Vegetarian cooking lesson 6
Preparing seeds and soup reveals simple principles for mindful nourishment.
Roast sunflower or pumpkin seeds until they pop. Use dissolved salted water to coat them evenly, as dry salt would fall away. The iron-rich residue at the bottom is harmless. For a creamy soup, add water and consider celery, which is naturally salty and may need no extra salt. A little salt in the water is sufficient to make the seeds taste salty with minimal actual salt. After cooking, let it cool for a salad or snack. Enhance the soup with fresh coriander or basil, including their flowers. Flowers like roses and violets are edible and calming; add them at the end without cooking. They nourish the soul, while vegetables nourish the body. Serve with creativity, such as pancakes with cream or ice cream, to bring joy.
"Then each and every seed gets covered with a little salt, so when we taste it, it tastes salty, but there is actually very, very little salt in it."
"Vegetables and fruits are nutritious for our body, but the flowers are nutritious for the soul—or so they say."
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The Monkey-Minded Seeker: Desire, True Wisdom, and the Art of Coping
Desire for supernatural powers leads to monkey-mind, while true wisdom is cultivated through steady practice and acceptance.
Supernatural powers are not gained by mere wishing. A flower grows when an expert plants a seed, waters it, and lets time unfold. A seeker yearned for levitation, yet gurus refused to grant powers easily. He walked to a Tibetan monastery. Monks asked no questions; a bell rang for meals, leaving fasting voluntary. An old monk knew his desire and offered meditation. The seeker refused, demanding only powers. The monk imparted a mantra with a warning: do not think of monkeys while reciting. Instantly, monkeys filled his mind, blocking all practice. He returned to the monk in frustration. Instructing the mind to avoid something makes it fixate there. True progress comes through yoga and meditation. Rise during Brahma Muhurta, touch the earth in respect, then silently touch your parents’ feet. At this hour, cosmic energies intensify your mantra and kriya. Lord Rama’s life was suffering—exile, wife’s abduction, fire ordeal—yet he coped without comparing. When joy comes, be cheerful; when pain comes, discover your strength. Never compare your life to another’s. Be content as you are, while striving sincerely. Equanimity in all circumstances creates a perfect being.
"Do not think of monkeys. Do not think of monkeys while reciting."
"Meditation will benefit you far more through yoga. What will you do with such powers?"
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
Vedic ceremonies can help us
The foundations of a blessed human life are found in ancient Vedic science. Modern living has caused the loss of essential traditions, defined as āhāra (nourishment), vihāra (association), ācāra (behavior), and vicāra (thought). From these, your thoughts arise. You must control the ten senses like horses and purify your thoughts. Performing yajña ceremonies with proper Vastu measurements provides a method to solve life's difficulties and gain access to God. The fireplace is the mouth of God; mantras invite devas to remove negative energy. This is an eternal science. The presence of the Sadguru multiplies the benefit of mantra and offering a hundred thousandfold.
"To make this human life blessed, you and I are present at the feet of the Guru."
"Through performing these yajña ceremonies, we will be led to our destination."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
Bhramari and bhramari pranayama
Brahmari Pranayama balances the nervous system and refines the voice. This practice is derived from the bee known as Brahmari. The female bee constructs a nest with intricate passages. She captures a specific worm and places it inside. She nourishes it until it develops wings and emerges as a new bee. The yogic practice mimics this process of internal transformation through sound. One method involves gently biting the teeth together. This directs resonance to the temples, balancing the Ida and Pingala nerve channels. It alleviates certain tensions and improves speech. Another method keeps the lips closed but the teeth apart. This directs energy upward toward the crown chakras. Both techniques significantly benefit singers and speakers by refining vocal quality and release. Practice should be avoided during an active headache.
"The sound goes from our ears and comes back here to the temple area."
"This prāṇāyāma balances both nerve systems, Iḍā and Piṅgalā."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
A Heartfelt Prayer and the Path of Remembrance
The path of remembrance is a heartfelt prayer of surrender and the practice of chanting to purify and connect.
Chant the name constantly, never forget, never let it leave the heart. It does not matter if one is a sinner, failing, or cheating. However one is, one belongs to the divine. Life is wasted in attachments to house, family, obstacles. One is full of sadness, full of suffering. The prayer removes all suffering, all impurities. One is a servant, a dust particle at the feet. One is alone in this mortal world. Do not forget, remove all sins, all faults. This prayer to the teacher removes all these things. Learning happens through repetition: part by part, then fast, then slow. Whatever is to be remembered must be repeated at least twenty-four times. Practice makes a master.
"However I am, I am yours."
"Practice makes a man a master. And not only men, but also women."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
