is the plane where I dwell. I would not like to come out of this state. But then I will be failing in my responsibilities for the birth of a new human being. One who is beyond dualities and conflicts? He is religious beyond the dimensions of all the religions and narrowness.
2. The second is the plane of intellect. Vast majority are there at this plane. Or think that from this plane they can understand the deeper aspects of inwards journey at least intellectually. Again they are mistaken. At this plane people give their own meaning to the words and message. Still it is a plane from where one can communicate to all those who are at this plane to varying degrees. For these people I have made myself available through scores of books, and other materials, audio and video talks internationally. Also I have weekly meditations in Boston, Sweden, Vancouver, Florida, Miami, Trinidad, India and New York. These I conduct from here.
In addition there are three books published from Sterling Publishers, New Delhi India. And there are 18 E-books and Monthly E magazine ‘MEDITATION TIMES’ published from EBook Mall.Com Michigan. Late last year in 2010 18 Titles were published from I Proclaim Book Store a subsidiary of Dorrance Publishing House of Pitts Burg PA. Also 20 Titles are available for sale worldwide through Amazon.Com. And 32 Books are available as Digitized Editions from Kindle Store of Amazon.Com.
In addition the books are available through I.Proclaim.Com; SterlingPublishers.Com; EBook Mall.Com; and Scribd.Com. It is very difficult for me to pinpoint any specific store at the cost of the others. You can simply e mail me and you will be directed accordingly.
In addition there are over 300 long and short documents, MEDITATION TIMES a monthly Magazine; and INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAQSHBANDI TATIQAT – a Quarterly Publication. All these are available FREE.
Meditation talks are uploaded as VIDEOS on YOU TUBE. COM and many related sites that have embedded these Videos to their sites. All these are for the second plane.
3. And last is the most common plane where you will find vast majority of humanity even those who are on the second plane are to certain varying degrees remain mixed up with this third plane. This is the plane that relates to food sheath. Food is necessary for the survival of the body.
We quote the Scriptures ‘Annm! b&hm!’ Food is consciousness. But do not understand the essence of this.
The people who are at this plane are the ones who have suppressed sex. Also they lack the understanding of this biological energy. There is not only misunderstanding instead lack of awareness as well. All those who have suppressed sex get interested in food. India has suppressed sex down the ages for various reasons and the outcome is so many spicy and pungent dishes. Nowhere else so many dishes have developed as in India.
West has been slightly different. Sex is not suppressed. But there is no fulfillment. One can suppress sex that India did, or what the West did still it lacks fulfillment. Suppression and un-fulfillment are two sides of the same coin.
This problem has to be addressed. In the past masters have taken notice of this and abstained eating food from others. But they have done nothing to offset this problem. Without this new man cannot take birth out of you. Without this all rituals, worship etc. remains meaningless.
I have taken to cooking and thus bring my awareness to the vast majority who are not interested in things at higher rungs. Whether they are interested in meditation, or discourses they will definitely be interested in food. How to reach these persons was on my mind. This life I have chosen to work at all the planes.
Quite naturally food is cooked with physical ingredients that we use in the cooking. However in addition to these there are many subtle ingredients like the emotional state of the cook, the state of inner development, awareness, understanding of the mystical essence, and psychology. We do not consider such things important.
I have heard once Nanak was invited by a rich Village Chief who was having prayers at his home for food. Nanak did not go. He was staying at the house of a poor man named Laloo.
The Chief sent for Nanak through the messengers. And finally he came to call Nanak. The Chief said, ‘You have been rejecting my pure food cooked with holy Ganges water. All the cooks are of high Brahman class. They have entered the Kitchen after taking a bath. The entire cooking is done under the chanting of sacred Mantras. And you are staying with person Laloo who is of low class.’
When the Chief insisted so much Nanak went and he asked Laloo to accompany along with his dry roti without and y vegetables. On reaching the Chief’s place Nanak held the food from the prayer house in one hand and in the next hand held the food from Laloo. And when Nanak squeezed the two foods from the prayer food the drops of blood oozed while from the food of Laloo drops of Milk oozed.
Nanak told the congregation it does not matter how the food is cooked. What matters is the inner state of the person and his awareness.
Most of the times unknowingly we put so many ingredients like anger, frustration, jealousy, greed, enmity etc. All these are subtle vibrations. Food must work at all the levels, physical, mental, intellectual, spiritual and the bliss sheaths. The food that we eat nourishes our physical cells first and then other sheaths are nourished. When food lacks love and awareness it is empty and therefore cannot help in the transformation of human consciousness.
Through my awareness I am fulfilling the missing dimension in the life of those who are either suppressed or unfulfilled as far as the sex is concerned. When I looked into the lives of all those who are interested in food somewhere or the other this needs to be fulfilled. Direct involvement method cannot be used. I have to devise system and methods that can be utilized with effective results. I have devised certain meditations as well to transform negativities at personal and cosmic levels. These incorporate breathing at body level, introspection at mental level and compassion at the level of the being.
So this is what ‘COOKING TAOSHOBUDDHA WAY’ means.
Because of my ethnicity and understanding of East Indian Cuisine I have ventured into this field.
The uniqueness of Indian Cuisine lies in its special blend of spices that release fragrant aroma in the atmosphere. The aroma and the finishing look become more attractive than a beautifully dressed young girl. This creates an enticing ambiance in the surroundings.
Just a few mouthwatering varieties of Indian dishes can provide an excellent decoration for any occasion. The basic recipe ranges from snacks, appetizers, soups, drinks, chaat specials to main course fine dining items to suit any occasion from an ordinary get together to a gala feast of a presidential dinner occasion for any dignitary. Indian cuisine is as diverse as its people and geography. Indian cuisine represents unity in diversity at the grossest level. Let us enter into this festivity if culinary delights as presented through this volume.
‘Cooking Taoshobuddha Way Volume 1’ was the beginning of a new trend wherein the energy that was lost begins surfacing. Still the cry is from far. And now with ‘Cooking Taoshobuddha Way Volume 2’ the blossoming of consciousness has begun. More and more interest is being generated among the readers world over. Volume 1, when published was embedded by many sites.
I am confident that this Volume 2 will even create greater impact the flower has blossomed. The nectar is oozing. Bees are flocking to gather this nectar. The fragrance and the beauty is creating intoxicating ambiance.
In preparing this volume certain recipes have been shown through all the detailed steps required for cooking that dish. Many new recipes were also developed. Also certain recipes have been included for those suffering from Celiac Patients who are Gluten Intolerant. My emphasis has been on using naturally hydrogenated oils where strong double carbon bond exists. Most of the oils are injurious to health. There are partially hydrogenated oils that are even more harmful.
I emphasize the use of Coconut oil, Butter and Ghee as these have stronger double carbon bond. These are naturally hydrogenated. The stone grind whole wheat flour that is full of nutrients. Unlike All-Purpose white flour that is beached in the process of milling for whole wheat flour wheat does is not beached and no bran added to it because it naturally contains bran. In addition I have emphasized the use of Millet Flour, Rice Flour, Jwar or Sorghum Flour, Buckwheat Flour. Recipes have been given.
Most important of all is the use of ROCK SALT instead of Sea Salt. Our seas are polluted with nuclear toxic waste, and other wastes. To remove the effects many chemicals are used in the process of refining that in the process natural minerals, nutrients, and trace elements are lost. And then chemically produced nutrients are substituted. As compared to sea salt the natural elements are preserved in rock salt. While sea salt causes blood pressure, Rock Salt does not.
For your reference a document is added as supplementary at the end of this volume.
In the preparation of this volume comments came from professionals in the field of cooking and medicine. Thanks to all those lovely ones.
Two special recipes of Puran Polis and Bhakris have been included in the volume. These two recipes are the expressions of my gratitude for two families from Maharashtra in India. During my visit to the family in January this year I was served with Puran Polis – a kind of flatbread, and Bhakri another flatbread made with Sorghum, Millet, and Rice flours.
The family of my coauthor Hemant Moghe his two daughters Riddhi and Siddhi and wife Medha served with these dishes smeared with their love. Many thanks for their hospitalities that shall linger in my being erelong. Another coauthor Anil Sohoni and his wife from Pune in India left no stone unturned in serving Puran Polis. Anil Ji and Hemant ji these recipes I have included in this volume for a wider cross section world over. And the overflow of love and gratitude will continue in the next volume as well.
The choice of herbs and spices, their blends all provide an excellent recipe for you to use. Bonne Appetite! Love!!!
Taoshobuddha
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