Shiva and Rudra

In the Vedas, Shiva and Rudra represent the all-pervading Brahman that is ceaseless. While we notice that everything around us goes through change, death is a particularly stark transformation, only because all activity apparently ceases. However, we should view death as necessary change comprising of a process of renewal. When things change, something has to die.  The aging or diseased body cannot persist in the sphere of activity for long and its energies and material content must reappear in another effective form.  By death and renewal, the Brahman remains ceaseless. In Rudra is portrayed the destruction of the aging present, while in Shiva we see the protection of the young present. Associated with the dissolution or destruction of the present, Rudra is represented as a fearful form of Brahman. While Shiva associated with the sustenance of the present, exudes compassion, peace, knowledge and bliss. Rudra and Shiva are two sides of the same coin of the all-pervading Brahman.  

Red Radish and Northern Bean Soup

April 21, 2018

Red Radish and Northern Bean Soup

Red Radish is usually sold with green tops.  Sometimes the store will just bundle the red radish bottoms after the tops have been trimmed.  I discovered that red radish bottoms ( as shown in the image) can make a fine creamy soup. 

Step 1.  Boil 10-15 washed round red radishes with about three cups of water in a microwave for about 10 minutes at the high setting.  The radish might lose some of its color to the water.  Retain the water for later use. 

Step 2.   Set up a saucepan on the stove with about two tablespoons of canola or any other cooking oil.  Add two dried red chillies and half a teaspoon of turmeric.  Heat till the red chillies start to turn brown.  Then add the boiled whole radishes (without the water)  to pan and sautee them for 10 minutes at medium heat ensuring that the  the oil does not spurt on you.   At the end of 10 minutes of sauteeing, add a tablespoon of dried basil leaves and  two tablespoons of coriander powder to the sauteed mixture and then turn off the stove, mixing the ingredients in the pan well.   

Step 3. When the saucepan has cooled, transfer the contents to a blender, adding about half the water that you had reserved from the boil. Use the blender in the “grind” or “Liquefy” setting until the radish turns into a smooth paste.  Continue to finish the blending adding rest of the water from the boil, until a puree with pourable consistency is reached. 

Step 4.  Pour the blended contents into a deep saucepan that can be heated.  Open a can of Great Northern Beans (Trader Joes), drain the water and add the beans to the radish puree.  Allow the soup to simmer for 10 minutes at a low setting.  Add salt   Serve warm or cold. 

to taste as required.

Buddhi Yoga

December 3, 2017

Buddhi Yoga
Vedanta states that our mind consists of two functional parts: Manas, the objective mind and Buddhi the subjective mind.  The sense organs bring to the objective mind various stimuli.  The objective mind perceives these stimuli. If we have a good sense of smell, the objective mind will detect even a faint fragrance. The result of this perception is applied to the subjective mind that processes these inputs into thoughts, speech and action delivered to the external world by the various equipment or parts of the body.

The output of the subjective mind is not only based on the inputs from the objective mind, but also by Vasanas, or tendencies or impressions that we have. These tendencies are desires or ego-motivated inclinations.  The Vasanas directly influence the output of the subjective mind.  Thus, a visual input of an object can be processed by the subjective mind as something you want to possess or reject depending on the type of Vasanas.  The visual input of a lighted cigar could be processed by the subjective mind to evoke a craving to smoke or something that should be avoided because it is injurious to health.  Thus, the Vasanas are often depicted as a layer between the objective mind and the subjective mind.  We accumulate various Vasanas throughout our life.

A subjective mind enveloped by a lot of Vasanas is considered “fragmented”.  Until these Vasanas can be exhausted the objective mind and the subjective mind cannot be seamlessly integrated.  This unification also called Yoga, meaning “to join”.  Specifically, one may call this integration of the Buddhi and Manas as Buddhi Yoga.  Thus, Buddhi Yoga is the exhaustion of Vasanas, or broadly referred to as the purification of the mind.  Vedanta says that this exhaustion of the Vasanas is achieved by directing our efforts towards selfless activities, or engaging only in activities without selfish motives.

Adapted from Study of Swami Chinmayananda's Introduction to Bhagavad Gita