Flavours of Devotion: Who is the 'most important'? (Love-in-Action Blog Series)

In my early days with the Art of Living, long before I became a teacher, I had the opportunity to visit Gurudev together with my mom. We were about 10-12 people in a small meeting room. In the front of the room was a single mid-sized sofa covered with a white cloth and Gurudev's shawl. As we all waited for Gurudev's arrival, an elderly lady came into the room. Seeing no other empty chair and unable to sit on the floor, she sat on one end of Gurudev's sofa. Soon after, Gurudev came in and we all stood up. So did the elderly lady. Gurudev lovingly asked the lady to keep sitting, and sat next to her on the sofa. 

As soon as we were all seated, the elderly lady started requesting Gurudev to give her some meaningful seva (service project). I was amazed at the lady's commitment - despite being so old and weak (surely, she was at least 90 years old!), she wanted to be of service. Gurudev smiled lovingly and said: "you just bless people, Amma." But the lady insisted - "no, I want to be of use." Now, a mischievous smile came on Gurudev's face. He said: "Look Amma - look at all these people." He pointed to all of us sitting in the room. "Why do you think any of them are doing any seva? It is only to be able to sit next to me. See? You are already sitting next to me." We all laughed, and a small smile appeared on the lady's face.  

For the longest time thereafter, my favorite prayer was that I should become like Hanumaan - the favorite devotee and strongest, 'most important' seva warrior; someone who was therefore permitted to sit close to the Master. As time passed, however, I started feeling that this was impossible. There were so many others who were doing so much more seva, had better reach and results, and who were (therefore) permitted to spend more time in Gurudev's presence. But I persisted in Seva with the hope that, in addition to bringing some much-needed deep rest, and perhaps a glimpse of unconditional love into people's lives, I would gain some merit to be able to sit in Gurudev's presence - at least for a few moments every time I was in the same city as Him. 

A couple of years ago, Gurudev visited Switzerland during the New Year and gave a series of beautiful talks titled "Unveiling Infinity." A few of my friends, my daughter, and I were living in a large holiday home near the venue for this time. One of the senior Art of Living teachers, dear Marcel, had his birthday during this time. As I had a big oven in the holiday home and the word spread that I make good cakes, I was asked if I could bake a cake for Marcel. I was overjoyed! I thought, "if I can't be Hanumaan, at least I can bake a cake for one of Gurudev's Hanumaans!" I baked and sent the cake with all my love. Later, I heard that everyone loved the cake and Gurudev even ate some of the fruits that I had decorated the cake with. However, the cake had become too small - not everyone in Gurudev's room could get a slice. I felt bad - I should have baked a bigger cake! 

To compensate, I decided to bake another cake the next day. I found the largest cake dishes in the holiday home and baked not one, but two cakes! I prayed this time: "Gurudev, let these cakes be big enough to feed all your 'most important' and most devoted Seva warriors!" I baked the cakes and also decorated them with lots and lots of fruit toppings. I selected all the fruits and berries I have seen Gurudev enjoy in Europe. "If Gurudev is going to only eat the fruit on the cake, let there be enough and more!"   

I took the cake to the entrance of the hall where Gurudev was meeting all AOL teachers and volunteers, and patiently waited for Him to arrive. The plan was that I would give the cake to anyone who was sitting in the back seat of His car as He left for his Hotel room. Soon enough, Gurudev arrived, and His car arrived. As He was about to leave the hall, He saw me and asked "What is this?" I said, "Gurudev, it's cake." My prayer was still in my mind: "Let the cake be enough for all your 'most important' and most devoted Seva warriors." 

Gurudev looked at me, turned back into the Hall, and said to me: "Cut the cake. Give it to everyone." For a moment, I was totally stunned and disappointed! I thought: "But the cake is for your most important people! Not for everyone!" I looked around - there were literally 100s of Art of Living teachers and volunteers floating around the hall! 

Gurudev waited patiently while I took the cake out of its wrapping and started cutting slices. He started answering questions that various teachers and volunteers approached Him with. As He answered questions, He came towards the cakes and started picking out fruits from on top, and popping them into His mouth. As He saw my hesitation to serve, He urged me: "Give, give - give it to everyone!" I started handing out pieces to everyone. Again, He came and popped some fruits into His mouth, urging me again to keep giving cake slices to everyone. He stayed till there were only crumbles and cake frosting left in the two cake pans. 

After He left, I looked around as grateful teachers and volunteers thanked me for the cake and for finding a way to make Gurudev stay back longer at the venue! I was still in a state of semi-shock! What had just happened? As I looked around, I noticed that every single teacher and volunteer had had at least a small piece of the cake. I realized in that moment what Gurudev was telling me: To Him, all His teachers and volunteers were the "most important". Each of us was His "strongest volunteer". Every one of us was special to Him - no one less or more so! 

Today's 'most important' recipe:
Meera's Secret Vegan Banana Cake (Gluten-free option available)

PS: This was the cake I baked for Marcel and the "most important" Seva Warriors :) Hence, its the most important recipe

Preparation time: 15-20mins
Baking Time: 35-45 mins
Serves: 6-8 people

Ingredients: 

Dry Ingredients

2 cups flour (I use whole grain Spelt flour or half and half Spelt flour + regular white flour. The effect with gluten free flour-mix is the same!)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda (Natron)

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I like to use coconut oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbs Chia soaked in 10 tbs water for 15 mins
3/4 cup oat milk (for vegan cakes/banana bread)
2 overripe mashed bananas or equal weight of apple mousse
Egg replacer equivalent for 1 egg (follow instructions on package) - Optional

Method: 

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.

Mix wet ingredients (other than soaked Chia seeds) in a separate bowl. Do not blend. Use a fork to mash bananas and then mix in all other wet ingredients. Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature (not cold).

Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix with a light hand. In the end, add soaked chia seeds and lightly mix again

Bake at 180 degrees (umluft) for 35-40 mins or till knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Decorate with pudding and fresh fruit! Serve with love and see how your prayers come true!

  

Flavours of Devotion: Expertise beyond Qualifications (Love-in-action Blog Series)

I begin today's post with a poem from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, titled "Without You, Where Would I Be?" It is from Gurudev's commentaries on the Ashtavakra Gita (1). A few years ago, I wrote a poem borrowing the same title; that poem I will share towards the end of this blogpost series. For now, here is the original:

Without you where will I be?

A fish without water

Sky without the stars or the Sun

A tree without sap

A microphone without sound

A word that doesn't sound

Without you where will I be?

A body without life

Mud without moisture

Air that doesn't blow

Fire that doesn't light

Without you where will I be?

A body without life

A fish without water

Without you where will I be?

For a Bhakti Yogi, one who is on the path of unconditional love, her love for the Master is the source of everything. It is the most powerful force on this planet. It is the force that protects, transforms, uplifts, and even bestows all the knowledge there is to acquire. 

There is a beautiful story from the life of Trotakacharya - one of the four disciples of Shankaracharya (2). Trotakacharya was considered a rather dull disciple of Shankaracharya – he was always coming late to class and seemed to be asleep or lost in every class. Yet, Shankaracharya always waited for him to reach before starting. One day, Trotakacharya was unusually late, and the disciples begged Shankaracharya to start without him – “he will anyway not learn anything,” they said. Shankaracharya did not heed – he waited. Some time passed, and then suddenly, the disciples saw that Trotakacharya was coming from far away, singing. 

As he drew closer, the other disciples noticed that he was not just repeating, but singing, all the knowledge that Shankaracharya had given to them, in the form of the most beautiful poetry. They realized then that it is not our abilities that bring us knowledge, but our devotion to the Master. 

During a particularly dark phase in my life, I experienced a deeply broken heart when my husband left me for my best friend, and my long-time teacher and mentor falsely accused me and refused to extend my work contract. I was unemployed, lacked confidence, and above all, wondered what the purpose of my life was. At the bottom of the pit of dejection, I got offered a job and a role that I felt was well above my knowledge, capacity, and skills. I repeatedly asked the Universe why this role was brought to me - "I am not qualified for this." 

While I was still deciding what to do, Sri Sri gave a fresh new commentary on the Bhakti Sutras. During one of the sessions, Gurudev said: “Don’t show the Master your qualifications. The Master will qualify you for anything.” This sentence triggered a long-lost memory and made me jump up with realization! I accepted the job, and needless to say, together with a highly supportive team, I was able to pioneer a whole new field of research. I remembered that when we are devoted to the Divine, all knowledge is made available to us at the right time!   

References and Suggested Reading

(1) Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (2022) ASHTAVAKRA GITA: THE MOST UNIQUE CONVERSATION EVER, 2nd Edition, Sri Sri Publications Trust, India. 

(2) Shankaracharya is one of the most important Masters of the Vedic tradition. He is considered to have revived the knowledge of the four Vedas and reestablished Sanatan Dharma in India. 

Suggested Reading: The 11 Manifestations of Divine Love - Wisdom by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Today's Expert Recipe: Kerala Style Black Chickpea Curry (Gluten-free, Vegan, Fiber Rich) 

Preparation + Cooking Time: 30-45 mins
Serves: 3-4 people

Ingredients for Dry Spice Mix
4 Tbs Fennel Seeds (Saunf) 
4 Tbs Whole Black Pepper
2 Tbs Whole Cardamom 
1 Whole cinnamon stick
1 Tbs whole coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cloves (3-4 cloves are enough)
1 handful of dried curry leaves

Pre-make the spice mix by individually dry roasting each spice (on a well heated frying pan, keeping the heat at medium, roast each spice while gently stirring occasionally, till you can smell the aroma released by the spice. Let cool. Put all spices into a dry grinder and grind to a fine powder. Pour into an air-tight container. There is enough there to use several times - you only need 1-2 teaspoons of this spice mix each time you make the Kerala Chickpea Curry. 

Ingredients for Kerala Chickpeas Curry 
2 Cups cooked black chickpeas (Kala Chana) 
250 ml coconut milk
2 Tbs Coconul Oil (or other cooking oil)

Note for cooking black chickpeas: Always soak the black chickpeas overnight or even for 24 hours, drain the water and place in fresh water before cooking. Best/fastest to cook the chickpeas in a pressure cooker. After the full pressure is built, I cook the chickpeas for 8-10 mins, keep the flame on low. In a traditional pressure cooker, you may need 5-6 whistles at least.  

Wet Spice Mix
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 Onion - finely chopped (optional)
1 tsp grated ginger
10 fresh curry leaves (if available)
1-2 green chillies - chopped (optional)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp Asafoetida (Hing powder)
2 tomatoes - chopped into small cubes
Salt to taste

Method:
In a deep frying pan, heat the coconut oil. Add the cumin seeds and reduce the heat to low when the cumin seeds start sizzling. Add the chopped onions, raise the heat to medium and saute till the onions are translucent. Add the grated ginger and saute for 1 minute. Add the curry leaves and green chillies, saute for 30 seconds. Add the turmeric powder and Asafoetida powder, stir well till well combined. Add one heaped teaspoon of the pre-made dry spice mix (if you like it very spicy, you can add 2 tea spoons). Stir gently on low-medium heat till you smell the aroma of the spices. Add the tomatoes and cook till they are easily mashed. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes. Add to a high-speed wet spice blender and blend to a smooth paste. Pour the spice mix back into the deep frying pan, add the coconut milk and cooked chickpeas. Bring to a boil, add salt to taste, and let simmer on low heat for at least 5-6 minutes.

Serve with freshly cooked Basmati or Sona Masuri rice and poppadums. Also goes really well with Kerala Puttu. 

PS: I was never formally taught how to make this dish - I only ate it with great relish when served by my relatives with Puttu. One fine morning I woke up and made the dish from my memory of its incredible, unique taste! 

Flavours of Devotion: Unwavering Commitment (Love-in-Action Blog Series)

Once, in Satsang, there was an interesting question posed to Gurudev: “Dear Guruji, how come none of your teachers have attained enlightenment so far.” Gurudev’s answer really moved me. He said: “First ask my teachers if enlightenment is what they want." For a moment, I was shocked! Are we, as Art of Living teachers and Yogis, praying for wrong or small things instead of seeking the highest? But Gurudev continued after a pause. He said, "A Boddhisattva never enters the gates of heaven before ensuring that everyone else has entered first." I realized then that He was praising His teachers - indeed, our wishes are always small and innocently full of love: "let my course participants be happy, let them grow on the path of knowledge, let them also experience unconditional love, become teachers..."

In the Buddhist Mahayana philosophy, a Bodhisattva refers to one who is “constantly active in the service of all beings.”(1) A Boddhisattva resolves to bring knowledge, and through knowledge, liberation, to all in the commune. Boddhisattvas are devoted to Buddha and his teachings. Therefore, they are not even attached to Nirvana – out of sheer love and compassion, they willingly abandon Nirvana, even after they acquire it, and come back to the mortal world to help people cross the Ocean of Samsara.(2) It has been said that this verse represents what a Bodhisattva’s resolve is:

Without any hesitation, I relinquish,

My body, my pleasures,

And all virtues achieved throughout this lifetime

In order to benefit all sentient beings.(3)

The Bhakti of a Boddhisattva manifests as her/his commitment to bring knowledge and liberation to every human being. Bhakti, manifesting as commitment, also makes one willing to go through Tapas (4). This commitment then effortlessly brings one’s mind to one-pointed attention, stillness, meditation. 

Once, when I was living in New York, one of the senior Art of Living teachers asked if I would assist her in teaching YES (“Youth Empowerment Seminar”) courses to a group of New York teenagers who had been sent to a detention center because they had been involved with violence and other misbehavior in their school. I had no experience teaching such “at risk” students and was afraid of facing them, all of who appeared physically a lot stronger than me (girls and boys alike). 

But I said yes. Every time we had to go to the detention center to meet and teach the students, the whole way from my home to the detention center (almost one-hour journey by public transport), my heart was thumping from fear and my mind was revolting. But some force kept me by my commitment. The moment I entered the detention center, all the fear would vanish – I smiled naturally, feeling my heart fill up with love – a love I had never felt before. It was this love, the Master's unconditional love, that filled us up during these sessions, which brought about lasting transformation in this very broken group of students. 

Don't get me wrong, the sessions were never a walk in the clouds. The children were so toughened by their circumstances, and carrying so much stress, that it would often express itself as aggression, rudeness, and insults. Their behavior could easily leave one feeling deeply humiliated. But what was needed in the situation was not strict discipline or counter-aggression, but unwavering love and commitment.

In his commentaries on the Ashtavakra Gita, Sri Sri asks: “when you say ‘I love you’, do you love the other person or do you love the way you yourself feel when you are with that person?” It is an eye-opening question. It was during my time teaching the YES course to “at risk” students in New York, that I got a glimpse of what loving someone unconditionally might mean. I did not want anything from these students. I also did not “feel” particularly comfortable with them. But I wished for them to be happy and to grow on the path of knowledge, and I experienced a joy like none other when I would see their smiles and see them transform out of the stress and anger they carried. 

I wondered, however, why, despite being an Art of Living teacher and being committed to Gurudev’s work, did I experience so much fear and resistance all the way to the detention center (till Gurudev’s love took over). Was I not a Bhakti Yogi in the true sense? Recently, I heard Gurudev say: “Don’t doubt your Bhakti (devotion). The commitment in you is devotion.”(5)

References

(1) Kawamura, Leslie. The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhism. Vol. 10. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 1981. p. xii
(2) Kawamura, Leslie. The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhism. Vol. 10. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 1981. p. xiii

(3) As cited in: Garfield, Jay L. "What is it Like to be a Bodhisattva? Moral Phenomenology in Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra." Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (2010): 333-357.
(4) Tapas= short term discomfort, endured with the aim of accomplishing a greater good - e.g. enduring long hours of hard work before an exam.
(5) Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Path of Love: A Live Discourse (Online), 25 June to 9th July 2020, Art of Living, India. https://live.artofliving.org/nbs

Today's committed-to-health recipe: Healthy Vegan Pancakes (Gluten-free version possible) 

Preparation + Cooking Time: 15-20 mins
Serves: 2-3 people

Dry Ingredients
1 cup oat flour (or gluten-free oat flour) - If you have oat flakes at home, you can also use a dry grinder to make fresh oat flour at home
2 heaped Tbs Whole Grain Spelt flour (Or gluten-free flour mix or corn starch)
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 

Wet Ingredients
1 cup vegan milk (almond milk or oat milk works really well)
1 ripe banana
3 Tbs Coconut Oil
2 Tbs Almond butter
2 Tbs whole sugar (optional) 

1 Tbs Chia seeds soaked in 1/4 cup water (Optional)

 
Method:
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. In a high speed blender, blend all wet ingredients (other than the soaked chia seeds) until it is smooth. Put the wet ingredient blend into the dry ingredient mix and whisk till smooth. Add the soaked chia seeds and whisk again till you have a smooth batter. (PS: The Oats will absorb the water, so if it seems runny, don't worry, it will become thicker very fast, so use the batter immediately).  

In a well-heated large non-stick frying pan, pour enough batter and spread to 2/3 of the pan surface. Wait for one side to brown and then flip. Cook each side till golden brown. Serve with fresh fruit and your favorite toppings: (Vegan) butter, Maple syrup, chocolate spread, apple mousse, fresh fruits... 

Flavours of Devotion: Playing the role of a Guru (Love-in-action Blog Series)

I often feel that while we all think we are Bhakti Yogis (devotees), in reality, the enlightened Masters, like Gurudev, are the only true devotees. A true Master is devoted to all his/her disciples – they never lets go of our hand and their commitment to our growth, to seeing a smile on our faces, is unwavering. 

Gurudev once said something that struck me deeply: "Each of us should play the role of a Guru to at least one person in our life." It’s not about being perfect or knowing everything. It’s simply about wanting someone else to grow—with zero expectations in return. Not even a thank you.

Over the last 21 years, as an Art of Living and Sri Sri Yoga teacher, I’ve seen this spirit shine in so many teachers, young and old, from every country and background. These people give their time, energy, and hearts to help others grow, often at great personal sacrifice, without worrying about their own comfort or self-image. They don’t wait to feel ready or to have "free time". They are there, present, ever-ready to be of service. Tirelessly. Joyfully. I have observed this wish in almost every Art of Living teacher and Yoga teacher. 

A few years ago, a young man in his mid-to-late 20s joined my Sri Sri Yoga course. He was painfully thin, withdrawn, and anxious. After a few sessions, he opened up: he had serious stomach ulcers,  was only permitted to eat specific things, and lived in constant fear. The fear that the ulcer might erupt kept him in stress and prevented him from enjoying his food, enjoying life altogether. 

I gently suggested he try a short Silence Course (now called the Art of Living Part II) and, if possible, meet Gurudev. To my surprise, a few days later, I realized he wasn’t interested in taking it slow. He wanted to go straight into the deep end: the long Silence Course with Gurudev Himself.

Interestingly, instead of first joining a short silence course as is the general recommendation, he insisted on immediately joining a long silence course in Gurudev’s presence. I was hesitant. Usually, beginners start with a short course. But something about his determination moved me. I agreed to write him a recommendation letter, on one condition: he had to complete the course and eat only what was served there. He agreed. 

Weeks passed. I didn’t hear from him. Then, one day, I spotted him at another event with Gurudev in the beautiful Black Forest.

I almost didn’t recognize him.

He had gained weight, his face was beaming, and his whole posture had changed. Confidence radiated from him. I hugged him, overjoyed. He told me that his health, both physical and mental, had transformed after the Silence course with Gurudev.

Just as Gurudev loves us unconditionally and wishes for nothing but our growth on the path, as Bhakti Yogis devoted to living in the image of our Master, we experience Bhakti also as an unconditional wish that our students grow on the path – grow in health, happiness, and in both material and spiritual wealth.

I pray that Bhakti in all its various forms keeps growing and expressing itself through me and through all Bhakti Yogis, for the benefit of humanity. 

There’s a strange frenzy in my head, 

 Of birds flying 

 Each particle circulating on its own 

 Is the one I love everywhere? 

- Rumi (1)

References and suggested further reading: 
(1) The Essential Rumi. 1995. Coleman Barks Tr. HarperOne, New York
Suggested reading: 

Today's recipe - for your health, wealth, and confidence 

Tofu-Spinach in Easy Satay Sauce (Vegan, gluten free) 

Preparation+cooking time: 15-20 mins
Serves: 2 to 3

Ingredients
200g Firm Tofu - cut into bite-sized cubes

1.5 cups cooked/steamed Spinach

1.5 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil 

1 teaspoon spice mix of your choice (I use a Chinese or Thai spice mix) - Optional

For the sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted peanut butter (or 40g unsalted peanuts)
1/3 cup coconut milk 

2-3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce 

3-4 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 inch ginger - peeled and grated 
1/2 cup water

Method 
Put all the sauce ingredients into a high speed blender and blend till smooth. Set aside. In a frying pan, heat the oil, add the spice mix, add the tofu and stir fry for 2-3 mins. Add the steamed spinach and cook on low to medium heat for 3-4 mins (do not stir too much as the tofu might break/crumble). Pour in the Sauce and cook for 7-8 mins on medium heat or till the sauce reaches your preferred thickness. 

Serve hot on top of freshly cooked Basmati or Jasmine rice.  

Flavours of Devotion: What would the Master Do? (Love-in-Action Blog Series)

In the Narada Bhakti Sutras—a classic collection of teachings on divine love—there’s a beautiful verse that says:

Tat prāpya tadeva avalokyati, tadeva śṛṇoti, tadeva bhāṣyati, tadeva cintayati.

Translation: When one is immersed in Bhakti (pure love), they see only love, hear only love, speak only love, and think only love.

This state of being is called Anasuya(1)- devoid of fault-finding eyes. Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, tells the warrior Prince Arjuna, “I’m giving you this knowledge because you are Anasuya.”

One who is steeped in love does not see any imperfection in his beloved (the one he is in love with). And any imperfection is accepted and embraced in its totality - even considered an adorable trait :)
For a mother, her child is perfect. For a student, the Master is perfect. For a true Master, a student, a disciple, a devotee, is perfect, and every "flaw" is accepted. In fact, it is this unconditional love and acceptance that brings forth a transformation.   

An enlightened Master is Anasuya in every sense. He sees perfection in every being, in every aspect of existence. I have heard Gurudev say, "If only you could see the World through my eyes. You would see that everything is in its perfect place. Everything is moving from one level of perfection to the next."   

This is Bhakti. Seeing the world through the eyes of the Master, not seeing a fault in anyone, not blaming or accusing anyone or anything as being imperfect. Bhakti, therefore, is also expressed as living in the image of the Master. It is said that when a Bhakti Yogi faces a challenging situation, she asks herself: “What would the Master do in this situation?” 

Scene 1: Love vs. Stress (and a Surprise Turnaround)

In my first month at a research program in Germany, I proposed organizing a stress management workshop for our team. I thought it’d be a thoughtful gesture. My senior supervisor... did not agree. 😅Instead, he got really upset and said: "If we organize a stress management workshop in the office, people will think we are stressing out our employees!"

I tried to reason that the effect would actually be the opposite - that people would feel grateful and taken care of. I also pointed out that the top Ivy League universities are offering such workshops to their students and staff as stress is now an inevitable part of modern life - we have to learn how to manage it! But it was all to no avail - with each argument, my supervisor just got angrier! I later learned he'd just come out of a nervous breakdown himself.

I left my supervisor's office with a terribly heavy feeling in my heart - what had I done!?!?! My first month in the research program and I had already pissed off my supervisor! The anxiety stuck with me all day. I didn't know what to do! 

Late that evening, I asked myself, "What would Gurudev have done in this situation?" Suddenly, I remembered something a senior Art of Living teacher once told me:
        When you're in a conflict, ask yourself: is your love stronger or is their anger stronger? Whichever         is stronger will win.

I immediately felt lighter - I told myself: my love is stronger. It will win. 

The next morning, as I walked into the office, I saw my supervisor approaching from the other end of the corridor. He saw me, frowned, and looked away. He was clearly still upset. Something inside me smiled a very mischievous smile as I recollected my resolve... "my love is stronger and will win..." We kept walking towards each other, and just as our paths crossed, our eyes met for just one moment - I had a big smile on my face and felt absolutely no fear or anger. 

My supervisor was so surprised that he came to a complete halt, stared for a moment with a look of complete confusion, and then returned a wide, radiant smile! Just like that, the conflict was over - no words, no discussions, no explanations - just an exchange of genuine, friendly smiles. 

Scene 2: False Accusations, Unshakable Love

Another time, I was falsely accused and suspended from my job. During the entire period of my suspension, I only felt love and compassion for my boss and colleagues - it was a surprise even for me that I did not feel any anger! Needless to say, I was reinstated within 3 days. I continue to be on good terms with everyone who accused me. 

As the feeling of Bhakti cannot remain bottled up in one’s heart, it flows out as love and compassion to everyone around us. All yoga practices, meditation, pranayamas, and asanas are done with the goal of thinning the veil that covers the unconditional love that we all are. A love that helps us live in the image of the enlightened Masters. 

References and suggested further reading

(1) Asuya and Anasuya, Wisdom Series with Bawa and Dinesh, available on YouTube Here Knowledge Sheet 11 - Asuya and Anasuya
(2) Sutra 55, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutras.

Suggested reading: Love is beyond boundaries - The Story of Vidyadar - Wisdom by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

What-Would-the-Master-Do: Healthy Recipe of the Day
Mixed Salad with Lemon-Raisin Dressing 

Preparation time: 10-15 mins
Serves 2-3

Ingredients:
200 g Feldsalat/Corn Salad/Field Lettuce/Mâche 

1 large Cucumber 
1 large Red Capsicum/Paprika/Spitz Paprika - 
1 Avocado 
1 Tbs Raisins (Optional)
2 Tbs Peanuts OR 100g crumbled Feta cheese (Optional)

For the Dressing:
3 Tbs Raisins
3-4 Tbs Olive Oil
1/2 Lemon - Juiced
2 tsp Maple Syrup (Optional)
1 heaped tsp vegetable broth powder / Gemüsebrühe 

 

Method:
Wash the Feldsalat and spin dry it till all the excess water is out. Cut the cucumber, capsicum and avocado into bite-sized cubes. In a large salad bowl, gently mix the Feldsalat, cucumber, capsicum and avocado. Add the raisins and set aside. 

Put all the dressing ingredients into a wet grinder and grind into a smooth, dense liquid. Some small raisin clumps are OK. 

Pour the dressing into the salad. Add the crumbled feta/peanuts. Mix well with a gentle hand. Serve immediately. 

Perfect for a hot summer day! 

Flavours of Devotion: A Love-in-Action Blog Series

A few years ago, I completed the 300-hour Sri Sri Yoga Teacher Training Course. One of the prerequisites to graduating was writing a short thesis on any theme of Yoga. I decided to write on Bhakti Yoga. 

Bhakti, loosely translated as devotion or unconditional love, is an experience that every sentient being in this Universe has experienced. It is surprising, therefore, that Bhakti Yoga is perhaps one of the least known and most misunderstood paths of Yoga, at least in the Western world. In the Eastern hemisphere, however, we are raised in a way that is culturally more familiar with the feeling of Bhakti. It is perhaps for this reason that we not only experience Bhakti Yoga, but also recognize that experience as such. I say this because if you are reading this post, whether you were born and raised in the Eastern or Western hemisphere, you have experienced Bhakti in your life. However, you may not have recognized that you are experiencing Bhakti. 

In this new blogpost series, I share with you my experiences with Bhakti Yoga, or how I have seen it manifest in my life. Perhaps in these outpourings, you might get a glimpse of how seeped you yourself have been, knowingly or unknowingly, in devotion or unconditional love. 

To give you an idea of how common an emotion devotion truly is, think of your mom :) Every mother is devoted to her child - she loves her child unconditionally - through sleepless nights, through the loud relentless crying of a baby, to the tantrums and heartbreaks of teenage, a mother unwaveringly guides, protects, and loves the child. Devotion, Bhakti, manifests as the willingness to repeatedly sacrifice ones own comfort for the sake of someone else's growth and wellbeing. 

Or think of your favorite teacher :) Every teacher is devoted to bringing the light of knowledge to her/his students' life. The painstaking effort in carefully commenting on each essay, in correcting every written word, in taking time to speak to the parents; the devotion of a teacher manifests as her commitment to win the fight over ignorence by instilling interest in the acquisition of knowledge in her students. The Bhakti of a teacher is seen in her pride in seeing her students grow to new heights, in their accomplishments and successes; she doesnt care for her own glory or fame. 

Or think of the soldier fighfing for the freedom of her/his land or to protect it from invaders. The valour, the fearlessness of a warrior is evidence of her Bhakti towards her nation. In Hindi we call them Deshbhakt (a devotee of the Nation) 

If you have spent sleepless nights, without complaint or regret, taking care of any person or task you embrace as your responsibility, you have experienced or lived at least a small quantity of Bhakti - devotion, unconditional love. And this devotion brings a radience, a totality, a sense of deep contentment and joy. 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, for one who is seeped in love, liberation has no relevance. As I look at my life, I cant help realize the depth and truth in this statement.  

The intersting thing is that while we might all reject the stereotypical Bhakta or devotee clad in a loin cloth or Dhoti, singing songs of devotion to an unseen God, the fact is that we are all devotees in one way or another. In fact, we also like and have the greatest respect for people who live devotion - in one flavour or another. Think about it - who is your favorite person in the world and why? Who is your favorite student or teacher - what quality about them do you love and admire most? Who is your favorite employee? You will see that in each of your answers, at least one common aspect is that these people are devoted - to you, to their work, or to some meaningful cause. 

Devotion or unconditional love is a pre-requisite for and manifests in our lives as commitment, courage, valour, fearlessness, willingness to work hard, and even brilliance!  

When devotion grows or expands to cover larger and larger segments of our life and existence, we start experiencing the pinnacle of unconditional love - Bhakti Yoga. 

Through this blog series, I hope we can be inspired to grow from an experience of devotion to small or limited things, to an experience of unconditional love for the supreme, towards living Bhakti Yoga. 

Today's Simply Love Recipe: Pasta with Almond-Zucchini Sauce (Optional gluten-free and Vegan Versions possible)

Ingredients
1 medium-sized zucchini - chopped into cubes
1.5 Tablespoon Almond butter
1 heaped teaspoon vegetable broth powder (don't dilute in water)
2/3 cup water 
1 +1 Tablespoon Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (I prefer the Coconut Oil) 
1/2 teaspoon spice mix of your choice (I like to use a Chinese or Thai spice mix or Maggie masala)
250 grams pasta of your choice (I like to use gluten-free pasta)
1 tablespoon raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (optional; skip if you want a vegan version)

Preparation time: 10-15 mins
Serves: 2 

Method
Put your pasta to boil following the instructions on the pasta package.
In the meantime, make the Almond-Zucchini sauce: In a high-speed blender, beat up the Zucchini, almond butter, vegetable broth powder and water - if you like your sauce to be less thick, you can add some more water; increase the almond butter and vegetable broth amount accordingly. 
In a frying pan, heat 1 tbs of the olive/coconut oil and add the spice mix of your choice. Pour in the Almond-Zucchini sauce and let it cook on medium heat for 4-5 mins. Add the raisins and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. 

Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water, and add to it 1 tbs of the olive/coconut oil. Distribute the cooked pasta equally on to two plates. Pour the Almond-Zucchini sauce on top (do not mix). Add the crumbled feta on top as garnish (optional). Serve immediately. 

Rising in love

In your light, I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my heart
where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.
                                        - Rumi

Recently, my good friend Priya texted me and asked why I was not blogging anymore. I honestly told her that no "experience" that truly touched my heart and soul, had happened recently. So I was simply not inspired to write. She said something interesting - "What is it that makes you feel you aren't having (such experiences)? What's stopping you from having them? I feel its always that we are going through a phase where we are not receptive to it." 

It got me thinking - yes, indeed - I have been going through this "phase" where my head has been dominating my heart. Rather than truly feeling with the flow, I have been "pushing" and "working hard" to make something "meaningful" out of my life. Being overly careful of not wasting my time in "trivial" "meaningless" pursuits and applying myself to "important" things - what a dreary, dead effort. I became acutely aware of the heavy stone on my heart.

With this awareness, the gramophone in my mind started to shift... I started acknowledging and looking deeply into what it is that I am feeling - right now, this moment. What is it that I am resisting? What am I intellectualizing and refusing to embrace? What am I running away from?

The last five years have been tough ones - going through life as a single mom, struggling through phases of low pay, unemployment, bad health, complete insomnia on one hand, to complete opposite phases of success, euphoria, abundance, and professional accomplishments. Even my personal life seemed, for a while, to be coming back on track. But through all this, I was holding something back - I was resisting something with all my might - but totally unaware of it.  I was resisting love - resisting both the giving and recieving of love from people around me. 

Having experienced multiple "breakups" in both my personal and professional relationships in the past five years, I was perhaps sub-consciously proteting myself from experiencing a broken heart yet again. Justified? Perhaps. Bringing my dear ones and me happiness - certainly not. My mind was in a huge cloud and the intense stress that comes from not trusting anyone to actually be there to "help" was leading to extreme pain in my back, shoulders and neck. I visited several doctors - they couldnt identify the underlying cause.

The love that was in abundance around me - in the words, actions and even in the genuine prayers of people - was, for me, invisible because I was too busy "protecting" myself - the fear of losing love after experiencing it again was too scary for me - had it not been because of lost love, a severely broken heart, that I had almost lost my mind a few years ago? I didn't want to be in that situation ever again! 

The Universe supports us when we need to get unstuck from any event or experience. Our own consciousness supports us. I remember a few weeks ago, being in the European center of the Art of Living to teach a trauma relief workshop for Ukranian refugee kids. As it happens, when ever I have helped others overcome their trauma, I have noticed some of my own traumas resurfacing and leaving me. During the two nights that I was there, I had vivid dreams of my school days. They were strange dreams - of vague conversations with boys I was in love with or had a crush on as a teenager.  In my dreams, I remembered how I never permitted myself to believe that someone I liked/loved might like/love me too - yet, towards the end of my school years, I realized that several "popular" boys who I thought were way out of my league, liked me - but I seemed too distant and disinterested! In fact, the boy I had a secret crush on for more than 4 years, liked me the whole time too! He just never came forward because I seemed so "cold". At that time, I wondered why I was dreaming and re-living/remembering these crazy school days' details. 

As I remembered these dreams after my friend Priya's nudge, I felt that they had come to me beause back then, just like now, I was resisting love - I was too afraid of rejection, of getting hurt. Whether it be human "love" felt as an emotion, or universal love, experienced as our very existence, I was resisting it, running away from it - all the time afraid of experiencing the pain of "losing" the love if I were to let myself expreience it again. 

Indeed, in recent years, I have met the most loving of people - men and women, willing and wanting to be with my daughter and me, share a few moments of belonging, of caring - but within a few months, I felt the need to push them away. We would all surely lead better lives without being tied down by each other?!

I have often heard Sri Sri, founder of the SKY breath meditation and world renowned humanitarian, say: "Dont fall in love, rise in love." It was always a little baffling for me - what does this mean really? 

I looked back at all the times I'd felt I was in love with someone, and wondered - did my heart always break beause I "fell" in love rather than "rising" in it? How does one "rise" in love?

Almost as a timely answer to my question, the Universe brought me to person who I felt an instant and  strong "spark" with - I even felt it reciprocated, but noticed how I immediately pushed away the feelings in me and the interest from his end - it cannot be and should not be! I have more important things to do! Anyway, this is probably just going to lead to more pain in the long run. But the feeling of love kept flooding my heart - the more I pushed it away, the more fuzzy my mind became, the more restless and unhappy I became. But this thought kept coming back "dont fall in love, rise in love." 

I started listening to bollywood love songs - after sooo very long! They are so innocent and real - equally well suited to expressing both personal and divine love. They filled me up, once again, with a longing for my Master. I started observing these intense feelings and my resistence, my fears. As I watched them, I slowly felt the resistence dropping away - the pain intensified and longing filled me up - tears of love and gratitude flowed freely after what seemed like an eternity. I let myself feel the intense pain of longing - longing to become one with the whole Universe. I felt the reawakening of devotion, of intense and pure love - unattached to people, situations, and (material) desires. Unbounded love unrestricted by boundaries of relationships and personalities. I felt freedom! A beautiful, soft, sweet freedom, laced with the pain of longing. Every particle in my being seemed charged and alive! Was this what Sri Sri meant by rising in love? 

"Keep your eyes fixed only on me, oh foolish one!" said He,

"for I am the beauty in the beautiful,

the charm in the charming,

the intelligence in the brilliant ones,

the perfection in everything.

Don't move your sight an inch away from me!"

Said I in response: "Where are you my beloved?

I long to be one with you…

to be freed from this non-real duality.

My eyes search only for you – as I walk into my office,

as I walk through the aisles of the grocery store,

as I smile back at the stranger on the tram,

as I enter the stillness of ‘home’,

in meditation and in music,

in love and in laughter,

in arguments and in fights –

you are what my eyes long to see,

my being wants to be,

only you... "