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THE WAY OF BHAKTI* SADHU VASWANI The keynote of true spiritual life is love, bhakti, prema. “Earthly passion is not love: earthly passion,” Sri Chaitanya taught, again and again, “is kama not prema. Kama darkens life.” Sri Chaitanya said: “The romance of sensual love is often confounded with prema, but is not true love. It is when sensual feeling is totally extinct that true love will grow in the soul.” It is true that prema or spiritual love may grow from earthly passion (Kama), as the lily grows from the underground soil which is filthy. But it is profoundly true that prema is not Kama. In the unfolding of prema, an “image” is a help. Krishna’s image or Christ’s or Nanak’s attracts the soul and leads her to spiritual realisation. The image is not a sthula thing but is a vehicle of an immaterial influence — a medium of beauty and joy. Meditating on an image, you feel, more and more, that the image looks at you from all directions. “Everywhere,” says Chaitanya, “is the image of Krishna presented to the eye.” Meditate on the image and, when you attain a clear vision, you see Krishna — in His beauty and glory ! Then your eyes are touched with tears. You weep aloud. You
utter the words: “Shyama Shyama!” The words are half-broken: you falter in your speech: you stammer! So we read that when Chaitanya saw the Temple of Jagannath, he wept aloud and uttered broken words and then, faltering in speech, fell unconscious on the ground, and cried: “My heart doth long for union with Thee, in the shades of the trees on the banks of the river!” He who becomes a Krishnabhakta and has even a glimpse of the beauty of Krishna grows in (1) purity; (2) humility; and (3) reverence. The vision of Krishna or Christ is never sundered from ethical development. Sri Chaitanya rightly said: Be humbler than a straw! Be more patient and meek than a tree! Seek no honour for thyself, But freely give honour to others, And, in deep humility, sing the praises of Krishna!
*March 24 is sacred as Sri Chaitanya’s Birthday.
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Christ is Risen* SADHU VASWANI Has Love triumphed in the world? Not yet: Still on the cross of our “Civilisation” is the Lord being crucified. And still he cries: “I thirst!” April is a bright month in Asian lands. The sky is beautiful, spring flowers bloom, and song birds sing. In April, one Friday morn, when nature is smiling, a saint is before a Roman official, Jesus stands before Pilate. Palestine is under Roman domination. Pilate is a Roman Governor and magistrate. Outside his court is a crowd dominated by priests. Again and again in history has a conflict arisen between the priest and the prophet. The priest is a custodian of creeds and forms; the prophet is a voice of the Spirit. Jewish priests are offended with Jesus. They regard him as a dangerous revolutionary. “Away with him,” they say. It is the cry, also, of the crowd. Crowds do not think. Pilate is a sceptic and Pilate fears the crowd. Pilate does not wish to do harm to Jesus, but weakness, also, is a sin, Pilate is weak, too weak to displease the crowd. If they report against him to Rome, if they create a rebellion, he may lose his post, and he loves his post too well. *March 25 is sacred as Good Friday.
“What shall I do with him?” he says; and the crowds say: “Away with him. Crucify him!” In the face of this fury of the crowd, Jesus is silent. To propitiate the crowd, and still to save Jesus, Pilate asks soldiers to scourge Jesus. Does Pilate hope to excite pity in the crowd for Jesus and save him? Jesus is stripped of garments. The Roman soldiers put on him a crown of thorns and mock him. Some smite his cheeks, some spit at him: some strike him hard until his head bleeds. Jesus is silent. The crowd are not pacified. They still cry: “Crucify him!” So Jesus is taken to the Place of Skulls to be crucified. He is given a heavy cross to bear. He stumbles on the way: he is tired, exhausted. Jesus
Continued on page 11
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EXPLORE the INTERIOR WORLD J. P. VASWANI
E
merson, one of the great sages of America, said on one occasion, “What lies before me and what lies behind me are small matters compared to what lies within me.� It is the within that needs to be explored. Today we are going crazy exploring outer space. It is true that outer space is infinite. But there is the inner space which needs to be explored. And if only you explore that inner space, you will be amazed. Within you is an infinity of consciousness. If only you will explore it you will be able to pick up pearls and rubies and diamonds.
In our constant state of superficial existence, we continue to ignore the world within. In our persistent chase after shadow-shapes and worldly wealth, we lose sight of our inner consciousness. We emphasise speech, action and outward show; we forget that there is a far more valuable aspect to life called reflection, contemplation, introspection. We have no time to think of the world within! It is within us, that we will find the peace and joy we seek so desperately! Even as there is an expanding universe outside of us, there is
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a larger and more wonderful universe within us of which we are not aware. Each one of us has this beauty within us. All we need to do is go within. Most of us, 99% of people die without being aware of the beauty within us. One day, as the sun was setting, a friend visited the great Sufi woman saint Rabia. He called out to her to come out and see the glamour of colours — oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples, in the skies outside. Rabia said to him, “My brother, comes inside. Let me take you inside yourself and you will be deeply amazed at the wonderful colours and sights that you have inside you.” Once man realises this, that all that he wants and all that he needs is within him, he will not have to wander outside. There came to Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani, one day, a man, travel-weary and tired. In his quest of the unknown, he had visited many places, and met many holy men. He had wandered to many pilgrimspots, but his quest remained unfulfilled. And he said to Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani, “Much have I wandered and many places of pilgrimage have I visited, but I have not found Him yet. Whither may I go?” Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani said to him, “Brother beloved! He whom thou dost seek, He is not far from thee! He is the deepest
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self of what thou art. Enter into thyself and know that in thee is He whom thou dost seek. Thou mayst wander the wide world through, thou will not find Him outside thee, for He is within! And in all thy search never forget that the one thou seekest is He who seeketh thee!” To grow in the inner life, the life of the spirit, we need to withdraw from the outer world of noise and excitement. Therefore, we stress on the practise of silence everyday. Each day, we must spend some time, at least an hour; in silence. At the very start, perhaps, it will be difficult to sit in silence for an hour at a stretch. Then it would be well if we practise silence for about a quarter of an hour, four times a day. In due course, the mind will become calm and clear as the surface of a lake on a windless day. Such a mind will become a source of indescribable joy and peace. Significant are the words of the Upanishad, “The mind alone is the cause of man’s bondage; the mind is also an instrument of man’s liberation.” Everyday preferably at the same time, at the same place, go and sit in silence, pray, meditate, do your spiritual thinking. When you are alone meditating with God, no one should disturb you, even urgent messages must wait and the telephone bell must not tinkle. Sitting in silence; if you like, you
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can take up a Name of God, a name which to you is symbolic of God. Or sitting in silence you can pick up a great thought of a great one; revolving in your mind, you will find a chain of thoughts arising out of that one single thought, and as you keep on thinking on this one single thought you will sink deeper and deeper within yourselves and you will be blessed with wonderful experiences, interior experiences. Or sitting in silence, you can pick up an incident from the life of your Guru or a form of God. Say to yourself he was so forgiving, when shall I be likewise? He was so patient, Christ is Risen breaks his silence with the words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!” Yes, often men do wrong for they know not. If they would but know! “Knowledge is virtue,” said Socrates. And the Hindu seer said: “Sin is avidya!” If man would but know! Some women, too, are following Jesus. Men are often callous. Woman has intuition and bhakti. These women know that Jesus is innocent, and their hearts go out to him in sympathy and love. Men are cruel because they do not know. These women know and they weep. “Weep not for me! ” says Jesus. Jesus is on the Cross. They fix nails in his hands and feet. His body bleeds. He is silent. After some time he speaks—two words
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when shall I be likewise? He was so loving, when shall I be likewise? Choose anything that you like, but every day you must sit in silence and do your spiritual thinking. Silence does two good things to us. The first is silence purifies us and the second is silence energies us. Silence strengthens us. As we enter deeper and deeper into silence, we are purified, we are cleansed. Let us practise silence everyday and, sinking deeper and deeper within, behold the imprisoned splendour. Continued from page 6 only: “I thirst!” On Friday evening Jesus passes away, and on Sunday morn, according to Christian tradition, the cry goes forth: “He is arisen!” Theologians and critics will continue to discuss if Resurrection was a fact of the historical order or not. To me the question is: “Is the ascension of the Lord a fact of the psychological order or not?” “Christ is risen!” So we read in Christian hymns. To me the question is: ‘‘Is the Christ risen in our hearts?” What do we celebrate today? Dead history? Or the Risen Lord? “Christ is risen!’’ which I interpret to mean: “Love triumphs.” Silent sacrificial love. This love was incarnated in Jesus. This Love became flesh and blood in that Blessed.
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Interview with
Dada J.P. Vaswani*
In quest of ‘The heart’ of the human spirit Rev J.P. Vaswani is known to everyone as the saint-teacher cum spiritual head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. Apart from being the force behind the Mission’s humanitarian, social and educational activities, Dada is also a prolific writer, having authored over 50 books so far on spirituality, non-violence and tolerance Having recently brought in his 97th birthday, Dada reiterates his message to a whole new generation, backing each argument with a logic, that despite being as old as the hills, and yet, utterly relevant and relatable. Kalyani Sardesai finds out more Crème: Please tell us about your early life and what made you
walk the path of spiritualism and social service? Dada Vaswani: I do not know if I am walking the way of spiritualism and social service, as you put it! All I know is I walk the Pilgrim’s Path, the way of love for the Lord and His creation. As for my early years, they were living in darkness, until my Beloved Master, Sadhu Vaswani, taught me that life is truly lived when it is lived for others. Sadhu Vaswani was my mentor, my sculptor, the Master who moulded me and made me what I am. All that I am, all that I have learnt, I owe to my Gurudev. He was the Prophet of the revolution that is coming — the revolution of love. He revealed to us our kinship with all who suffer, our partnership
*Published in the issue of Crème dated January 2016.
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with those in pain. You and the others are not apart from each other, he taught us; you and others are part of the One Whole. He lived in this vision of unity. Crème: How can we improve our spiritual understanding? Dada Vaswani: To grow in spiritual understanding, we need to cultivate the heart. Man lives on a planet of infinite promise. He has reached the very zenith of technological brilliance. He has been able to set foot on the moon. His rockets go flying past the distant planet. And yet, is he confused as to his own real being and purpose. His anger is readily inflamed. He is easily overcome by temptation. Sure enough, he has developed his brain power. But if he is to grow in spiritual understanding, he must make an effort to cultivate his heart. Therefore, let us spend some little time in silence everyday and let us do as much good to as many as we can each day. Crème: Is there a difference between being religious and being spiritual? Dada Vaswani: Religion deals with rites and ceremonies, creeds and dogmas, but spirituality is the awareness that we are not the bodies we wear; each one of us is an immortal soul, and that we all are one. Crème: What, according to you, are the greatest problems before the world today? What are the solutions? Dada Vaswani: Our greatest problem is that we have thrown God out of our life. There was a
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time, when we actually felt that God was watching us. Now we feel that we are not being watched, and so, can commit any crime without compunction. The solution is that we must bring God back into our homes and educational institutions. The man who believes in God knows that he is only a pilgrim on earth. The world belongs not to him, but to God, who is our President. Such a man will give love and compassion, kindness and sympathy to all who cross the pathways of his life. Crème: With changing times how relevant is the institution of marriage? Dada Vaswani: It was after centuries of experience that the wise ones of ancient times formulated the rules of marriage. Nowadays, there is chaos in society. There is no respect for the sanctity of marriage. Just as there are traffic laws, which have to be followed to avoid accidents, so too, there are laws of marriage. When you get married, your life is regulated by certain rules. Freedom is not doing what you like. Freedom is the ability to do what you ought to do and should do. Crème: You have always rooted for family values and married life. But even though divorces seem to happen for trivial reasons, what about those instances where the spouse has refused to put up with cruelty, dowry demands and abuse? Isn’t it good if these marriages break up? Dada Vaswani: I do not believe in divorce. I believe that marriage brings two imperfect persons
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together. There is no such thing as emotional incompatibility. There are only misunderstandings and mistakes which can easily be set right if we have the will to do so. Crème: Our PM is rooting for the ‘Beti Bachao’ Campaign. How should we as a society help him fight female infanticide? Dada Vaswani: I profoundly believe that abortion is a crime. When a mother kills her own daughter, it is nothing but the beginning of the end. I salute Mother Teresa for having opened shelters for children, saying “ I shall fight abortion with adoption.” I feel grateful to the PM for starting the Beti Bachao Campaign. But, I shall regard that man as a saviour and liberator of humanity who treats abortion as a crime which it really is. Crème: From Jesus to Gandhi, saints and leaders have propagated ahimsa. But it is said that in order to achieve peace, war is inevitable. Be it Ashoka or Akbar, several righteous leaders have chosen the path of violence. In order to finally achieve non violence. Please tell us your opinion on this. Dada Vaswani: In answer to this question let me quote the wise words spoken by my Beloved Master, Sadhu Vaswani: To a high military official who asked him for advice, Sadhu Vaswani said: “Love peace in the heart within but keep the powder dry!” I believe in education, not in power politics. If you want peace amongst nations, you must change the hearts of the people. Once
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again, let me quote the words of Sadhu Vaswani : “How can there be peace on earth, when the hearts of men are a volcano?” Crème: The last few years have been witness to rising crimes against women and children. What is the way out of this? Dada Vaswani: We are living in an age when there is an imbalance of power, an inequality and injustice created by the overbearing male energies of violence, aggression and power-seeking. Legislation and new penal codes are not enough to combat this menace. What we need is a change of heart, a change of mindset and attitude. And today, as more and more women are beginning to debate solutions to the problems of rape and violence and molestation, many of them are in their own diverse ways, beginning to arrive at one distinct conclusion: the answer to mindless violence must lie in mindful spirituality. There has to be a definite attempt to infuse spirituality in males from a very early age, perhaps by relooking and even revamping our traditional ‘moral instruction’ or ‘value education’ courses, both at the school and college level. Laws by themselves can only do so much. They can punish offenders. But they cannot deter or prevent crimes that arise out of the undisciplined, uneducated, uncontrolled human mind. We need a paradigm shift in our education system if we wish to change the mind-set of a male
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dominated society that is obsessed with violence and aggression. Crème: What do you say to people who use religion as a pretext to violence or killing? Dada Vaswani: It is not religion that has failed us, it is we who have failed religion! I may go to the church, to the mosque, to the temple every day. I may chant hymns and sing songs of praise. I may read unending passages from the scriptures. I may fast from dawn to dusk, but if my life does not bear witness to the great ideals of my faith in deeds of daily life, I am no better than a tape-recorder! In a world torn apart by sectarianism and intolerance, religion is exploited by unscrupulous elements who fan the flames of hatred in the name of their faith and belief. At the same time, it has become habitual for politicians to blame religion for all the evils of society. Thus, religion today has been made a scapegoat for all the atrocities perpetrated by man. Terrorism, bloodshed and the killing of innocent men and women are all labeled as ‘religious’ strife. I hold fast unto my belief that religion came to unite, reconcile, and to create harmony among men. Sadhu Vaswani taught us that the various creeds and religions of humanity are but different ways of attaining one goal. Different religions are but branches of one religion — the Religion of the Spirit. No matter how widely they may differ in their externals, they are all born out of one common and universal spiritual need — the need to unite the entire world
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in a spiritual brotherhood of man. For this is the vision that should inspire us; the vision that will move us onward, forward, Godward! Crème: What are your hopes and expectations from India’s new generation? Do you believe they are materialistic and selfish? Dada Vaswani: No! I have always had great hopes for the youth of this nation, to regain our lost greatness and make India take her rightful position as a leader among nations. To the young people of India, I say, Seek not Power, seek service! India needs sipahis and sevaks, soldiers and servants. Are you ready to answer the Mother’s call to you? India needs volunteers – volunteers for the nation. We are still thinking in terms of Gujaratis and Punjabis, Maharashtrians and Biharis; we still consider ourselves Hindus, Christians and Muslims. We need to be Indians, we need to become volunteers for India, truly Indian volunteers who will put India first. India first! India first! This must be the watchword of everyone who will be a volunteer for India! Crème: In the world filled with chaos, how to live a happy and fulfilled life? Dada Vaswani: We are not here to be happy: we are here to make others happy. The happiness we give to others will come back to us in different ways and we shall be happy. If we set out in quest of happiness, happiness will elude us. Remember: He is truly happy who makes others happy.
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LAUGH YOUR WAY TO HEALTH During an English lesson, the teacher notices that a boy was not paying attention to him. Teacher: Pappu, join these two sentences together. I was cycling to school. I saw a dead body. Pappu: (thinking for a while) I saw a dead body cycling to school. *** Even though he could not tell time, my three-year-old grandson was playing with a wall clock when I visited. Later, when I was putting on my coat to leave, I asked him what time it was. He looked at the clock blankly, then brightened. “It’s time for you to go,” he answered triumphantly. *** I lovingly gave my niece a kiss on her cheek upon seeing her at a family get-together. Afterwards, I noticed her wiping her cheek. “Are you wiping off my kiss?”, I asked her. “No”, she smartly replied, “I’m just rubbing it in!” *** A few old couples used to get together to talk about life and to have a good time. One day one of the men, Harry, started talking about this
fantastic restaurant he went to the other night with his wife. “Really?”, one of the men said, what’s it called? After thinking for a few seconds the Harry said, “What are those good smelling flowers called again?” “Do you mean a rose?” the first man questioned. “Yes that’s it,” he exclaimed. Looking over at his wife he said, “Rose, what’s that restaurant we went to the other night?” *** Jai: I’ve got such a bad headache. Nitya: I know why. Jai: Why? Nitya: Well, yesterday when I had stomach ache, mummy said it was because it was empty, so I guess that’s the problem with you too. *** Teacher: “All those who wish to go to heaven, put your hands up.” All the children put up their hands except for Sharanya. Teacher: “Sharanya, don’t you want to go heaven?” Sharanya: “Well, Miss, my mum said I had to go straight home after school.”
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*** “Give me a sentence about a public servant”, said the mother helping at home. The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The mother took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure”, said the young kid confidently. “It means ‘carrying a child’.” *** Customer: Do you call this a full meal? You served me twice as much yesterday. Waitress: Where did you sit yesterday? Customer: By the window. Waitress: Oh, that’s why. We do that for advertising purposes – it gives people passing by the impression that this is a good restaurant! *** Old man comes into a restaurant, sits at his usual table, and orders the usual — tomato soup. The waiter sets it down in front of him, and stands back to watch him enjoy it. But the man just sits there. “Is there something wrong?” the waiter asks.“I can’t eat this soup,” the man replies.“Is it too hot?” the waiter asks. “No.” “Too cold?” “No.” “Too salty?” “No.”The waiter calls for the maitre d’, and for the chef, and each goes through the same routine: “Too hot?” “Too cold?” “No,
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no no.” Finally the chief, at his wits end, says, “Sir, I will taste the soup myself. Where is the spoon?” Says the old man: “Aha!” *** She: Truth or Dare? He: Truth She: Do I look fat in this new dress? He: This is cheating. I asked for truth, not dare! *** Teacher: Which is the best month to study? Student: Octembruary! Teacher:Don’t be silly, there is no such month. Student: Exactly my point. *** What is the difference between farmers and husbands? Farmers have agriculture…! Husbands have agreeculture! *** What is the final title of Microsoft Windows 8? Microsoft Curtains! *** What did the triangle say to the circle? Your pointless! *** A husband said to his wife, ‘No, I don’t hate your relatives. In fact, I like your mother-inlaw better than I like mine.’
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Children’s Corner A QUIZ ON WATER Are you a fountain of knowledge when it comes to water? Well, dive in to find out if you are a water baby or not… Each question is followed by some possible answers. Select the one that you think is the correct answer. 1. What is water made up of? • Nitrogen • Carbon and Oxygen • Carbon Monoxide • Oxygen and Hydrogen 2. How much of the water on earth is available for human use? • 31 per cent • 13 per cent • 0.3 per cent • 1.3 per cent 3. How much of the earth’s surface is covered by water? • 75 per cent • 34 per cent • 55 per cent • 16 per cent
6. How much water does the human body contain? • 20 per cent • 40 per cent • 55 per cent • 80 per cent
4. The energy generated from water is known as: • Relative energy • Irrigation • Hydroelectric energy • Electromagnetic energy
7. Water boils at a temperature of: • 80 degrees Fahrenheit • 180 degrees Centigrade • 100 degrees Fahrenheit • 100 degrees Centigrade
5. Water is used over and over again in a never ending cycle. What is the cycle called? • Water Ring • The Hydrological Cycle • Water Recycling Loop • Water Cycle
8. Who wrote the line, “Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” • William Shakespeare • Virginia Woolf • S.T. Colenidge • Gilbert and Sullivan
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9. In Hindu mythology, the Rain God is known as: • Vishnu • Indra • Brahma • Varuna
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11. Who is known as the weather God in Greek mythology? • Zeus • Helios • Thor • Adonis
10. Who is The Roman God of rain? • Pluto • Mercury • Jupiter • Neptune
MATHEMAGIC
TRICK: NUMBER BELOW TEN Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Step 5:
Think of a number below ten. Double the number you have thought. Add six with the getting result. Halve, that is divide it by two. Take away the number you have thought from the answer, that is, subtract the answer from the number you have thought.
Answers: 1. Oxygen and Hydrogen 2. 0.3 percent 3. 75 percent 4. Hydroelectric Energy 5. The Hydrological Cycle 6. 80 percent 7. 100 degrees Centigrade 8. S.T. Colenidge 9. Varuna 10. Jupiter 11. Zeus Mathemagic: Three
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SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH HELIOSIS Atapa Snana is the yogic phrase for the healing science of sun bathing. We live in a modern world that is bombarded with paranoid messages about how dangerous the sun is. We should remember that the ancient yogis and many other cultures knew how to use the sun to heal all kinds of illnesses, and bring about radiant health. In the West we also have a history of using sunlight therapy that dates back to the ancient Greeks. It was called heliosis. Today, the name for sunlight therapy is heliotherapy. We evolved as a human race for millions of years under the warmth and love of the sun. Perhaps drenching ourselves in poisonous sunblock from head to toe is not the answer.
Sunblock stops the sun’s ultra violet rays from creating Vitamin D in the body, which is essential for many functions such as: • bone health • anti-cancer • support to the immune system • protection against dementia and brain aging • loosing excess fat • decreasing symptoms of asthma • strengthening teeth We are making a whole generation Vitamin D deficient with fear of the sun. Ultra Violet light is just one frequency of light; there are eight others — infrared, and the seven spectrums of visible light. Each one has its own unique healing power!
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Here are 10 benefits of getting a moderate amount of sun exposure: 1. Sunlight and whole foods send breast cancer into remission. The American physician Dr. Zane Kime used sunbathing and nutrition to cure his patients. Even in terminal cases, Dr. Kime was able to completely reverse the metastasized cancer. 2. The sun’s light kills bad bacteria. The German solders after WWI knew of the discoveries that had been made in 1903 by the Nobel Prize winner, Niels Finsen. They used sunlight to disinfect and heal wounds. 3. Sunlight has a beneficial effect on skin disorders, such as psoriasis, acne, eczema and fungal infections of the skin. 4. Sunlight lowers cholesterol. The sun converts high cholesterol in the blood into steroid hormones and the sex hormones we need for reproduction. In the absence of sunlight, the opposite happens; substances convert to cholesterol. 5. The sun’s rays lower blood pressure. Even a single exposure significantly lowers blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. 6. Sunlight penetrates deep into the skin to cleanse the blood and blood vessels. Medical literature published in Europe showed that people with atherosclerosis (hardened arteries) improved with sun exposure. 7. Sunlight increases oxygen
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content in human blood. And, it also enhances the body’s capacity to deliver oxygen to the tissues; very similar to the effects of exercise. The sun has a great effect on stamina, fitness and muscular development. 8. Sunlight builds the immune system. The white blood cells, which increase with sun exposure, are called lymphocytes, and these play a major role in defending the body against infections. 9. Regular sunlight exposure increases the growth and height of children, especially babies. Many cultures throughout history have recognised this fact. Studies have shown the amount of sun exposure in the first few months has an effect on how tall the person grows. 10. Sunlight can cure depression. The noon sunshine can deliver 100,000 units of luminance (lut). When we sit in offices for the best part of the day, out of the sun, under neon and artificial lights (150-600 lux), we are depriving ourselves of the illumination of nature. Sunlight deprivation can cause a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression. It is more common in winter months, but also common in people who work long hours in office buildings. Exposure to the sun should be done SLOWLY! If you are not used to the sun, then your skin will be more sensitive to it. Avoid sunburn by building up your tolerance SLOWLY.
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Recipes for the Month GARDEN TAPAS
Ingredients: Firm tomatoes..........................................2 small English Cucumber pieces.............8 - ½ inch long Sprout Topping Moong sprouts........................................... ¼ cup Oil..................................................... ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds...................................... ¼ teaspoon Minced ginger.....................................1 teaspoon Black pepper.....................................1/8 teaspoon Salt................................................... ¼ teaspoon Lemon juice.........................................Few drops Water...............................................1 tablespoon
3. Cut tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds creating hollow bowls. 4. Take cucumber slices and scoop out the seeds, creating small bowls. 5. Fill all tomatoes and 4 cucumber slices with moong sprouts. 6. Fill the remaining 4 cucumber slices with cream cheese filling. 7. Serve and enjoy! How to make sprouts 1. Soak the whole moong for 10 to 12 hours. Water should be about four times more than the Moong. 2. After soaking moong, it will double in volume. 3. Drain the water and loosely wrap the beans with the muslin or cheesecloth. Store the soaked beans in a warm dark place. MUTHIA
Cream Cheese Topping Cream cheese................................. 2 tablespoons Minced ginger................................... ½ teaspoon Salt................................................... ¼ teaspoon Black pepper.............................................a pinch Finely chopped cilantro or dill............1 teaspoon
Ingredients:
Method: 1. Prepare Sprouts: In a small frying pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add cumin seeds and as they crack add sprouts, ginger, black pepper and water. Cook for 2-3 minutes until sprouts are tender. Remove pan from heat. Add lemon juice, stir and set aside. 2. Prepare cream cheese topping by mixing all the ingredients. Set aside.
For Muthia: Sugar.......................................................... ½ tsp Citric acid................................................... 1/8 tsp Bottlegourd, very fine shredded................ 4 cups Gram flour (basen)......................................1 cup Whole wheat flour........................................2 tbs Chopped fenugreek leaves...........................2 tbs (can be substituted with 2 tbs of dry fenugreek leaves or kastoori mathi) fenugreek can also be
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replaced with chopped cilantro (hara dhania) Chopped green chili (adjust to taste)................ 2 Cumin seed (jeera).......................................1 tsp Turmeric (haldi).......................................... ½ tsp Salt (adjust to taste).....................................1 tsp Oil.................................................................2 tbs For Seasoning and Garnish: Oil.................................................. 2 tablespoons Mustard seeds................................... ½ teaspoon Sesame seeds (til)............................1 tablespoon Red chili...................................................4 whole Chopped cilantro (hara dhania)...................2 tbs Method 1. Combine gram flour, whole wheat flour, fenugreek, cumin seed, turmeric, green chili, sugar, citric acid, oil, and salt in a bowl. 2. Add the shredded gourd to the flour mixture and mix well to make soft dough. Add water if needed . 3. Grease your fingers and divide the mixture into 14 pieces. Drop slowly onto the steamer and steam, covered, 18 to 20 minutes. Test by inserting a knife; blade should come out clean. 4. Let the muthias cool. Cut each one into two pieces off and then slice them in two pieces. Making Seasoning 1. Heat the oil in the frying pan over medium high heat. Add the mustard seeds. Once they crack, add the sesame seeds and red chili and stir-fry the mixture a few seconds. 2. Add muthias and stir-fry them for three to four minutes until they are light brown. Garnish them with chopped cilantro. 3. Serve them hot or at room temperature. ACHARI PANEER Ingredients Paneer, cut in ½ inch cubes..........................14oz Salt.....................................................1 teaspoon Turmeric (haldi)................................1/8 teaspoon Yogurt (dahi)............................................. ¼ cup
Olive oil......................................... 2 tablespoons Red chilies (Sabut lal mirch)....................4 whole Asafoetida (hing)......................................a pinch Nigella (onion seeds or kalonji)....... ¼ teaspoon Coriander seeds (dhania)................. 1 teaspoons Fenugreek seeds (mathi).................. ¼ teaspoon Black pepper..................................... ½ teaspoon Fennel seeds (saunf)........................ ½ teaspoon Baby spinach leaves (palak)................... 1 ½ cup Method 1. Mix paneer, yogurt, turmeric and salt. Set aside. 2. In a frying pan over medium heat, dry roast nigella, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, and black pepper for 1-2 minutes. Seeds will become darker in color and give off a beautiful aroma. 3. Crush the roasted seeds using a mortar or rolling pin. Set aside. 4. Add oil to the same pan, at low-medium heat. Roast red chilies till they turn a darker color. Remove from pan and break each one into 2-3 pieces. 5. Increase to medium heat; add asafetida, followed by paneer mixture. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes until most of the moisture has evaporated. Do not overcook the paneer as it will become dry. The yogurt should coat the paneer nicely so it remains moist. Turn off the heat. 6. Add all the dry spices and mix well. 7. Serve warm achari paneer over a bed of spinach leaves.
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