We’ve received many requests from recipes following the article on sattvic food posted last month. If you’ve ever been to the Ashram, you certainly know about the many talented chefs we have cooking sattvic and delicious food! So we’re very excited to begin sharing recipes from the Ashram community with the world!
Our first recipe is from Acharya Hersh Khetarpal. It is a simple yet hearty barley and vegetable soup. Enjoy!
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Source: Yajurveda 34.3
Rishi: Vishvamitra
ॐ यत्प्रज्ञानमुत चेतो धृतिश्च , यत ज्योतिर्न्तर्म्रितम I
यस्मान्न ऋते किंचन कर्म क्रियते , तन्मे मनः शिवसंकल्पमस्तु II
OM YATPRAGYANMUT CHETO DHRITISHCH, YAT JYOTIRNTARMRITAM
YASMAANN RITE KINCHAN KARM KRIYATE, TANME MANAH SHIVSANKALPMASYU
Oh God! The mind is the source of wisdom, consciousness and fortitude in human beings; it is ageless, immortal, in the form of light and no work is possible without it. O Lord, purify such mind of mine, pious thoughts should evolve in it always.
Yajurveda: 34.2
Rishi: Vishvamitra
ॐ येन कर्माण्यपसो मनीषिनो,
यज्ञे क्रिन्वंती विदथेशु धीराः I
यद्पूर्व यक्षमन्तः प्रजानां ,
तन्मे मनः शिवसंकल्पमस्तु II
OM YEN KARMANYA-APSO MANEESHINO,
YAJNE KRIN-VANTI VIDTHESHU DHEERA I
YAT-POORVE YAKSH-MANTAH PRAJA-NAAM,
TANME MANAH SHIV-SANKALPAM-ASTU II
Oh God! The mind by which dutiful persevering Yogis always remain devoted to ‘ yajnas’ and auspicious scientific actions: that mind having the highest qualities, nature and actions, dwells in the heart of all humans like a God. O Lord, such mind of mine should be of pure thoughts.
In the Bhagavad Gita, kama (desire), krodha (anger) and lobha (greed) are referred to as the three gates leading to the downfall of the individual (16.21). Those seeking to make progress on the spiritual path must give them up on all three. Yoga practitioners of Yog Sadhan Ashram have made a resolution to work on anger this year. Here are some inspiring words from Hershji to motivate us all:
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The serious practice of yoga incorporates a traditional sattvic diet. The general characteristics of the sattvic food are pure, light, and fresh. In other words, these foods possess the highest vitality to support all the koshas or layers of our selves. Organic foods also possess a high vitality in comparison to foods grown with pesticides and herbicides.
Sattvic foods are more easily digestible and are not fat laden nor protein dense as in animal products; therefore, the sattvic diet is primarily lacto-vegetarian. This type of diet leads to a greater clarity and equanimity of mind while also being more beneficial to the body.
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Source: Atharvaveda 1.1.1 Author: Rishi Atharva
ॐ ये त्रिश्प्तः परियन्ति विश्वा रूपाणि विभ्र्तः I
वाचस्पतिर्बला तेषाम तन्वो अद्य दधातु मे II
Oh God, you created this creation with twenty one elements*. By them alone countless forms came into being and by your strength they are existing everywhere in the universe. The same elements constitute our body as well. O Lord! May these elements keep us strong, and their quality should remain intact as it is. Let us strive to keep these pure and do nothing to pollute them in any way.
* 21 Elements:
5 Senses of knowledge: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin.
5 Organs of physical functions: mouth, hands, feet, rectum, genitals.
5 Chief elements: earth, water, air, fire, ether.
5 Objects of senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch.
1 Soul (Self)
Breaking through the material layers of our existence to discover the ultimate reality at our core being is the goal Yoga. The culmination of that great effort is called moksha, liberation, or self-realization. While the Upanishads give many indications of a realized person, the references lie scattered in the pages of those sacred texts. The signs of a self-realized person were first compiled in the Bhagavad Gita by Ved Vyas in the concluding 18 verses of chapter 2. In those verses, we see the portrait of an individual who is liberated even while living, also known as jivanmukta.
The self-realized person is a dynamic person of action. In order to understand him, and we must understand him as he lives in the world, not as he sits under a tree lost in contemplation. How does he see the world, react to problems and relate himself to others?
Our Guruji established Yog Sadhan Ashram with the purpose of teaching everyday people how to achieve liberation without running away from the world. In this lecture, Acharyaji describes what this looks like and the characteristics we must develop to achieve this goal.
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Source: Yajur Veda: 34-1-5
Original writer: Rishi Vishvamitra
ॐ यज्जाग्रतो दूरमुदैति दैवं, तदु सुप्तस्य तथैवैति .
दूरंगमं ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरेकं, तन्मे मनः शिवसंकल्पमस्तु .
Om Yajjagrato Doormudaiti Daivam , Tadu Suptasya Tathaivaiti.
Doorangamam Jyotishaam Jyotirekam, Tanmay Mna Shiv-Sankalapamastu.
O God! The mind of man flees fast and far away in awakened state. It acts the same way during sleep as well.
It is the chief among all senses; such mind should be of pure thoughts.
The Yoga Sutras codified by Shri Patanjali provides a simple guideline for asanas: sthira sukham asanam or one should be steady and comfortable in asanas (2.46). To be more precise, sthira translates into stability and alertness while sukha means with ease or without suffering. The Yoga Sutras go on to explain that when asanas are perfected in this way, the mind can concentrate and fully dwell on the Infinite. In other words, when done properly asanas bring us into a meditative state.
So in our asana practice, it’s important to focus not just on what our body is doing, but on how we’re doing it. With this in mind, here are some things to consider in your own asana practice, whether it be at home or in class:
- Gracefully coming into poses and holding them long enough to achieve steadiness and comfort is more valuable than quickly moving through a routine just to finish X number of poses. However, asanas can also be held too long in that you can no longer maintain steadiness and comfort. Over time and with practice your duration will naturally increase, but never push yourself beyond your limit.
- Observe your breath for an indication of the quality of your asanas. It too should be steady, not jerky or uneven. Listening to the gentle flow of your breath can also be calming to the mind and provide focus, creating that steady state that leads into meditation.
- Make sure your body is free from holding any tension in asanas, such as clenched jaws and scrunched toes. While this may be a natural reaction to a challenging position, the goal should be to achieve relaxation with alertness in your practice.
Remember, the way asanas make you feel is more important than how you look in the mirror or to the person next to you. Yoga is ultimately for ourselves – to bring freedom, peacefulness and happiness to our body and mind.
From Sama Veda, Mantra #1874 (Rishi Rahugano Gautam):
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा,
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षिभिर्यजत्राह १
स्थिर्रैरान्गैह्स्तुश्तुवान्
सस्तानूभी ,
व्यशेमही देवहितं यदायुः
Om Bhadram Karnebhih Shrunuyama Devaha,
Bhadram Pashye-makshbhi-ryajatraha
Sthirai-rnagai-stushtvaam-sastanoobhi,
Rvyashemahhi devhitam ydaayuh.
O God, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious,
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious,
May our whole body be healthy and diseaseless,
May we always keep the Five Elements, which are the basis of our life, clean and pure.