Food and Spirituality

 

Food and Spirituality

Food is the source of energy. The concept that food choices can impact our spiritual well-being is not new; various cultures and religion across the globe reflect it through numerous examples. The fundamental key to mindful, healthy eating is learning how to change your state of mind. The wisdom of ancient cultures shows that food has always been a tool for spiritual growth and healthy living.

Spiritual and physical world are considered as two legs of human body by our saints and philosophers. A balance between both is must to walk properly. We require balance diet and physical exercise for being physically fit. To be spiritually fit, quality meditation and devotion is required. Food plays a major role in spirituality as a light and healthy body is essential to excel in spirituality. It is very tough for human being to maintain a balance between both. That’s why Grihastha (householder) life is considered a great Ashrama in Hinduism among one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras.

Have you ever thought why in our spiritual endeavor, it is considered important to maintain a high standard of cleanliness while preparing, cooking, and offering the food?

The emotion with which a person cooks the food the same get transferred to the person who consume it. when we prepare the food with love or devotion then this loving energy goes to our etheric body and nourishes it. That’s why we always cherish the food cooked by our mothers or food served as prasada(religious offering) no matter how best chef we are. That’s why physical, mental thought and surrounding cleanliness is very much important before beginning to prepare Prasada-Meditation, or any other form of meditation.

As in this era of modernisation there has been a drastic change in not only people’s eating habits but also the process of cultivating food. Fresh raw food is key to detoxification. Cold storage can stop growth of micro- organisms in food but can’t control the Tej (Flare of the food) which is there in raw food very much essential for good health. Try to eat fresh organic fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water to keep yourself healthy.

 Cooking symbolically marks a transition from nature to culture, and also from nature to society, given that while raw is natural in origin, cooked implies a step that is both cultural and social. Food affects our body immensely and we need to detoxify our body that’s why in ancient time fasting at least once a week is recommended with a permission to have raw foods. Detoxifying yourself physically, mentally, ethnically and spiritually is vital for spiritual progress.

India’s ancient culture included a comprehensive system of diet, and food preparation, which ensured that food was a means to physical and spiritual wellbeing. It is well said in Indian culture that“ Jaisa khao ann waise hove mann, Jaise piyo pani waise nikle vaani” That means food is the base of our behaviour and the kind of food & drink we consume not only decides the physical aspect of our body, but also decides the very way we think and feel.

Knowing your Food

Knowing your Food: A Step towards Healthy Life

Ayurveda recommends that a healthy person wakes up about two hours before dawn. This ambrosial hour is considered auspicious as there is peace, purity, freshness and happiness all around in the environment. Diet is crucial to maintain health. Food should be taken in adequate amounts at appropriate times and should be favorable to your body constitution. The quantity of Food taken should depend on your digestive strength and ability, and also on your metabolic activity.

Food should be nutritious, simple, complete and balanced, suitable for the body. One must eat only after the digestion of the previous meal. If one pays attention to these points, food builds and support the body, improves the complexion and general appearance, and increase the life-span. In Ayurveda food intake is prohibited while doing any distracting activity because at the time of eating the mind should be calm, peaceful and stable for the proper digestion of food.  Only then maximum benefit from the food can be derived.

To obtain maximum nutrition, food should be taken in appropriate quantity. A good practice in this context is to leave one-third to one-quarter of the stomach empty after eating to aid digestion. It is only through practice and experience that we learn what kind of diet suits us best. A compatible diet and favorable foods provide maximum nutritional benefits, whereas incompatible and unfavorable foods can harm the body.

Suitability of food depends on different factors like body, region, season and ailments. Food taken while keeping all these facts in mind preserves health and prevents ailments. Remember eating should be taken as a serious and personalized activity. Do not disrupt the diet routine in spite of being busy and this personal eating activity should be performed with sincerity and concentration.

It is correctly said that “a person taking a compatible diet does not require any medication and with incompatible diet, even medication is of no use”. In the absence of medication, disease can be treated by taking the right kind of diet, but if the right diet is not maintained, all medicines turn ineffective.

 

A Healthy person, free from all ailments can work harder, follow the daily routine in a proper manner and perform his daily work more efficiently. He can derive pleasure and joy from any means of luxury, earn his living by any enterprise or business, serve the family, society and the nation in better way, as well as mediate and worship God for his own welfare. This specifies that having healthy body is the first step of healthy mind.

Food Culture of Delhi

Know Your Indian Cuisine: Instead of Simplifying try to understand it

 

Know Your Indian Cuisine: Instead of Simplifying try to understand it

India’s cuisine is as rich and diverse as her people. It has evolved over the years and has a strong connection to its culture, history, and geography. The dietary patterns have also evolved based on various religious practices. The cultivation and availability of various types of spices and their extensive use in many recipes has always been a predominant feature of Indian food. Spices are an important part of Indian cuisine their correct use and quantity of blending plays a major role in enhancing the flavour and aroma of a dish. Even oil is an important part of cooking and each region has its preference.

Ayurveda and spiritual teachings had exerted a strong influence on many Indian food recipes and eating patterns to be conscious and mindful of what we eat, when we eat and how we eat it based on every individual’s unique health needs. Besides being one of the oldest in the world, Indian cuisine is an amalgam of history and a confluence of cultures. To a large extent it is linked to religion, with many rules about food, its preparation and how to serve it. Traditional serving styles vary from region to region in India.

Diversity can be found in India’s food as well as its culture, geography and climate. The traditional Indian food culture should not be overlooked by us as it shows the identity of the Indian people itself in terms of culture and norms. We should understand the richness and values of our culture rather than trying to simplifying without understanding it. Indian cuisine is a simple cuisine at its own understanding the regional cuisine which is formed due to the historical influences, geographical location, climatic condition and seasonal availability are the key factors. The territory is large and, as such, there are plenty of ingredients and ways of cooking so, regional cuisine plays a major role in understanding culture and richness of Indian cuisine.

Today Consumers are becoming more and more conscious about the food they eat various aspects plays a role in their buying decision. As in the era of globalization in the twenty-first century no country in the world can demonstrate such a complete and unmatched mastery of the use of spices in their food as India. So it’s wise to explore the Indian cooking techniques, ingredients and use of spices now available to professional chefs.

In all cultural traditions, food is only one aspect but yet it is probably one of the most persistent. Food is a source of pleasure, comfort and security. Food is also a symbol of hospitality, social status, and religious significance. With the changing lifestyle and working population residing and changing culture of generations becoming more cosmopolitan in their lives and food habits as well. There have been tremendous changes in food habits and intake patterns owing to the increase in changing lifestyles, women employment, per capita Income and other environmental factors.

Mostly all the Indians love their own cuisine but kids are used to international food which lead to fusion kitchen: e.g. pasta with Indian spices. In Delhi globalization has played an important role in the transformation of food. foreign food brands are easily available in many stores, and consumers have access to varieties of food that were not previously available to them products like Greek olives, Italian dressing, Mix herbs, Mexican salsa, French cheese, Swiss chocolate etc. in several shops. Dining Experience, which includes different dining experiences, authentic restaurant design, restaurant atmosphere, and cultural learning. These factors can be controlled to a large extent by restaurant management.

Government is taking various steps to preserve, document, promote and disseminate Indian cuisine. Chefs and culinary historians from India are also doing a great job across the world by promoting Indian dishes and exchanging their ideas on India's gastronomical diversity and heritage as a source for promoting a sustainable lifestyle worldwide. Indian cuisine is no less than any treasure and we need to share it with the world what we have in order to promote Indian cuisine as our Upanishad also says “Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah”.

With proper knowledge and standard operating procedures keeping in mind the health consequences we can make our people understand about our vast cuisine. This can be achieved by working towards this common goal through infrastructure development, Government support, and tourism promotion by creating Indian Cuisine as a brand identity. As the world cuisine is becoming increasingly popular in India we also need our local food to be pushing traditional boundaries with a vision of making Indian Cuisine a world Healthiest Cuisine.