DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
5
Jesus*: The Poor “Rich” One SADHU VASWANI What a figure of undimmed beauty! He is radiant in the Buddha. He is glorified in Nanak. He shineth in Krishna. The dearest name to Krishna was “Daridra Narayana”, the “Lover of the poor”. And Jesus dearly loved to be called “O poor one!” To his disciples Jesus said: “Love the poor if you will love me truly.” One day, he struck the ground and picked up dust. And, behold! in one of his
*December 25 is the Holy Christmas Day.
hands, appeared gold and in the other clay. Then, turning to his disciples, he asked: “Which of the two is sweeter to your hearts?”
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
And they said: “Gold!” But Jesus said: “Both are alike to me!” A rare spirit in history, his life was love and his crown was meekness. He claimed to be not a “leader” but a “servant”. He taught that the kingdom of God cometh by love and lowliness of mind. In this Kingdom of the Spirit are not the worshippers of wealth, not the proud of power, not the lover of tumults and shouts, but the poor in spirit, the meek and humble, the cross-bearers who through renunciation and suffering attain to the New Life. “And who,” they asked him, “is the nearest to God?” And he said: “He whose silence is meditation, whose speech is ever about God and the Saints and whose look is a tear.” “By what sign,” they asked him, “may we know that we are from you?” He said: “This one only sign that ye love one another.” And, one day, they asked him: “Who among men is truly wise?” And he said: “Not he who talks wisely but he who acts wisely.” A disciple asked him: “I seek an advice at your feet.” He said: “Always consider where your bread comes from.” He spoke not much. He was a picture of silence. But whenever he opened his lips to speak, his one word was: “Give! Give!” On one occasion, he said to his disciples: “If ever you send away a beggar empty from your
6
house, the angels will not visit your house again for seven days.” “I have nothing at night,” he said on another occasion, “and I have nothing in the morning. Yet there is none on earth richer than I!” Not without reason would the multitudes, on seeing him, collect round him and gaze at him, unable to take their eyes off his gracious figure. A great English writer, Charles Kingsley, summed up the life of Jesus in a few simple words: “Jesus, the poor man who died for poor men!” He poured the love of his heart on the poor. In them he beheld the beauty of God and exclaimed: “The whole world is full of God!” In them he beheld the deep humility of God. When alone and in the depths of silence, I have, me-thinks, seen the Face of Christ in the village-folk and on the mountain heights, on river-banks, and in the little ones. And I have communed with Him in the cottages of the poor and lowly. And sometimes, methinks, I have seen Him coming down from the heights and wiping the poor men’s perspiration from their brows. In little acts of kindness, in little deeds of love, in the seemingly “un-spiritual” things, the common duties of life, I received His benedictions. And when I asked him: “How may I bear witness to Thee in daily life?” methinks, I heard Him say: “Serve the poor with tears in your eyes!”
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
THE SECRET OF THE MILLION-DOLLAR
J. P. VASWANI
Q
UESTION: Dada, there is always this the secret of the milliondollar smile on your face. What is the secret? ANSWER: The secret is a simple one. Seek to live as a little child: a child who knows that its mother is near and it has naught to fear. No mother would wish to bring her child to harm. And so, in everything that happens, in every incident and accident, every illness and adversity, there is a meaning of the Divine Mother's mercy. She is All-Love and All-Wisdom. She is too loving to punish, too wise to make a mistake. And so nothing can ever go wrong. All is well, as all was well and will ever be well, both tomorrow and a hundred years hence. The person who believes in this, will always continue to smile the smile of bliss. The secret of the care-free life is, walk with God today, and trust Him for the morrow! Of course, it is the Divine Mother's grace that holds us. We shall continue to smile only as long as Her grace holds us, upholds us. If She were to withdraw Her grace even for a moment, we would crash and be broken into bits.
7
My Beloved Master, Sadhu Vaswani always had a radiant smile on his lips. When they asked him the reason, he said: “I have a Friend. He protects me. He guards me in illness. He blesses me everyday. And He stretches forth His Arms of Love to enfold me in silence and darkness of the night. He is your Friend, too. Indeed, He is the Friend of friends!” Sadhu Vaswani's smile was the smile of one who felt the joy of God's presence all the time. It is a joy which is open to each one of us. Each one of us can become a smilemillionaire. QUESTION: Why is it that we cannot smile all the time? ANSWER: It is because we are afflicted with the disease of desire that we are unable to smile all the while. When our desires are fulfilled, we smile. When our desires are crossed, we feel miserable and unhappy. When we are in a neutral state, neither happy nor unhappy, we feel bored. It is only when we transcend these three states that we are filled with peace—the peace that passeth, surpasseth understanding. QUESTION: What may a man do to have that million-dollar smile all the time? ANSWER: When the heart of man is filled with the love of God and love of the suffering children of God, his face always wears a divine smile. Such a man carries the joy and peace of God, wherever he goes.
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
14
The Law of Karma J. P. VASWANI If only we lived in the thought that God is watching us, exploitation, social injustice and mal-administration would be completely eradicated from the country. Sometime ago, I visited a sick woman. She is not learned in the lore of books. She had severe backache, excruciating pain at the base of the spine. She could neither sit nor stand, neither bend nor walk. Despite it all, there was a smile on her face as she said to me: “I must have done something, during one of my earlier births to deserve this condition. Perhaps, I have beaten someone on the back with a stick. God, save me from doing any evil in this birth.” This is the prayer of everyone who believes in the law of karma: “God save me from doing any evil!” And if this becomes the prayer of every man and woman in India, this ancient unhappy land will become new and India will shine once again, the splendour of the new morning sun. The root of exploitation, social injustice and mal-administration is in the thought: I will get away with it! Once I know that in this open universe I cannot get away with anything, I shall be careful to see that there is no evil in my thoughts and actions. I do an evil deed in the dark of the night, I say to myself: “No one saw it: I shall get away with
it!” The law of karma tells me: It is true, no one saw it. But the seed has entered the field of life. The field of life has registered it. And one day or the other, today, tomorrow or in a distant future, out of the seed will grow a tree whose fruit will have to be eaten by you! Therefore, beware! Take care! Live and move and do your daily work in the ever-living presence of God! This was the teaching that was given to every student in ancient India. There is an oftrepeated story of a guru and two disciples who came to him seeking admission to the ashrama. The guru gives them a simple test. He passes on a coconut to each one of them and instructs them to break the coconut where no one may see them, and return with the broken pieces. One of the students enters a dark and solitary cave and, finding no one watching, breaks the coconut and within no time, returns with the pieces to the guru. The other student returns only after sunset and that, too, with the coconut intact. His friend says to him: “Why did you not accompany me? There were so many caves. I entered one of them.
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
You could have entered another and broken the coconut. Nobody would have seen you.” At this, the other friend replied: “I entered cave after cave, but wherever I went, just as I was about to break the coconut, I found that He was watching me, God was watching me! There was not a nook or a corner, where God was not!” How many of us live in this consciousness? This is an ancient interpretation of an ancient, eternal law. But how many live up to it? The students of the St. Mira’s Primary School recite a beautiful song in their sanctuary almost everyday: Be careful little eyes what you see. There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little eyes what you see! Be careful little ears what you hear: There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little ears what you hear! Be careful little tongue what you speak : There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little tongue what you speak! Be careful little hands what you do: There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little hands what you do!
15
Be careful little feet where you go: There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little feet where you go! Be careful little mind what you think: There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little mind what you think! Be careful little heart what you feel: There’s a Father up above, Watching you in love, So be careful little heart what you feel! If only we lived in the thought that God is watching us, exploitation, social injustice and mal-administration would be completely eradicated from the country. Let me relate to you an incident from the life of a judge. He was an honest and God-fearing man. One day, he was offered a bribe of two hundred thousand rupees. It was a large amount and he succumbed to the temptation. However, his conscience kept pricking him all the time. It kept saying to him: “You have sold your soul for a mere two hundred thousand rupees!” Finally, unable to quieten his conscience, he went to the rich man’s house and returned the entire amount to him, saying: “There’s a Father up above, watching us with love, so our hands must not give or receive a bribe!” How many of us would do likewise?
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
18
COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS SADHU VASWANI
K
rishna and Christ, Mahavir and Buddha, Nanak and Chaitanya had cosmic consciousness. To have this consciousness is to realise that whatever one has is for the service of all. Hast thou power? It is meant not for bhoga (enjoyment), but for helping the poor and weak. Hast thou knowledge? It is meant not for vanity, but for spreading the light among those around thee. The will-to-serve-all must take the place of the will-to-hate-and-fight-and-kill. Modern civilisation has used science to produce more and more destruction. This civilisation is a servant of Death. A brotherly civilisation was at one time built in ancient India, a civilisation of mercy and love. The animals, too, are our brothers. This is what the truly great ones of Humanity so richly realised. They had cosmic consciousness. Yes, these animals are thy brothers. Kill them not.
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
If we could but appreciate the poetry of animal life! Some of the birds are a miracle of beauty in nature’s Wonderland. And I have wondered how man can have the heart to catch and kill them! Larks and nightingales, sweet singing birds, alas! are killed and eaten! Many years ago, there was held in Paris an “Intelligent Animals’ Competition”. “Dozen of dogs,” we read, “went through rifle-drill, cats jumped through hoops, and fowls danced the polka. The first prize was given to a Japanese dog who made a bark and made different gestures to express various wants, for instance, putting its paw to its jaws with a peculiar yapping when it was hungry”. The second prize was bestowed on a dog, a cat and a hen who played “absolutely like children”. More striking phenomena have happened since. They indicate that animals have some measure of intelligence or the power of forming association of ideas. Animals understand commands, e.g., “fetch the stick”. They use gestures. They have some sort of language: and is not language a witness to the power of thought and emotion? One
day
science
will
19
advance, I believe, to the position that animals have, also, a spiritual function. I have seen God’s image shining in animals and birds. I have learnt of them lessons which have drawn my heart nearer to Truth and Love. And one of the purest aspirations of my life is to be spent more and more, in the service of these younger brothers and sisters in the one Great Family of Him who loveth all life. Current civilisation has broken loose from spiritual disciplines. It has trampled upon the vision of mercy and love. Hence the deep unrest everywhere — violence in the West, hate and passion in the East. Brother! spread the message of mercy and love. They will build the new Humanity whose vision is the hope of all wounded hearts in East and West.
T not.
hese animals are thy brothers. Kill them
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
28
HOW TO HAVE PEACE OF MIND J. P. VASWANI
Peace will not come to us by running after the things which the Earth gives and the Earth takes away. Peace will not come to us by fighting circumstances and struggling against so-called difficulties and misfortunes. Peace will come to us when we ourselves enter into the Great Peace of God. To enter into the Peace of God is to relax and stand still,—to stand where you are. With flashing sword in his hand, Angulimala, the robber, ran after the Buddha. The robber ran as fast as he could, but the Buddha eluded him. Then, from a distance, Angulimala cried out: “Stand still, O hermit! Stand still!” Quick came the simple, significant answer of the Buddha: “I am still. May you be still!” When the two met each other, the Blessed One explained to Angulimala what it was to stand still. The words of the Master went deep into the heart of the robber and he was converted. The robber became a disciple and his heart, in due course, became tranquil as the surface of a lake on a clear, windless day. Our age is an age of activity. We are busy,—and often, I am afraid, fussy. We like to be up and doing: but our doing
is distraction, sometimes, destruction. So we are not at peace with our neighbours—nor with ourselves. We need to stand still! In the ocean of life, we struggle all the time. We battle against circumstances: we strive against misfortunes. Alas! We don't give ourselves up to the waters. We do not accept the will of God! To accept the will of God is to know that we are nothing, that He is the one Worker and, therefore, in all that happens is our good. The more we grow into this realisation, the more relaxed we shall feel: and we shall gradually know what it is to become perfectly still in God. It is not as easy as it may appear to be still in God. But it
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
will come to us as we grow into the realisation that we are not doing anything at all, that we can do nothing on our own, that not even a leaf stirs except if it be His will. In the beginning, perhaps, it may be helpful for us to do the following: 1. Every morning, as we wake up, let us think of some sutra (small text) from the Sacred Books and repeat it to ourselves, again and again. As the day advances, let us, from time to time, detach ourselves from our work for a brief minute or two and repeat the sutra. As we do so, let us imagine that the sutra permeates our entire being and renews us physically, mentally and spiritually. Any sutra will do. I have found the following very helpful: “Thy will be done, O Lord!” “Thou knowest best what is good for each one of us!” “Thy works are the works of mercy!” “The Lord is my Strength, my Support and Stay!” “In Thy will is the peace I seek!” 2. In the face of difficulty and disaster, do not feel confused. But lift up your heart to Him and think of Him as a Loving Mother and of yourself as a little child sitting in Her Lap. Then sing to yourself a song such as the following: Mother mine! Mother Divine! He on whom is Thy protecting Hand! Him no sorrow can strike!
29
3. Steer yourself clear of all thoughts of lust, hatred and greed. They stimulate the lower self and lead to excitement which will not let us be still in God. Gradually, this stillness will deepen, though the very first experience of it gives such immense joy that it cannot be expressed in words. The stillness will grow more and more intense until, one blessed day, we shall be completely absorbed in God and entirely at one with His Divine Will which is perfect — not only for us but for all men and birds and beasts, for all creation. This is the goal of our life's journey. It may not be reached in a single leap. There are stages on the way. Every stage is both good and necessary. Every stage has its lesson to teach. As we learn the lesson of one stage, we are being prepared for the next. From stage to stage we move on, knowing that where we are, is, at the moment, just the right place for us. Each one of us is infinitely dear to the Heart of God. He is leading us along the way which is best for us. He sees what we cannot see and knows what we cannot know. Every experience He sends us —be it pleasant or painful —is meant to enrich our inner life. We must not shun it: we must not avoid it. We must accept is as a gift from Him in whom is the peace we seek,—the peace that passeth, surpasseth understanding. Contd. on page 31
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
30
Laugh Your Way to Health After his divorce a husband came out of the court jumping, dancing, singing. His friend asked him why he was so happy. He replied, “Court has said to pay my wife half of my salary.” Friend asked, “Why are you happy?” He said, “From now on I can have half of my salary.” *** A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, stand up!” After a few seconds, little Johnny stood up. The teacher said, “Do you think you’re stupid, little Johnny?” “No, ma’am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!” *** The maths teacher saw that Ramesh wasn’t paying attention in class. She called on him and said, “Ramesh! What are 2 and 4 and 28 and 44?” Ramesh quickly replied, “NBC, FOX, ESPN and the Cartoon Network!” *** The way to lose weight is the green tea, only if you go up the mountain and pick it yourself. *** A man is cutting sides of a capsule before taking it. His neighbour saw this and asked him, “why are you cutting the sides of the capsule?”
He replied, “To avoid the side effects.” *** A divorced woman (to her advocate): I want to marry my exhusband again… Advocate: Why? Only last month you got the divorce. Divorced Woman: After divorce, I see him very happy and I just cannot tolerate it! *** Alisha: What is the longest word in the English language? Salma: SMILES. Because there is a mile between the first and last letters! *** Adam: Why did the student throw his watch out of the school window? Rayyan: He wanted to see time fly. *** Little Jerry: Teacher, can I go to the bathroom? Teacher: Little Jerry, MAY I go to the bathroom? Little Jerry: But I asked first! *** Dad writes on son’s facebook wall: ‘Dear Son, how are you? All are fine here. We miss you a lot. Please turn off the computer and come down for dinner.’ ***
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
Once old man asks: “When a newly married couple smile, everyone knows, why? But when a fifteen year married couple smile, everyone wonders, why?” *** Employer: We need someone for this Job, who is Responsible. Applicant: Sir, your search ends here, in my previous job, whenever anything went wrong, they said I am Responsible... *** Teacher: Is there anybody here quick at picking up music? Sarala: Yes sir, I am. Teacher: Right, you come here and keep this harmonium in the next room. *** A city girl was visitng her grandfather at the farm and saw a cow chewing her cud. “That’s a fine looking cow” she said to her grandfather, “But doesn’t it cost a lot to keep her chewing gum?” ***
31
What is the first thing you should do with a barrel of crude oil? Teach it some manners. *** Lift perator: We have reached the 11th floor, come out my son. Boy: How dare you call me your son? Lift operator: Well, I brought you up, did I not? *** The children of a household were delighted with a small spaniel whom they had started calling ‘Danny’. One day when they returned from school, they learnt that their mother had gifted him away. One of the children started crying. The mother explained, “I told you, we are going to send Danny away and you took it well then. Why are you crying now? The child said “I thought you said ‘Daddy’ then, I did not mind.” ***
Contd. from page 29
How To Have Peace Of Mind
Two friends met one day and one of them said to the other: “I feel so happy to tell you that I have made peace with God, at last.”
better.”
“I am happy to hear that,” said the other. “But may I tell you that I have something better than that?”
When we have such men and women in different parts of the world – men and women who carry the God of peace in their hearts — then, indeed, will be born a new era of peace for which the tortured soul of humanity has piteously cried, age after age.
“Better than peace with God?” “Yes, I have not only peace with God but I have the peace of God. And I have something still
“What do you mean?” “Why, I have the God of peace!”
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
Children’s Corner WORD QUIZ We see these things daily, letters here are jumbled up, can you guess the correct word from it? 1. Pturecmo, 2. Cebofoak, 3. Beutghtil, 4. Rtaslpsu, 5. Riromr, 6. Emohipbleon, 7. Enp, 8. Oodf, 9. Treaowof, 10. Hwcta, 11. lbaecan
BE A DETECTIVE 1. A man was found dead in his study. He was slumped over his desk and he had a gun in his hand. There was a cassette recorder on his desk. When the police entered the room and pressed the play button on the tape recorder they heard: “I can’t go on. I have nothing to live for.” Then there was the sound of a gunshot. How did the detective immediately know that the man had been murdered and it wasn’t a suicide? 2. Detective Bakshi, who was about to crack a smuggling case has suddenly gone missing. While inspecting his last-known location, you find a note: 710 57735 34 5508 51 7718 Currently there are 3 suspects: Bill, John, and Todd. Can you break the detective’s code and find the criminal’s name?
RIDDLES 1. A doctor gives u three pills telling u to take 1 every half hour. How long will the pills last. 2. Pointing to a man, Mike said, “His son is my son’s uncle”, How is the man related to Mike? Select from the options below:
36
Answers: Word Quiz: 1. Computer, 2. Facebook, 3. Tube light, 4. Star Plus, 5. Mirror, 6. Mobile Phone, 7. Pen, 8. Food, 9. Foot Wear, 10. Watch, 11. Balance. Be A Detective: (1) If the gun shot was recorded that means the man was dead by the time the recording was done. So he would not have been able to rewind the tape and keep it at the exact point where the police found it. (2) Bill. If you read the message upside down, you’ll notice that the numbers resemble letters and that those letters form legible sentences. The message is ‘Bill is boss. He sells oil.’ Riddle: (1) If he starts having the pills immediately it will finish in an hour. (2) 3. Father (3) Rs. 2 = 80 Cherries, Rs. 3 = 1 Orange, Rs. 95 = 19 Watermelons. (4) Since Peacock is a male he can’t lay eggs, Peahens are the female in the species and they lay eggs. (5) If one lies both lie—because the riddle says at least one has lied. If only 1 is lying then it would be both boys or both girls but we know that one is a boy and 1 is a girl, so both are lying. Hence, white hair child is boy and black hair child is the girl. (6) As mentioned in the riddle, “What” is the name of the mother. (7) The Man was in the Dead Sea and hence he did not drown. As people float on Dead Sea because it has extremely saline water which increases the density of water. The salt concentration of the Dead Sea fluctuates around 31.5%. This is unusually high and results in a nominal density of 1.24 kg/l. Anyone can easily float in the Dead Sea because of natural buoyancy.
7. A Man who doesn’t know to swim was on a yacht alone. He was not wearing anything to keep him afloat. He fell off a yacht into deep water and the man was rescued two hours later. Why didn’t the man drown? 6. Find the name of the mother. A hen had three chicks: January, March and May. What was the mother’s name? 5. Two children, a boy and a girl are talking. ‘I am a boy’, said the child with black hair. ‘I am a girl’, said the child with white hair. You know that at least one of them lied. Who is the boy and who is the girl? 4. The peacock is a bird that does not lay eggs. How do they get baby peacocks? 3. How Will You Get 100 Fruits in Rs. 100? For Rs. 1 you get 40 Cherries, for Rs. 3 you get 1 Orange, for Rs. 5 you get 1 Watermelon. Your mother told you to get 100 fruits for Rs. 100. How many of Cherries, Oranges and Watermelons will you buy? 1. Uncle, 2. 4. Grandfather. DECEMBER 2015
Brother,
3.
Father,
EAST AND WEST SERIES
37
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
39
Simple Rules of Health HOME REMEDIES FOR SPRAINS AND CRAMPS
Rushing to the doctor in case of a minor sprain or twist is often cumbersome. Most instructors follow the RICE formula when it comes to injuries during workouts or sports. It is not just first-aid but also a great remedy to prevent swelling and alleviate pain. However, for any major sprain or if you are unable to move the sprained area at all, visiting a doctor is recommended. Small sprains and injuries can be fixed with home remedies using naturally available ingredients. Following are some remedies for sprains. You should also know about these hidden first aid items from your kitchen. ICE It is a part of the RICE formula and a cold compress is the best method to treat a sprain. Ice packs or ice cubes covered with a handkerchief or towel when applied to the affected area can prevent swelling and reduce the pain. You can also use a pack of frozen peas or corn if ice is not available. Apply the ice for a maximum of 20 minutes (not more) for three times a day. TURMERIC This is an age old remedy and has been practiced in most
homes for not just sprains but several other injuries. Turmeric has natural healing properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling and provide pain relief. Turmeric also relaxes the muscles and joints due to its antispasmodic properties. Heat some oil and add turmeric and apply on the sprained area. Leave it overnight. You can also mix turmeric and water to form a thick paste and apply. Repeat this twice a day for 2-3 days for complete relief. Did you know turmeric can help relieve arthritis pain? GARLIC Garlic has several health benefits. The antiinflammatory properties of garlic help alleviate pain and inflammation. The healing properties of garlic also aids in boosting immunity and strength to aid healing of wounds and
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
sprains. Mix one tablespoons of garlic juice with coconut oil and gently massage on the sprained area. Wash it after half an hour. Repeat this thrice a day for 2-3 days. CASTOR OIL The ricinoleic acid present in castor oil has antiinflammatory properties. This helps in providing relief from swelling and pain due to the sprain. Castor oil is an excellent remedy for joint pain too. Massage some castor oil to the affected area and wrap it with crepe bandage for some warmth. Repeat this 2-3 times a day till you experience no pain. HOME REMEDIES TO PREVENT CLOGGED ARTERIES
40
that leads to the formation of plaque in artery walls. SPINACH Spinach is rich in potassium and folic acids, both of which act as a defense against high blood pressure. Spinach is also rich in lutein, a plant carotenoid which not only protects against age related macular degeneration but also prevents heart attacks by keeping arteries free from cholesterol build up. POMEGRANATE Pomegranate fruit and its juice are high in antioxidant content, which may help fight hardening of the arteries. KIWI AND CANTALOUPE These antioxidant-rich foods work by reducing toxic LDL cholesterol, which is formed by a rusting process in your arteries. They can help stop the rust in its tracks and even prevent it from spreading. CRANBERRY JUICE This juice strains the fat out of arteries. Instead of having fat build up in your blood vessels, this juice boosts your cell’s ability to absorb the fat and use it for production of energy.
GRAPES Grapes are rich in flavonoids, quercetin, and resveratrol. These flavonoids have been found to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol
OATS Thanks to the soluble fibre in oats, cholesterol doesn’t stand a chance. This fiber attaches itself to cholesterol and carries it right out of your system.
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
41
Recipes for the Month TEA TIME SNACKS
WHOLE WHEAT METHI PURI
SPICY INDIAN STYLE ONION RINGS
Ingredients Whole wheat flour.......................................2 cups Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)........ 2 tbsp Red chili powder...........................................½ tsp Cumin powder............................................... 1 tsp Turmeric powder............................................ 1 tsp Kalonji seeds.................................................. 1 tsp Ghee.............................................................¼ cip Salt............................................................ to taste
Ingredients Onions, cut into thick rounds, rings separated.......................................... 3 large Ginger, peeled and grated.................½ inch piece Garlic, minced............................................. 2 pods Curry leaves................................................. 10-12 Dry red chillies.....................................................2 Green chilli..........................................................1 All purpose flour..........................................½ cup Gram flour...................................................¼ cup Cornflour..................................................... 2 tbsp Baking soda................................................... 1 tsp Salt............................................................ to taste Oil.................................................. for deep frying
Method To begin making the Whole Wheat Methi Puri Recipe, combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the ghee as well into the flour mixture and you will notice it will form a crumb like texture. Check the salt levels and adjust to suit your taste. You can optionally add chilli powder or crushed black pepper to add to the spice. Gradually add little water at a time and knead to make a firm yet smooth dough. It should be more firm than the roti dough. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Dust the baking sheets with flour and keep aside. Next, roll the Methi Puri (Mathri) Dough into a large circle, using a circular cookie cutter, cut the puris into circles. At home we like our puris to be on the thinner side. So based on your personal preference, adjust the thickness of the puris. Arrange the cut methi puris on the dusted baking tray and place it in the preheated oven to bake until golden brown and crisp (about 10 to 12 minutes). Once done, allow the Baked Methi Puris (Mathris) to cool down before storing it in airtight containers. Serve the Baked Methi Puris (Mathris) as a tea time snack or pack into the school snack boxes for kids topped with cheese.
Method In the mixer grind together the ginger, garlic, red chillies, green chilli and curry leaves with a tablespoon of water into a coarse paste. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until required. Heat oil for deep frying the onion rings over medium heat while you prepare the batter to coat the onion rings.
DECEMBER 2015
EAST AND WEST SERIES
In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, besan, corn flour, soda along with salt and ginger paste. Whisk gently to mix well. Gradually add little water at a time to make thick batter. The batter should be thick dropping consistency so it coats the onion rings. Add a few thick onion rings into the batter and using a fork, allow them to get well-coated. Using the fork transfer them into the hot oil, fry till golden and crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with oil absorbent paper. Similarly fry the remaining onion rings. Serve Spicy Onion Rings along with Green Chutney or a yogurt dip for a sunday evening teatime snack. CRISPY PALAK PAKORA Ingredients Baby spinach leaves..................................20 to 25 Gram flour (besan)...............................150 grams Red chili powder.................................½ teaspoon Ajwain................................................½ teaspoon Turmeric powder.................................¼ teaspoon Salt............................................................ to taste Chaat masala powder...................... for sprinkling Oil.................................................. for deep frying Method In a large mixing bowl, add the gram flour, turmeric powder, salt, red chili powder. Stir to combine well. Add little water at a time to make a thick pakora batter. Preheat oil in a kadai (wok) for deep frying. Once the oil has heated up sufficiently enough, dip each spinach leaf in batter to coat it evenly. Drop the leaf gently in the oil and fry it on a medium heat till the pakoras are crisp. Once the Palak Pakoras are golden brown and crisp, remove them from the oil and drain on absorbent paper. Proceed the same way with the remaining spinach leaves. Sprinkle chat masala on Palak Pakoras and serve them hot with Date Tamarind Chutney,
42
Green Chutney or even plain old Ketchup MYSORE BONDA Ingredients Whole white urad dal................................... 1 cup Green chilli, finely chopped.................................1 Whole black peppercorns, coarsely pounded........................................... 1 tsp Fresh coconut, grated..................................¼ cup Asafoetida.....................................................½ tsp Salt............................................................ to taste Coriander leaves, finely chopped........small bunch Oil....................................................for pan frying Method To begin making the Mysore Bonda Recipe, soak the urad dal completely immersed in water for about 2 hours. Once the dal is soaked, get the remaining ingredients ready and the Kuzhi Paniyaram Pan ready as well. Drain all the excess water from the urad dal and grind it along with the green chilli adding very little water to make a smooth and yet thick bonda batter. Transfer the bonda batter into a large mixing bow, add the pounded peppercorns, salt, asafoetida and coriander leaves. Check the salt levels and adjust to suit your taste. Preheat the Kuzhi Paniyaram Pan; add a teaspoon of oil into each of the cavities. Spoon the Mysore Bonda batter into each of the cavities and fill it 3/4th way through. Cover the pan and allow the top of the bonda's to steam and cook through. Once you notice the top of the bonda's are cooked through, then uncover the pan. From this stage onwards we will pan fry the bonda's in open. Flip the bonda's to cook on the other side. You can optionally add more oil to make the bonda's more crisp and browned evenly from all sides. Serve the Mysore Bonda's along with Coconut Chutney as a tea time snack along with a hot cup of coffee.