Recently, when in Bangalore, I was making chappatis for dinner when my dad came into the kitchen to see how I made them. He wanted to learn to make chappatis and I was like teaching him probably for the 10th time??? Actually he has no aptitude for cooking. Whenever I go home I see some burnt vessels. All he can manage is to make strongest coffee and cook rice and potatoes in the pressure cooker. And, so, I asked him, why this interest again? So he says….”Swamiji has told me that if I have to do some spiritual sadana, then I have to cook myself…you know satvik food.” “Pappa, you know you can’t, and why go to all the trouble when you are getting your meals from the mess.”(Cannot phantom why they call it a ‘mess’, because of the messy state in which the food is prepared?) Dad- “ Swamiji is of the opinion that even though the ‘mess’ is run by the Brahmins, they are doing it for commercial purpose and the cooks may not be Brahmins….you can’t be sure. So, it is better if I cook for myself.” I was mildly amused and bemused to. “Pappa, you are discriminating between human beings, where is the sadana there….how does it matter to you who cooks or not, how will it affect your sadana?” I asked. You don’t understand was all he said. Didn’t I? Well, I didn’t want to.
What we wear, what we eat; our social standing (if any), our caste or nationality; how does all this influence our quest for spirituality? God never laid out any rules, it was man who did.
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of their being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual's inner life; such practices are alleged to lead to an experience of connectedness with a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm. For some, spirituality is experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. (Source: Wikipedia)
My friend in Bangalore doesn’t have a place of worship or photos or idols of any deity in her house though she is a Brahmin. But, that doesn’t mean she is an atheist. Her parents are orthodox and in-laws even more; they haven’t forced her to follow any customs nor has she allowed them to force her. To believe in God, one doesn’t have to do ‘pooja’ everyday, recite shlokas or Vedas or follow any rituals for that matter. It is the belief and it is personal. And, she is fine the way she is. People respect her for what she is.
As I am currently a Mumbaite, let me use an example from this city. The heir to the Birla Empire, a fashion icon, a Page 3 regular, Socialite, fitness freak- Yash Birla is a very spiritual person. He is a celebrity and partying is what he likes. Yet, he is into meditation and spiritualism big time. In spite of his busy schedule he does find time for his sadana…so, do we have a yardstick to measure peoples spiritual quotient?
With all due respect to the Swamiji who is (mis)guiding my dad, I would like to ask him, if attaining spiritual bliss was only his goal then he wouldn’t be adorning the ‘peeta’ which is used as a front to serve humanity. (Well, not the Nityananda way!) If that was the case then he would have been doing his sadana in some forest or somewhere in mountains. I am sure the Swamiji and my dad will admonish me for saying this.
Anyway, coming back to my dad and making rotis…I told him that cooking was also a sadana, the more you practice, the more perfect you become. So, keep practicing.
AFTER THOUGHT: Siddharta ate meat even after he attained ‘nirvana’, didn’t he become the BUDDHA?
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