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Sri Chaitanya*:
T H E G R E AT M A S T E R SADHU VASWANI
Krishna became all to Chaitanya. He saw the One Light in all, and he blessed all, the Hindu and the Mussalman, the Brahmin and the outcast. In all temples and shrines and in all creatures, in man and bird and beast, Chaitanya saw his One Beloved. If the Master were with us in physical body, today, would he not say to us all: “All temples and all shrines meet at the one Gate of God?” This vision of the One Beloved in all filled, too, the hearts of Narottama and Raghunath, of Rupa and Sanatana, the hearts of all disciples of Chaitanya. What joy filled their daily work and worship! The joy flowed from a vision of Krishna. In joy they renounced their wealth to become humble servants of the Lord. Krishna’s vision, they said, was far more precious
than earthly kingdoms. “What is vice and what is virtue? We know not,” they said. “What we do know is: “Thy Lotus Feet, O Krishna, are the Holy Treasure of life.” Contd. on page 10
*March 18 is sacred as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Birth Anniversary.
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THE WOMAN SOUL SHALL LEAD US UPWARD, ON! DADA J. P. VASWANI
The man-made civilisation is today broken and bleeding. We can see that man has had his chance but masculine mentality has blundered. Now, woman must get her chance, for it is she who is called upon to build a new world. India and the world today, need the help and inspiration of the woman soul. Woman is the architect of the new generation. “The woman-soul has the shakti to rebuild the shattered world in the strength of her intuitions, her purity, her simplicity, her spiritual aspirations, her sympathy and
silent sacrifice. The womansoul will lead us upward, on!” said Sadhu Vaswani. He explained that the values the world needs most today are simplicity, service, prayer, purity and sacrifice. It is the woman, through her intuitive affinity to these values, who can transmit them for the new generation to imbibe. The woman is the symbol of Shakti. This shakti is not a physical force, but the power of integration. Woman is the centre of social integration. Woman is the builder of the home, the first centre where children's character is built.
*March 8 is observed as International Women’s Day.
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When the child's mind is still plastic, the mother influences it to grow in the right direction. Rightly has it been said, that if you educate a man, you educate an individual; education contributes to his individual growth; it becomes his ‘private property’, as it were. But, when you educate a woman, you educate the entire family! An educated woman, who becomes a wife and mother, contributes greatly to social development: • She makes the home a centre of light, peace and harmony. • She improves the quality of life at home, and also outside the home. • She imparts values and knowledge to her children, in their early, impressionable years. • She provides guidance and support to her children when they need it most. • An alert, aware, sensitive, educated mother is undoubtedly the best teacher any child can have. Many scholars and thinkers agree that lack of education has been the major obstacle on the path of women’s attainment of equality with men. Only a hundred years ago, women were confined to the home,
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and treated like second-class citizens, and denied access to higher education. Even upper-class families thought it sufficient to see their daughters’ ‘accomplishments’ like singing, dancing, music, painting, rather than offer them ‘education’ as we understand it. Thus, women played no role in politics and governance; women could not vote; women could not enter professions; women could not inherit property. How did they manage to break free from these severe constraints? Only through the power of education! Education is the key to the empowerment of women today. It gives them – • Self-worth • Self-respect • The power of choice • Decision making abilities • The power to change themselves and society As a mother, as a wife, as a binding force in the family and society, as a transmitter of values, as an upholder of culture and tradition, the woman is called upon to play multiple roles and functions in every stage, every age of human civilisation. It is this recognition of her onerous responsibilities that Indian tradition accords Contd. on page 23
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THE SAINT OF DAKSHINESHWAR* SADHU VASWANI
Rightly has Ramakrishna been called “Paramahansa”. The word means literally, the “swan supreme”. The “swan” separates milk from water. The milk is the Divine Spirit, the Atman: the water is maya. Ramakrishna separated “milk” from “water”: he drank in God — God only. He lived and moved and had his breath in God! In such Paramahansas — the great sages and seers of India — is India’s teaching of the Atman, the Spirit, enshrined.
In Ramakrishna, India gave the world a Teacher who showed that maya must not be shunned but conquered by the Spirit. Ramakrishna lived in the world, and he conquered maya by love. He recognised the claims of the body and the value of time. In him was a blend of the “time-sense” with the “sense of the Eternal”. He was born in February, 1836. He passed on in August, 1886. He was born in a village named Kamarpukar, near Jahanabad, in the Hooghly
*In the year 2022, according to the Hindu Calendar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa’s Birth Anniversary will be observed on March 4.
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district. He was cremated at the burning ghat, Baranagore, and a bael tree stands on the spot where the body of the Blessed One was burnt. His parents named him Gadadhar Chatterji. A Punjabi Vedantist, named Totapuri, gave him his new name — Ramakrishna. In a poor Brahmin family was he born. In an obscure village he lived: and he knew neither Sanskrit nor English. But this “uneducated villager” was of the race of the Buddhas, was of the illuminated Family of the prophets and rishis of Humanity. His life was rooted in meditation: and He passed, again and again, into ecstatic communion with the Highest. How often have I not looked at the picture of Sri Ramakrishna! How often have I not meditated upon him and his sayings! Some years ago, I saw Belur. I saw some of the things which Sri Ramakrishna had used and which his disciples have treasured. And gazing at the picture of the Saint, I said to myself: “I have seen the face of a child.” When they asked him, one day, to attend a religious meeting, well-dressed in dhoti and chaddar, his reply was characteristic. He said: “I can’t be dressed like a Babu!” Ramakrishna always wished to
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be, not a “civilised” Babu, but a simple child of God, whom he loved to call his “Mother”. When they asked Ramakrishna: “What is the difference between knowledge, knower and the object known?” He answered as a child: “I know not the niceties of learning: I do but know my Mother Divine and that I am Her son!” “Knowledge”, he pointed out, “has entry only to the outer court of God: but none may enter the inner Mysteries of God without bhakti or love.” Many came to him, asking him to be their Guru. He disclaimed the status of a Guru. He said he was not a Guru but a servant, a servant of all human beings. And he said further that Rama and Krishna and Buddha had breathed their breath in him. He said, too, that the grace of Kali, the Mother Divine, was upon him. The Mother was the Divine Spirit pouring blessings on all races, all religions, all prophets and saints, all teachers and seers of humanity. Ramakrishna’s lotus-face was a picture of peace and love. His love went out to all. He realised that God moved in every form. “Yes,” said Ramakrishna, “God manifests Himself alike in the sage and in the sinner.”
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Ramakrishna taught that all religions had a common, eternal destiny. Creeds and ceremonies, he pointed out, could not satisfy the seeker. Men would find God if they would learn to serve Him in humility and love. The essence of all religions was a Light common to all religions: they all bore witness to the One Brotherhood of
Humanity. Religion is life, said
Sri Chaitanya: The Great Master
Contd. from page 5
In the silence and solitude of Puri, Sri Chaitanya could be with Krishna, face to face. Who led Chaitanya to the new life rich in contemplation and silence, rich, too, in the service of the poor and lowly, if not Krishna Himself? At Puri, Chaitanya lived, year after year, gazing at the Face Divine and communing with Krishna, the Brother and Burden-bearer of all who travailed in agony and pain.
to the Eternal, a marriage of the soul with Krishna, a union with the Love that filled the heart with tremendous energy for the healing of the broken ones.
Filled with Krishna consciousness, Chaitanya served everyone, irrespective of caste or creed. As Jesus spake to Judas, so spake Chaitanya to robbers and criminals. It was a life of intense contemplation he lived at Puri: but his contemplation overflowed with a love that served and blessed all. He realised, like the truly great ones of Humanity, that spiritual life was, in its ascent
Ramakrishna. And the secret of life is love: the more you love others, the nearer you are to God. Why seek Him in buildings? See Him, touch Him, in Man! Different faiths are but different paths to reach the Supreme. Only be sincere!
At Puri, Chaitanya spoke, day and night, of Krishna, with eyes filled with tears. Chaitanya saw his Beloved in the cloud, the river and the tree. And how dear to Chaitanya was the tulsi. To him the tulsi was a symbol of the gopis of Vraja, the Blessed Realm of Vrindavana, the “Vana”, the “Forest” of Vrinda, the Woodland where Krishna had ravished the hearts of cowherds and milkmaids with His Song of the Flute Divine. The Holy Spirit poured on Chaitanya the benediction of the Eternal. And crying, “Krishna! Krishna!” Chaitanya followed the gleam, followed His Vision, followed His Beloved through forest and field.
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A Singer of theSpirit SADHU VASWANI SADHU VASWANI
Tukaram’s abhangas are spiritual lyrics: many of them are picture poems. Peasants and pilgrims sing them in Maharashtra. These little lyrics have reminded me of the parables and pictures of Jesus and of the little lyrics of Shah Latif, the poet-saint of my native land, Sind. In the abhangas, I hear the voice of the purest wisdom of India. In them, too, I hear a message which is in tune with the Voice of the New Age that is dawning. I submit a few of these abhangas interpreted, briefly, in English. Their beauty has ravished my heart. Thy ways, O God! are past understanding: Who can fathom them? * If thou wilt, indeed, live, Learn first to die *March 20 is sacred as Tukaram Jayanti.
* I see Thy Lotus-feet Here, there, everywhere! Not a grain of dust but Thou art there! Yet, O Lord of Life! I see That Thou art vaster than space And all the seas! * Whether thou be in sorrow or in joy, Have God within thy heart. Love not the world, Nor yet forsake its gifts In fear and hate. Offer thou thy life to God! To Him and in His Love Thy whole heart dedicate! * Love or bhakti is, perhaps, the deepest note in the teaching of Tukaram. Varkaris, who give a practical shape to the teaching of the Saints, show in their daily
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life and their worship the spirit of fellowship and love. They revere Vishnu: they revere Shiva, also; they revere Krishna: they revere Rama, also. I believe, a true Varkari sees the One Beloved Vithal in all scriptures, all religions, all countries, all races, all men, all creatures, aye, even in stones and streams, in flowers and stars. Tukaram realised that a spark of pure love was better than all work, all activities, all organisations, all institutions, all the things of the earth which the seers of India have expressed in the one word, prapancha (multiplicity). In words which I find it difficult to forget, Tukaram says in one of his abhangas: “The dedicated will drinketh love.” Love-intoxicated, indeed became Tukaram: Love intoxicated and, therefore, transformed to love itself. To him came a realisation of the truth which our world of noise and strife tramples upon, that Vithal the Beloved lives in the bhakta and the bhakta lives in the Beloved. The twain are one. In the bhakta, the Beloved flows on uninterruptedly. So Tukaram reached, as I believe every true bhakta may reach, God the Beloved, by the road of notknowing, the road of bhakti, of the love that hath no ending. Tukaram lived at a time when many places in Maharashtra were under the domination of Muslim powers. In Tukaram’s
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days travelled Muslim singers from village to village: they were called dervishes. They sang from door to door, asking for alms. Their songs were beautiful: but the singers themselves, while uttering the Name of Allah, hardly entered into the deeper spirit of Islam. The singers went from door to door, getting gifts from Hindu homes. Tukaram wrote for the benefit of those, who came under the influence of the Muslim singers, a number of abhangas in simple Hindi or Hindustani. Some of these lyrics are on the childhood of Krishna: some others are on Muslim singers. One of these lyrics is named “Dervish”. In this is revealed the very heart of Tukaram’s message and this translated into English, I am tempted to quote as I close: The Energy Eternal Is Allah — Supreme, Divine! And Allah moves the cow, And Allah moves the calf, And Allah moves the tiger, too. O Singer! O fakir! Speak thou to me Of the One Allah: who is He? He hath entered into All: He moves in many garbs: He shines in many forms. The man who knoweth Him — the One Allah In a million masks — He, verily, is a true fakir, A true dervish of God.
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THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLI SADHU VASWANI
The message of the Holi calls us to the new Life of Love. Without it the world would belong to armed brutes.
and love. Verily, the “Holi” marks a new turn in the cycle of seasons: and there is joy that day in Hindu homes.
The “Holi” festival is celebrated in different parts of India in honour of spring. With the return of spring is this festival observed every year. Again and again, has the feeling grown on me, that an Influence flows, a fragrance emanates from trees and stones, from streams and stars, on the Holi day. That day a new life moves on this ancient earth: the southern breeze blows beautifully, and the birds sing their new songs of hope
On that day was born a Prophet of Love – Sri Chaitanya. He was born in Nadia, still a seat of Sanskrit learning. Like Guru Nanak and Saint Kabir, Sri Chaitanya bore witness to Divine Love and out of him moved out influences which shaped the deeper life of Bengal and Orissa, of Bihar, Assam and the Deccan. Sri Chaitanya in and Sankara Dev in taught the Cult of or Devotion to
*In the year 2022, Holi will be celebrated on March 17.
Bengal Assam Bhakti Krishna
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and Radha. Sankara Dev’s Vaishnava movement, like Sri Chaitanya’s, was a protest at once against intellectualism and ceremonialism. Both Sri Chaitanya and Sankara Dev had a simple ceremonial consisting of devotion, hymns and prayers. The message of Sri Chaitanya and Sri Sankara Dev is, also, the message of Holi: it is the message of Divine Love – love for God and love for man. The coloured water poured on the Holi day is but a symbol of the Love which should flow out of our hearts to this broken, shattered world. Both Chaitanya and Sankara Dev rediscovered Krishna and Brindaban. Krishna was Love incarnate and Brindaban was the Shrine of Love. The message of the Holi calls us to the new Life of Love. Without it the world would belong to armed brutes. Under the influence of Chaitanya, processions of men moved through the streets, singing the Name of God, with flags flying and drums beating. Chaitanya called the processions, Nagarkirtan, praising the Name in processions moving through the town. What a joy filled their hearts as they sang the Name! They would sit together for hours, singing the Name of God with musical instruments.
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The kirtan, the hymns, the teaching of the Chaitanya movement, “die to self and win new life,” influenced the poetry of India’s beloved poet Rabindra Nath Tagore, and the thought and life of India’s beloved bhakta and preacher Sri Keshub Chandra Sen. Years ago, I read a saying of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya Dev: “Be like a Tree! The Tree giveth shade even to him who cutteth off the branches of the Tree.” The words have clung to my memory. When shall we listen to his message? When shall we be banded together into a loving Brotherhood? When shall we be like a “Tree?”
Holy! Holy! Holy is Thy name! Bless me that I may keep Thy Holy Name in my heart, And keep me pure in Thy presence every day!
— Sadhu Vaswani
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Laugh YOUR WAY
Starving after hours of driving nonstop, a husband and his wife pulled over at a truck stop. While he gassed up the car, the wife went into the restaurant and placed their order to go. After writing it all down, the girl behind the register asked, “Will that be all for you?” “No”, the wife replied a bit defensively. “Some of it’s for my husband.” *** Q: When do you go at red and stop at green? A: When you’re eating a watermelon. *** As a group of robbers entered the bank, their leader went to the manager and asked him to open the vault. He threatened the manager by saying, “If you try to do anything smart, you’re fiction.”
TO HEALTH
The manager was confused and asked him, “Don’t you mean ‘You are history’?” The robber angrily replied back, “Do not change the subject, okay?” *** Can bees fly in the rain? A: Not without their yellow jackets. *** Never criticise someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, they won’t be able to hear you from that far away. Plus, you’ll have their shoes. *** In my neighborhood, there was a couple who had given their twin sons very weird names. One was named Trouble, while the other boy’s name was Mind Your Own Business. So, one day they were playing hide and seek. Mind Your Own
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Business counted to a hundred and then started looking for his brother. But, somehow, he couldn’t find him anywhere. He saw a police car passing the neighborhood, so he stopped it to ask for help. When the police officer asked him for his name, he replied, “Mind Your Own Business!” Feeling insulted, the police officer still asked politely who he was looking for. Mind Your Own Business replied, “I am looking for Trouble!” *** What did one wall say to the other wall? “I’ll meet you at the corner.” *** Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars but checks when you say the paint is wet?
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However, there is no language in which a double positive can form a negative.” A voice from the back of the room piped up, “Yeah, right!” *** Q: Why do we tell actors to break a leg? A: Because every play has a cast. *** Guy: Where do you live? Girl: Indore, you? Guy: Mostly outdoor. *** Q: What is a witch’s favorite lesson at school? A: Spelling. *** How do two programmers make money?
***
One writes viruses, the other anti-viruses.
What do snowmen eat for lunch?
***
A: Icebergers. *** I once gave my husband the silent treatment for an entire week, at the end of which he declared, “Hey, we’re getting along pretty great lately!” *** A linguistics professor was lecturing in his English class one day. “In English,” he said, “a double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, a double negative is still a negative.
Q: Why do sharks swim in saltwater? A: Because pepper makes them sneeze!
water
*** Why couldn’t stand up by itself?
the
bicycle
It was two-tired. *** Teacher: I wish you had paid a little attention in class. Sachin: I am paying as little as I can, Miss.
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THE LORD GAVE: THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY! DADA J. P. VASWANI Early in the morning, Rabbi Meir left his home for school where a group of students eagerly awaited his coming. He spoke to them of the teaching enshrined in the Torah — of the Supreme Being whom the Jewish prophets adored as Yahweh, and of the path of penitence and prayer and service to fellow beings, treading which man achieved his redemption. The Rabbi had two sons as beautiful as they were bright. And he loved them as not many parents love their children. In his absence from home, something suddenly happened to his children and before anything could be done, their limbs become rigid and they dropped down dead. Their mother carried them gently to an inner apartment and spread over them a white sheet. When the Rabbi returned, he asked for his children. “They did not come to the school today,” he said. “I missed them ever so much.” The wife answered not. She placed food before him, saying: “You look tired after the day’s hard work. Refresh yourself.” The Rabbi was hungry and readily took the food placed
before him. “Where sons?” he asked again.
are
my
“They could not be far off,” the wife answered; after the Rabbi had finished his meals, she said to him: “I have a question to ask you.” “Ask what you will. But first tell me where have my sons gone today? I hear not their sparkling laughter: I see not their lovely faces!” And she said to him: “Some years ago, a person gave me two costly jewels for safe keeping. If he asks for them back, shall I hand them over to him?” Astounded, the Rabbi answered: “Should the wife of Rabbi Meir have any doubt in the
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matter? Go, wife, and without delay restore to another what belongeth to him.” “That is just as I thought,” she said to him. And then she led him to the inner apartment where their sons lay in the sleep of death. She removed the white sheet: and as the Rabbi saw the dead bodies of his dear children, a trembling seized him from head to foot and he loudly lamented: “Ah! My
sons! My sons! The light of my eyes! The hope of my life!” The mother’s eyes were flooded with tears as she looked into the face of her husband and said: “Did you not tell me just now that we should without delay restore to another what belongeth to him? The Lord gave: the Lord hath taken away! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”
The Woman Soul Shall Lead Us Upward, On!
a special value to the woman. The woman is a valuable link between the past, present and future. Quoting one of her conversations with her Guru and mentor, Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita writes: “He (Swami Vivekananda) could not foresee a Hindu woman of the future entirely without the old power of meditation. Modern science woman must learn; but not at the cost of ancient spirituality. He saw clearly enough that the ideal education would be that which would best enable every woman in time to come, to receive into herself the spiritual shakti and vitality of all the great Indian women of the past.” The land of Sita, the land of Gargi and Maitreyi, the home
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Contd. from page 7
of Andal and Mira must accord a special place for women to facilitate their spiritual and intellectual growth! Purity, prayer, simplicity, service, sacrifice, spirituality are not these innate qualities of the ideal Indian woman? Is she not at once a picture of peace, harmony, prosperity, courage and wisdom? Is she not Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati in one manifestation? Has it not been her privilege to attain the heights of love and compassion, devotion and piety, commitment and dedication to duty? Women always have, and always will occupy a special place in the home, in society, in human relationships and in moulding the generations of the future.
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A Mail From God Hi, As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday — but I noticed you were too busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work. I waited again. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy. At one point, you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip. I watched as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn’t bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn’t. That’s okay. There is still some more time left, and I have hope that you will talk to me yet, you went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don’t know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spent a lot of time each day in front of it, not thinking about anything — just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal but again you didn’t talk to me. Bedtime, I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family, you plopped into bed and fell
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asleep in no time. That’s okay because you may not realise that I am always there for you. I’ve got patience more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others, as well. I love you so much that I wait every day for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation. Well, you are getting up again and once again I will wait with nothing but love for you, hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day! Your friend, God
DECLARATION Statement about ownership and other particulars about the journal “East and West Series” (English) under (Rule, & form IV) Newspaper (Central) Rules, 1956. 1. Place of Publication: Gita Publishing House, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune 411 001. 2. Periodicity of Publication: Monthly. 3. Printer’s Name, Nationality, Address: (Ms.) Gulshan G. Dudani, Indian, at Print Impressions, 101, Raunaq Industrial Estate, 131/7B, Hadapsar Industrial Estate, Pune - 411 013. 4. Publisher’s Name, Nationality, Address: (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani, Indian, Gita Publishing House, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001. 5. Editor’s Name, Nationality, Address: Piya G. Uttam, Indian, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411001. 6. Name and Address of individuals who own the paper: Sadhu Vaswani Mission, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001. I, (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani, Member, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani (Signature of the Publisher)
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Children’s Corner
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RECIPES FOR THE MONTH Phew! Summers are here and how! Well one great thing about summers is we can have an abundant of options to choose from for our favourite ice-creams! But did you know, there are some healthier and wholesome drinks to keep your body cool? Here you go, try out our recipes for home-made drinks –
AAM PANHA Ingredients: Raw mango............................................................ 1 Jaggery / sugar..............................................¼ cup Water..............................................................½ cup Roasted cumin powder.....................................1 tsp Black salt..........................................................1 tsp Fresh mint leaves............................................¼ cup Ice cubes Method: 1. Wash, peel and grate the raw mango and transfer to a blender. 2. Make the sugar syrup with ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup water and let it cool completely. Alternatively, you can add powdered or liquid jaggery. 3. Once the sugar syrup has cooled down, make the Mango puree with roasted cumin powder, black salt and mint leaves and transfer to a jar. Check the seasoning and adjust accordingly. 4. To serve, add 2 to 3 tbsp of mango puree, sugar syrup, ice cubes in a glass and pour chilled water and beat the summer heat.
JAL JEERA Ingredients: Chilled water..................................................4 cups Cumin seeds....................................................1 tbsp Fresh coriander leaves....................................¼ cup Mint leaves.......................................................8-10 Lemon juice....................................................2 tbsp Amchur (dry mango powder)...........................1 tsp Black salt........................................................ ½ tsp
Boondi (fried gram flour balls)......................2 tbsp Salt...............................................................to taste Instructions: 1. Dry roast the cumin seeds till they start to change colour. 2. Grind together the mint leaves, coriander leaves, and cumin seeds with 2-3 tbsp water into a smooth paste. 3. Mix the ground paste, lemon juice, amchur, black salt, and regular salt into the chilled water. 4. Garnish with boondi.
KOKUM SHERBAT Ingredients: Dried kokum...................................................¼ cup Sugar..............................................................¾ cup Roasted cumin..................................................1 tsp Water..............................................................3 cups Instructions to make the concentrate: 1. Powder the roasted cumin. 2. Soak the Kokum in 1 Cup warm water for about 1 hour. 3. Grind the soaked Kokum along with the water it is soaked in. 4. Dissolve the sugar in 2 Cups water. 5. Mix the cumin powder, sugar syrup and Kokum extract. 6. Boil the mixed liquid for about 3 to 5 minutes. 7. Let it cool to room temperature. 8. Using a soup strainer or a fine cotton cloth,
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strain the liquid. (Discard the strained solids.) 9. Refrigerate the Kokum Sherbet concentrate in an airtight, sterilised bottle. Instructions to make 1 cup Sherbet: 1. Mix ¼ cup of cold concentrate with ¾ cup of cold water. 2. Add a pinch of black salt and/or ½ tsp lemon juice (if required). 3. Serve chilled.
KULUKKI SHERBAT Ingredients: Lemons squeezed (remove the seeds)................... 2 Honey.................................................... as required Basil seeds / Sabja............................................1 tsp Pineapple (finely chopped)..............................2 tsp Mint leaves crushed (optional).............................. 3 Water..............................................................2 cups Ice cubes (optional) Method: 1. Soak the dried basil seeds in a cup of water for about 10 minutes and then drain the water. 2. Mix all the other ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Pour this in a glass and add the basil seeds. Add a lemon slice and serve.
YOGHURT MATHA Ingredients: Sour Yogurt or Curd....................................... 250ml Cold Water..................................................... 750ml White sugar....................................................4 tbsp Small Lemon, halved............................................. 1 Salt................................................................. ½ tsp Ice cubes Method: 1. In a large mixing bowl or glass jar add the yogurt, sugar, and salt and beat well with a spoon until the sugar dissolves. 2. Pour in the water, squeeze in the lime, and add the ice cubes, stir in properly until frothy. 3. Put few lime wedges in tall mocktail glasses and pour in the prepared drink. Serve and enjoy. 4. If you wish to enjoy it later, then refrigerate in a jar, add the lime juice just before serving. (Adjust the sugar and salt as per your taste.)
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TETULER SHERBAT Ingredients: A small lemon size proportion of ripe Tamarind Water............................................................. 600ml Granulated Sugar...........................................3 tbsp Black Salt........................................................1/3 tsp Toasted Cumin seeds/Jeera, crushed (optional)..........................................1/3 tsp Ice Cubes Method: 1. Put the pulp in boiling water until soft. Let it cool down. 2. Skin and mash the pulp in a mesh strainer with bare hands to separate the seeds from the pulp. Strain the liquid. 3. In a glass jar add the ice cubes or crushed ice and pour in the strained tamarind water. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. 4. Pour and serve the chilled drink in tall mocktail glasses and enjoy.
PIYUSH Ingredients: Shrikhand........................................................1 cup Yoghurt....................................................... 1½ cups Milk..................................................................1 cup Sugar..................................................... as required Cardamom..........................................................2-3 Grated nutmeg............................................... ¼ tsp Pistachios............................................................6-7 Instructions: 1. First take the shrikhand, yogurt, milk, sugar, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder in a mixing bowl. 2. With a hand-held blender or a wired whisk or a madani (traditional hand held indian churner), just blend everything well till smooth and creamy. You can also blend in a jar in an electric blender. Keep the piyush in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours for it to get chilled. 3. Pour the chilled Piyush in glasses and top with pistachios or almond slices. 4. Serve immediately.
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SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH WAY TO MAINTAIN BALANCE – BALANCED DIET
A balanced diet supplies the nutrients your body needs to work effectively. Without balanced nutrition, your body is more prone to disease, infection, fatigue, and low performance. Eating healthy has many benefits. It boosts energy and puts the person in a good mood. Reduced risk of obesity, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Try to eat home-made food. Limiting your calorie intake is very important too. A balanced diet includes foods from five groups and fulfills all of a person’s nutritional needs. The 5-food group is as follows – • Vegetables • Fruits • Grains • Protein • Dairy
What is Balanced Diet? 1. Choosing a variety of foods from the different food groups – specifically: vegetables and fruits; protein, dairy, carbohydrates and a small quantity of healthy fats such as the unsaturated fat from olive oil. 2. Avoid sugary drinks and foods, and foods with added saturated fat like chips, pastries, and pies. 3. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and to help your body function better. 4. You should not skip any meal. Skipping meals lowers your metabolism. 5. Eating five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Benefits of balanced diet: 1. It prevents diseases and infections – When you eat the full range of vitamins, minerals
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and other nutrients you improve your immune system. Your healthy diet may even help prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. 2. Helps to control your weight – Most people at some point want to lose weight or gain weight, eating a balanced diet helps you control your weight and maintain it over time. A balanced diet is the only way to healthily control your weight in the long term. 3. Strengthens bones and teeth – A diet with adequate calcium and magnesium is crucial for strong bones and teeth. If you keep the bones healthy, it can minimize issues of bone later in life. 4. Improves your mental health – Eating the right mix of nutrients can help to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Looking after yourself by eating well is necessary as you take steps to good mental health. 5. Heart health – A wellbalanced diet rich in proteins, grains, vegetables and fruits helps reduce risk of heart diseases. It helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 6. Improved memory – A healthy diet may help to maintain cognition and good brain health.
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7. Better skin and hair – A balanced and healthy diet also improves your looks. Eating well contributes to healthy skin and hair. It gives you ‘glow’ that makes you look younger. 8. Meets nutritional need – A good balanced diet provides the nutrients that a body requires. It is healthy and improves the functioning of the body. 9. Good for growth – A balanced diet is crucial for children and adolescents because as they are growing kids, it is important for them to receive the right nutrients so that cells are built and maintained. 10. Helps digestive system function – A diet full of vegetables, grains and dairy boosts the functioning of the digestive system. Eating healthy keeps the digestive system healthy and away from gastral or other problems. Aim for around half your food to come from fruits and vegetables, around one quarter to be protein, and one quarter whole grains and starches. A varied and healthy diet is usually one that contains plenty of fresh, plant-based foods, and limits the intake of processed foods.