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Buddha*:
The Man Awakened SADHU VASWANI
The Vaisakhi Day is a day of sacred memory. This day, Gautama was born who became a Buddha. On the Vaisakhi Day, also, came to him the Illumination which makes him Immortal in history. And on the Vaisakhi Day, too, he left the mortal body and passed into the Supreme nibbana (Nirvana). He claimed for himself nothing supernatural. He vindicated the divine dignity and majesty of the true man. Gautama claimed to be a man, a simple truthful man. Gautama was so simple, so gracious! He was a true knight. He dared to renounce; he went upon the quest. “A man among the strong and brave, a man with purpose *May 26 is sacred as Buddha Poornima.
high and grave.” And on him the Light Divine was lavished: he bore the sacred sign: and multitudes came from many parts to hear the wisdom of his illuminated heart. Calm was he and clear of face and full of compassion for all the creatures. Today, after centuries, he gazes at us with the eyes of a God-man. Today he rules, more heroic than ever before. Flower-processions bow to him and invoke his blessings. Five continents pay him homage to-day. Buddha, the Man Awakened, is a witness to the New Man as he will be in the coming Age of ages. Buddha's teaching is fragrant with a healing message. From
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the Garden of the Buddha bani, I cull the following few flowers:
is freed from craving: whence can there come fear to him?
(1) No fire like that of lust (raga); no bliss (sukha) like the Peace Supreme (santiparam).
(8) Speak truth; abstain from anger and give, even if it be a little, to him who begs. These 3 will draw you nearer to the God.
(2) He who drinks deep of the Dhamma (dharma) has a serene mind and lives in joy everyday.
(9) The Sages who are without violence and who control their bodies, go to the Abode Ineffable and having gone there are freed from sorrow.
(3) A solid rock is not shaken by storm; and the truly wise are not affected by censure or praise.
(10) The worst of all stains is the stain of ignorance. Disciples wipe off that stain and become stain-less.
(4) The world is wrapt in darkness. Few there be who can see therein: few there by who, as birds escaped from the net, enter the Happy Realm.
A noble message this, nobly worded! The world needs it. For great is the world's sorrow.
(5) Refrain from evil; do good; keep the thought pure — this is the Doctrine of the Buddhas.
As a British poet says: Beloved, there is a sorrow in the world Too aged to remember its own birth A grey, old, weary and immortal sorrow.
(6) Patience is the greatest penance; long suffering is the highest nibbana; — so declare the Buddhas. He is not a true message-bearer who strikes another; he is not a true bhikkhu who harms another!
And the message of the Buddha if we will carry it into our daily lives will conquer sorrow. The message is for the healing of the Nations.
(7) From craving is born grief: from craving is fear's beginning. There is no sorrow for him who
You only lose what you cling to. ***
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another. – GAUTAM BUDDHA
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Change Your Life For The Better DADA J. P. VASWANI
In a world obsessed by negatives – strife, controversy, discord among nations, misunderstanding, hostility and conflict between people, tension, depression and frustration within individuals, I give you the message of optimism and faith that I have always believed in, ‘Happiness is your birthright, as a child of God.’ No, we cannot change circumstances at will; but we can change our attitude to circumstances. And I firmly believe: you are not a failure until you give up trying. You cannot be defeated, except from within. There is no insurmountable barrier except your own weakness. There is no problem that you and God cannot handle together. This, therefore, is one of the crucial choices you must make: cultivate the right attitude. Change your thinking and change your life.
You may ask: isn’t this a bit far-fetched? How can thinking change my life? How can it change the world around me, which is the cause of all my problems? David started smoking on the sly when he was fourteen years old. By the time he was twenty-five, he was smoking forty cigarettes a day. When his aunt, a cancer specialist, spoke to him earnestly and invited him to attend a lecture on ‘Smoking Kills,’ he decided to turn over a new leaf. He decided to quit smoking. It was not easy. But with tremendous will power and determination, he succeeded. It was barely two years since Vijay started working; a little over six months since his marriage. He ran up a credit card bill of twenty lakh rupees, including interest. His father-inlaw, a businessman, stepped in to save him from accumulating debt and dishonour. But his wife was so mortified she walked out
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of the marriage. Vijay underwent a course in mind control and with a marathon effort, broke out of the habit of compulsive spending. A year later, his life was back on track and he and his wife got back together after counselling. David and Vijay made lifechanging decisions after having made the wrong choice initially. ‘Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them,’ said Confucius. Positive thinking can work for you if you put your mind to it. Researchers in psychology tell us that on an average, the common man has around 60,000-90,000 thoughts passing through his mind every day: and out of these, more than ninetysix per cent of thoughts are the same ones you thought the day before! In other words, despite our continuous thinking, only four per cent per day are new thoughts. You keep thinking the same thing: well, I shall have a couple of cigarettes, and I will feel clearer in my mind. Or, I shall go out and buy something for myself and that will make me feel better. Or, I was born fat and I shall die fat; I’m unfit any way and it’s not going to be possible to lose all that weight; I might as well eat whatever I like. You think the same old tired thoughts; you start believing them yourself; you act on those beliefs and your life becomes troubled: excessive smoking/ excessive spending/ excessive
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weight. You need to avoid those deadly thought traps. Let me hasten to add: there’s hardly anyone among us who has not had to deal with negative thinking patterns at one time or another in our lives. Please do not make the mistake of imagining that you are the only one with such destructive thinking. Negative thinking comes to all normal people; only we have to learn to deal with it effectively. Let the negative thoughts perish! But don’t stop with putting the negatives out of your mind; replace them with positive thoughts. In the words of the Bible, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things…’ [Philippians 4:8] Thoughts are forces; thoughts can influence our actions and change our personalities; thoughts are the building blocks of our life. A thought, if it is constantly held in the mind, will drive us to action. An action, which is repeated, creates a habit. The sum total of our habits forms our character, which determines our destiny. Therefore, if we wish to change our destiny, we must begin with the thought. Change the pattern of your thinking – and you can change your life for the better!
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Tagore* – A Seer of Ancient Wisdom SADHU VASWANI
Rabindranath Tagore is greater than my weak words may tell. An English admirer calls him, “a Prince of India in the largest, greatest sense – a seer from the Realm of Ancient Wisdom!” Many years ago, when I was in Calcutta, he was called by his admirers, the “Shelley of Bengal.” I ventured then to call him a world-poet with a worldmessage. Some of his English admirers have compared him with Byron, in insight, in wisdom, in calm vision of the Beautiful. To me, Tagore is a Rishi of the artist-type. Compared to *May 8th is Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday.
him, said an English lady, we all appeared as savages! In this artist-rishi of modern India, the Wisdom of the East is blended beautifully with the Wisdom of the West. He has said more than once that his inspiration has come to him “from the Upanishads and from Bengal’s ‘Vaishnava’ poets.” But he has also drunk deep of the fountain of Occidental Culture. His vision of harmony of East and West is interpreted by him in his Hibbert lectures on ‘The Religion of Man’ and his lectures in Europe on ‘The meeting of East and West’ and ‘My Idea of Education’. My homage to him!
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That He Lived And Moved Amongst Us Was A Miracle! KRISHNA KUMARI Dada was a wonderful being who radiated pure and positive energy. His dynamic and spirited attitude, his tremendous enthusiasm and vitality ensured that there was never a dull moment for people in his presence. It was not that this energy required physical size or strength to express itself; it was felt in every step he took, his every movement, every action, every gesture. And this vibrant energy was infectious! His enthusiasm encouraged others to join him eagerly and gladly. His high spirits permeated entire gatherings and large audiences too. It gave a positive vibration, added a new verve and spark to the atmosphere. Indeed, the energy that radiated from Dada infused one and all with a positive attitude, one that did not accept defeat or failure. In March 2001, Dada visited an ashrama at Buckingham, Virginia, near Washington D.C. It was a three hour drive. On reaching the ashrama, he was immediately taken on an extensive tour of the ashrama, and he accompanied his escorts, animatedly asking questions and showing deep interest in
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every aspect. After a late lunch, he took a short nap, and woke up fresh and bright to address the Ashramites in a formal talk. The following day he had an appointment at 10 a.m. in Washington D.C. After dinner there was a discussion on the appropriate time to leave the next morning. Someone mentioned that there was ongoing road work on that highway, so there could be delays. Dada decided immediately that they should leave right away. Everyone was astonished! He had already been through a long drive. The rest of the day had been hectic. But his energy did not flap. He quickly bid farewell to his hosts, and rounding up the group who had come with him, he left. Every movement of his was purposeful; he was determined to keep his commitment the following day. The drive back, due to the road work, was horrendous, but his energy did not wane. The drive took five hours instead of three, but Dada remained wideeyed and alert. By the time we reached, everyone in the group were utterly fatigued. Dada quietly went to bed. In a few hours he had woken up fresh, ready to keep his appointment punctually. This energy was truly indefatigable. It was beyond just the physical. Once, Dada was on a yatra across the drought-prone, arid
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regions of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The small town of Kutiyana was his next stop after his visit to Junagadh. Dada was taken by road to the town, and he was received with much fanfare as soon his car entered the city limits. Hundreds upon hundreds of devotees had gathered together to give him a warm welcome; a band of musicians had been brought in, and enthusiastic devotees began dancing energetically, the dancers and the bandsmen and the onlookers forming a veritable procession to usher their beloved Dada into town! Dada dismounted from the car and greeted the devotees warmly. While the devotees and the band were dancing merrily and arranging themselves to form a guard of honour to escort Dada to the city, Dada too had a surprise up his sleeve. He astonished them all by quickly walking through the crowd, right through the procession. It was an amusing sight to see the procession run behind him to catch up with his brisk pace as he moved through the streets and walked unassumingly to the abode of his hosts. Dada’s humility was such that he always did his best to deflect attention from himself. He was so unassuming, that he did his best to be inconspicuous, if it was possible! He was once invited to be a Chief Speaker at a Symposium where several other renowned
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speakers had been invited to express and share their views. Chairs were placed on the stage where the dignitaries were to be seated. On their name being called each one of them would approach the podium and address the packed auditorium. Upon his entry, Dada was taken to the stage and respectfully led to the centre of the first row and asked to take the seat. Reluctantly Dada took the seat allocated to him. Soon the other dignitaries began trickling in and the chairs on the stage began to fill up. A dignitary walked up to the first row and was disappointed to see that all the seats had been taken. Seeing this, Dada immediately got up and said, “I have been keeping this seat just for you. Please come and be seated.” Seeing Dada's simple attire and unassuming demeanor, the gentleman gladly accepted Dada's offer. Dada found an empty seat in the corner of the last row and comfortably ensconced himself there. Imagine the horror of the gentleman when the Chief Guest’s name was announced and Dada approached the podium. There was not even an iota of showmanship, pride or self-glory in Dada. He believed in leading a simple and a hidden life. Dada's life was one of prayer. Every act of his was an offering to God and to his Guru. He believed that the solution to
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every problem lay in prayer. The strength to overcome difficulties lay in prayer. Prayer alone brings us closer to our Creator. For him, prayer did not mean long and complicated chants or mantras. Dada’s prayer was simple, ordinary, loving, conversation with God. For Dada, God was a loved one, a dear friend, someone with whom he communicated constantly; and that communication was a prayer. Before any action, Dada would pray. He would pray before eating his food, before starting a meeting; before leaving the campus he would pray at the Sacred Samadhi, and upon returning, offer another prayer to His Master. Dada just loved to pray all the time, for each prayer was an opportunity for him to converse with God. Dada's approach to the most complicated of problems was as simple as it could be. His solutions made us wonder how we did not think of something so easy. His perception of things was so different. We usually tend to perceive difficulties and hindrances, but he only saw solutions. He never thought “I cannot,” instead his thoughts were focused on "How best can I do this?” or "Let us do this.” He would always say to us "Live only for God.” This constant awareness of God's presence placed an everpresent smile on his face. In pleasure or in pain, in comforts
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or hardships, in health or illness, his smile never deserted him, because he believed God never deserted him. Hence, his joy was effervescent, his laughter ever bubbled, his eyes always twinkled. His happiness emerged from the deep fount within him, so it was eversparkling! On one of his birthdays, it began to pour heavily in the morning. The devotees were disappointed and worried about how the huge crowd of people would be able to attend the function and the satsang. The volunteers who had made all arrangements to receive the crowds were disheartened. “It’s going to be a wash-out!” they whispered. Some of them expressed their disappointment to Dada; but all the response they received was his enigmatic smile. But, lo and behold! It was not the function, but their worry and despair that were washed out completely! Just an hour prior to the start of the satsang the rain stopped completely; everything was bright and sparkling; the sun shone bright and clear, and the environment was green and clean. Once the programme was over and the people had safely reached home, the rain resumed in full force nourishing the earth with much needed waters. His life itself was a miracle, coloured in faith and grace. With him the impossible became possible, but he never took any credit for it. Around
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him miracles occurred even in the small, day-to-day incidents of life, leave aside the major issues. The frequent recovery from illness or safety from accidents of those who were under the canopy of his prayers and blessings are innumerable. Once, on a visit to New York, Dada was taking his daily walk at the Fort Lee Historical Park. A few devotees joined him, eager to be in his presence and share his vibrations and keen to soak in his vitality. A curious American, who had been a spectator to all of this, was intrigued. “Excuse me,” he said to one of the devotees, “could you please tell me who is the gentleman you are all following so respectfully?” “This is our revered Guru, who is visiting from India,” replied the devotee. “Oh, I see,” said the stranger. “He is a money-Guru, isn’t he? Someone who comes all the way from India and charges money for you to meet him and talk to him?” “No!” they told him firmly, “Dada does not ask for money. In fact, all his programmes and discourses carry no charge and are open to all. There is no entry fee and everyone is welcome to attend.” “Well, then he must be a magic-Guru,” persisted the skeptical stranger. “One who performs magic on stage.” “My dear friend,” replied one of the devotees patiently.
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Sita* –
A STAR AMONG WOMEN DADA J. P. VASWANI
Sita is the epitome of the ideal Indian woman, as daughter, as wife and as mother. As the wife of Sri Rama, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, she is an aspect of His Divine Consort, Lakshmi. But this does not mean she is superhuman, and therefore, an impractical, unachievable role model for us. One of the striking features of Sri Rama Avatara was that the Lord subjected Himself and His wife to human limitations, human obligations, human restrictions and adversities – and still upheld the highest morals and virtues, against all odds. Sita therefore, is an outstanding example of virtue, fortitude, forbearance and inner strength. Daughter of a great King, Janaka, Sita was married to a prince and was expected to become, in her turn, a great queen. But Divine Will ordained it otherwise – just as it does to other mortals. When her husband voluntarily took up *May 21 is sacred Sita Navami Day.
exile from his father’s kingdom, Sita followed him to vanvaas (life in the forest) for fourteen years. She could have chosen to stay behind – but she believed that a wife’s rightful place was beside her husband – a splendid gesture in favour of the sanctity of the marriage bond. The young couple’s sojourn in the forest was austere, simple and devoid of all luxury – but it was, nevertheless, idyllic and blissfully serene, until the unthinkable happened, and Sita was abducted by the demon, Ravana. What ensued was utter misery for the couple – Sita’s incarceration, isolation and enforced separation from her husband. Sita survived it, and it was testimony to her fortitude, her patience and her undying faith. Many modern scholars and critics regard Sita as a symbol of the subjugation and degradation of women: their argument is
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Little Flowers SADHU VASWANI
What was the secret of Radha’s beauty ? She felt the need of Krishna, He asked not for saintline but for love. The light of the Lord shines in them that seek after Him, and are restless until they find their rest at His Lotus Feet.
To a young man, who asked why he should be pure and not pursue pleasure, I said: “Thou art a picture of the Lord. His painting. Disfigure it not by impurity. To be pure is to reflect the beauty of the Picture which God hath printed in thee!”
***
***
Einstein’s theory of “relativity” states that if matter be destroyed, there will be evolution of energy. Your spiritual evolution demands de-materialisation. Its other name is brahmacharya. By brahmacharya a man’s body is so disciplined and purified that it radiates a spiritual energy. *** In temples the Lord is worshipped with vessels bright with light. This worship is named arati. I worship the Lord with the arati of aspiration. It is the light I hold in the vessel of my heart. ***
If we be, indeed, of God, they asked: how is it we retain no recollection? And I said: “The greased mirror cannot reflect aright. So the mind, clouded by desires and passions, obscures reflection of the Great Memory, lying within the soul.” *** I watched the fire and burnt in it paper-bits. You talk of your “sacrifices”, you say you have renounced money, titles, career, comforts for the sake of God. How mistaken are you! All your sacrifices, so-called are but little paper-bits thrown into the fire of the Spirit. You have not learnt so much as the A. B. C. of spiritual life until you have realised God as the Consuming Fire.
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Laugh Your Way To Health Rahul: I have the perfect son. Raj: Does he smoke? Rahul: No, he doesn’t. Raj: Does he drink whiskey? Rahul: No, he doesn’t. Raj: Does he ever come home late? Rahul: No, he doesn’t. Raj: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he? Rahul: He will be six months old next Wednesday. *** Teacher: Why are you late? Student: There was a man who lost a hundred-rupee note. Teacher: That’s nice. Were you helping him look for it? Student: No. I was standing on it. *** Interviewer: Do you have trouble making decisions? Candidate: Well...yes and no. *** There were three turtles who were friends. One day they decided to go on a picnic. When they got there, they realised that they had forgotten the soda. The youngest turtle said, he would go home and get it if they wouldn’t eat the sandwiches until he got back. A week
went by, then a month, finally a year, when the two turtles said, “Come on, let’s eat the sandwiches.” Suddenly the little turtle popped up from behind a rock and said, “If you do, I won’t go!” *** Two factory workers were talking. The woman said, “I can make the boss give me the day off.” The man asked, “And how would you do that?” Woman: “Just wait and see.” She then hung upside-down from the ceiling. The boss came in and asked, “What are you doing?” Woman: I’m a light bulb. Boss: You’ve been working so much that you’ve gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off. The man started following her and the boss asked, “Where are you going?” Man: I’m going home, too. I can’t work in the dark.
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*** In a company, the printer was broken, and no one could figure out whose fault it was. After arguing back and forth, the supervisor took charge. “Look,” he said, “we really don’t need to determine who is responsible for this mess. We just want someone to take the blame.” *** A man was in a couple’s home trying to fix their Internet connection. The husband called out to his wife in the other room for the computer password. “Start with a capital S, then 123,” she shouted back. They tried S123 several times, but it didn’t work. So they called the wife in. As she input the password, she muttered, “I really don’t know what’s so difficult about typing Start123.” *** At the age of 55, Vivek got his bachelor’s degree and set out to become a substitute teacher. One day, a seventh grader asked if he’d been teaching long. “Actually, I’m brandnew,” Vivek told him. “I just graduated.” Looking him up and down, the boy asked, “How long were you in college?” *** Ramu was alone in an elevator when a girl stepped in with a phone pressed to her
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ear. “I have to go,” she told the person on the other end. “There’s a cute guy standing here.” Before he could react, she turned to him and said, “Sorry for lying. I just wanted to end that conversation.” *** Why do dragons sleep during the day? So, they can fight knights! *** What kind of keys are sweet? Cookies! *** Why is a football stadium always cold? Because it has lots of fans. *** Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Tank. Tank who? You’re welcome. *** I keep hearing music coming from the printer. I think the paper is jamming. *** What falls in winter but never gets hurt? Snow. *** A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did. *** What is always ahead of you but can’t be seen? The Future.
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Children’s Corner WHO IS HE? Find out by joining the dots.
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BODY PARTS CROSSWORD
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RECIPES FOR THE MONTH
CRISPY CORN
Ingredients: For Boiling: Water..............................................................4 cups Salt...................................................................1 tsp Sweet corn......................................................2 cups For Frying: Corn flour.......................................................¼ cup Rice flour........................................................¼ cup Maida / plain flour.........................................1 tbsp Pepper powder............................................... ¼ tsp Salt................................................................. ¼ tsp Oil............................................................. for frying For Masala: Red chilli powder............................................ ½ tsp Cumin powder................................................ ¼ tsp Aamchur......................................................... ½ tsp Salt................................................................. ¼ tsp Finely chopped onion.....................................2 tbsp Finely chopped capsicum................................2 tbsp Finely chopped coriander...............................2 tbsp Method: 1. Boil water and salt in a large vessel. 2. Once the water starts boiling, add the corn and boil for another minute. 3. Drain the corn to remove excess water. 4. Add corn flour, rice flour, maida, pepper powder, and salt. Coat well. 5. Sieve the mixture to remove excess flour. 6. Deep fry the coated corn in hot oil, until it turns golden brown. 7. Transfer the fried corn into a large bowl. 8. Add chilli powder, cumin powder, aamchur and salt. Mix well. 9. Add onion, capsicum and coriander. Mix well. 10. Serve with tomato sauce.
MANGO MOUSSE For Mango Cream: Mango cubes................................................1 ½ cup Whipping cream..........................................1 ½ cup Powdered sugar..............................................¼ cup For Garnishing: Mango (cubed)...................................................... 1 Mango pulp....................................................¼ cup Tutti frutti........................................................2 tbsp Cherries................................................................. 6 Method: 1. Take the mango cubes and blend them into a smooth paste. 2. In a large bowl, take whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat at a low speed with a beater or whisk until the cream turns stiff peaks. 3. Add the mango paste to the cream and mix. 4. In a small cup, add some chopped mango. 5. Add a layer of mango cream to it. 6. Add a spoonful of mango pulp. 7. Refrigerate until it sets. 8. Garnish with tutti frutti and cherries. Serve chilled.
BREAD CHAAT Ingredients: Bread slices.........................................................6-8 Potato (boiled and peeled)................................... 1 Onion (finely chopped).......................................... 1 Tomato (finely chopped)........................................ 1 Red chilli powder................................for sprinkling
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Chaat masala......................................for sprinkling Salt.....................................................for sprinkling Sweet chutney........................................ as required Green chutney....................................... as required Butter..................................................... as required Sev......................................................... for topping Method: 1. Heat a non-stick pan. Toast bread slices until they are lightly crisp. 2. Remove them from the heat and cut them into round shapes. 3. Now toast the round shaped bread until it is golden and crisp. Remove from the heat and keep aside. 4. Spread some butter on the toasted round bread and place them on a serving plate. 5. Slice the potato into rounds and place one slice on each round bread. 6. Sprinkle some chilli powder, chaat masala and salt on top. 7. Put some chopped onion, chopped tomato and sprinkle some more chilli powder, chaat masala and salt on top. 8. Top it with sweet chutney, green chutney and sev.
GULAB JAMUN CUSTARD WITH JAMUN CREAM Ingredients: Gulab jamuns (small).....................................30-35 Vanilla custard powder...................................3 tbsp Kala jamun pulp..............................................1 cup Kala jamuns........................................................2-3 Whipped cream...............................................2 tbsp Sugar..............................................................¼ cup Milk............................................................... 300 ml Method: 1. Heat ¾ cup water in a non-stick pan. Add sugar. 2. Pour milk in a bowl, add custard powder, and whisk until smooth. Add it to the sugar in the pan and mix well. Stir continuously until it thickens. 3. Add gulab jamuns and mix well. Pour into a bowl and let it cool slightly. 4. Pour into 4 small glass serving cups and keep in the refrigerator to chill. 5. Heat another non-stick pan. Add 2 tbsp sugar
6. 7. 8. 9.
10.
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and kala jamun pulp and mix well. Cook until well-blended and the consistency is slightly thick. Transfer this into another bowl, let it cool to room temperature and chill in the refrigerator. Slice the kala jamuns and discard the seeds. Take the custard cups and kala jamun pulp mixture out of the refrigerator. Add whipped cream to the kala jamun pulp and mix well. Put it into a pipping bag fitted with a star nozzle and pipe over the custard in the glass cups. Garnish with the kala jamun slices and serve immediately.
CHILLI GARLIC FRIES Ingredients: Potatoes................................................................. 8 Chopped garlic................................................3 tbsp Refined oil.......................................................1 cup Water..................................................... as required Chilli powder....................................................1 tsp Salt................................................................. ½ tsp Butter..............................................................2 tbsp Method: 1. Wash and clean the potatoes. Chop them into long vertical slices and keep them aside. 2. Keep a deep-bottomed pan on medium flame and add water in it. Add the chopped potatoes followed by salt in the water. Allow the potatoes to be parboiled. Once it is done, drain the water and keep the potatoes aside. 3. In a non-stick pan, add butter and heat it on medium flame. Once the butter melts, add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute. Turn off the flame and transfer the mixture into a mixing bowl. 4. In a deep-bottomed pan, heat refined oil on medium heat. Add the parboiled potatoes slices in the oil and deep fry them until they get crispy in texture and golden brown in colour. Transfer them on a tissue to remove excess oil. 5. Then add the deep fried potatoes to the prepared garlic mixture. Mix well and sprinkle chilli powder over it. Mix again until the fries get completely coated with the mixture. 6. Serve hot!
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SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH GLOWING SKIN, CONFIDENT YOU!
With hectic schedules, irregular eating habits, inadequate sleep, pollution, and pandemics to deal with, having a glowing skin is the least of our concerns. However, it is necessary that we take care of it and keep rejuvenating it, from time to time. With a variety of skin products that promise a flawless skin, here are some of nature’s secret ingredients that will help ensure a glowing skin. After all, a glowing and healthy skin reflects the confidence that is needed in this age of everincreasing competition. 1. Turmeric This spice, found in every Indian household, is packed with anti-bacterial properties,
powerful antioxidants, and antiinflammatory agents. It not only helps in achieving a wonderful glow but also helps in keeping the skin rejuvenated and keeping dull skin at bay. Along with eliminating skin damaging free radicals, Turmeric boosts collagen production that helps in keeping the skin, supple and fresh. How to use turmeric for your skin: Mix about half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a cup of gram flour (chickpea flour). Add enough milk/water and mix well to form a smooth paste. Now, add a few drops of rose water and mix again. Apply this paste on your face and neck and leave on till it dries. Then, rinse with
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cool water. 2. Honey Also known as ‘nature’s nectar,’ Honey is a great moisturizer and keeps the skin well-hydrated. Its anti-bacterial properties keep infections away and reduce blemishes and acne. It also acts in fading of pigmentation and scars. How to use honey for your skin: You can directly apply honey on your face and neck area but ensure that your skin is clean and damp. Massage for a few minutes, allowing it to get absorbed by the skin. Now, wash off with lukewarm water. 3. Orange Juice Filled with Vitamin C, Oranges help in detoxification. A glass of orange juice daily, helps in cleaning the complexion and rejuvenation of the skin. It also controls acne and gives firmness to the skin. How To Use Orange Juice for your Skin: So, make it a regular practice to squeeze a few oranges each morning. Add a pinch of salt and some black pepper to this freshly made juice and gulp it down along with other regular breakfast items. Alternatively, you can also
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take a few pieces of orange peel and grind it with a few drops of rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste all over your face and rinse after 15 minutes with cool water. 4. Milk One of the easily available commodities, Milk promotes a glowing skin by controlling the levels of Tyrosine, the hormone that leads to darkening of the skin. How To Use Milk for your Skin: You can apply raw milk to your skin or mix it with any other ingredients and form a paste. 5. Besan A must-have when it comes to natural skincare products, Besan acts as a natural exfoliator and removes dead skin. How To Use Besan for your Skin:
Besan is used by mixing it with water, milk, or any other ingredients. It is applied like a pack on the skin. 6. Cucumber A naturally hydrating agent in summers, Cucumber has the same pH as that of our skin. It helps in restoring the skin’s protective layer and keeps it hydrated.
MAY 2021
EAST AND WEST SERIES
How To Use Cucumber for your Skin: You can put slices of cucumber on your eyes. You can also put cucumber in a mixer grinder and apply the juice. 7. Papaya Papaya has papain, which works for both, the liver, and the skin. It can lighten blemishes and scars. It also acts as a gentle exfoliator and removes inactive and dead skin cells. It makes the skin look young and beautiful. How To Use Papaya for your Skin: Papaya can be put in a mixer grinder and the paste can be applied generously on the skin. 8. Aloe Vera Rich in vitamins and antioxidants that are good for the skin, Aloe Vera keeps the skin glowing and soft. It prevents acne, helps in faster healing of sunburns, keeps skin hydrated, and prevents the development of wrinkles. How To Use Aloe Vera for your Skin: You can make aloe vera juice at home or add aloe vera gel to smoothies and other drinks. It can also be applied directly on the skin. Gently scrape out aloe gel from the leaves and
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apply on your skin. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse your skin with cool water and pat dry. 9. Coconut Oil Another typical ingredient found in almost every Indian household, Coconut oil acts as a moisturizer, cleanser and sunscreen. How To Use Coconut Oil for your Skin: Regular massage with lukewarm coconut oil keeps our skin glowing and healthy. 10. Bananas Packed with potassium, vitamins A and B, Bananas hydrate and moisturize your skin. They have anti-ageing effects and are great for treating acne and pimples. How To Use Banana for your Skin: Mash a banana, apply on your skin and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wash with lukewarm water. You can also make a facemask using 1 ripe banana, 1 tsp honey and lemon juice. Banana peels also help in lightening our skin tone and dark circles. Gently rub banana peels on your skin. Leave for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash with water. Pat dry.