Vegetarian cooking lesson 11, Kadhi soup, Okra and chapatis
Today we prepare gāṭṭā kadhi, a dish from the Marwa region. The gāṭṭā is a dough made from chickpea flour, yoghurt, salt, turmeric, chilli, and optional ginger and cumin. Mix it only with yoghurt to avoid a soft dough. The sticky dough is like worldly attachment; using oil on your hands is like using the oil of wisdom to handle it. Roll the oiled dough into thin pieces and boil them for 10-15 minutes. Test doneness by seeing if a piece breaks when pulled. Cut the cooked gāṭṭā and add it to the kadhi to cook further. Serve with chapati and a vegetable dish like bitter gourd. For chapati, make dough soft as an earlobe, roll it round without wrinkles, and cook it on proper heat until it puffs up. Ajwain in the dough is healthy. Marwa cuisine uses local, natural ingredients.
"When we touch the besan dough, it sticks very quickly. Then we use the oil of wisdom, which gets rid of the attachment, and then we have the dough nicely prepared."
"The people living there eat only regional food. They know the leaves and fruits growing in their area."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
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Vegetarian cooking lesson 11, Kadhi soup, Okra and chapatis
Today we prepare gāṭṭā kadhi, a dish from the Marwa region. The gāṭṭā is a dough made from chickpea flour, yoghurt, salt, turmeric, chilli, and optional ginger and cumin. Mix it only with yoghurt to avoid a soft dough. The sticky dough is like worldly attachment; using oil on your hands is like using the oil of wisdom to handle it. Roll the oiled dough into thin pieces and boil them for 10-15 minutes. Test doneness by seeing if a piece breaks when pulled. Cut the cooked gāṭṭā and add it to the kadhi to cook further. Serve with chapati and a vegetable dish like bitter gourd. For chapati, make dough soft as an earlobe, roll it round without wrinkles, and cook it on proper heat until it puffs up. Ajwain in the dough is healthy. Marwa cuisine uses local, natural ingredients.
"When we touch the besan dough, it sticks very quickly. Then we use the oil of wisdom, which gets rid of the attachment, and then we have the dough nicely prepared."
"The people living there eat only regional food. They know the leaves and fruits growing in their area."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
Merging into light
Truly, there is no inherently bad day; only unfortunate events occur.
All creation holds beauty that requires care, from plants to furniture. When something cherished is lost, sadness arises. Objects touched by a holy one carry value because of that personality, not money. Negative thinking alone is bad; before judging, negativity already dwells within. The wise do not grieve because the soul is immortal. Without knowledge of the soul, attachment to form causes sorrow. A saint’s passing is a merging into Brahman, not cause for sadness. The sixteenth day is marked by Sorsi Bandhara, a feast with gifts and pusp anjali. This offering of flowers connects to the sixteen siddhis of attainment. The moon’s sixteen kalas influence plant growth and immunity. Planting during the waxing moon yields stronger, pest-resistant plants. Devpuriji possessed such light that he could appear in multiple places simultaneously. He once appeared to Holi Guruji, saying he was going to Europe to help. Immortal saints are present wherever remembered; they never leave. Yet the physical heart still feels longing, for love is boundless.
“Anything that has touched your Gurudev, keep it, for one day he or she will no longer be here. But you will treasure that it was her or his blessing.”
“I am going to Mahesh… to Europe… but on the way, I saw you sitting here, so I stopped just to bless you.”
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The science of the constellation
The name given at birth should align with the celestial constellation present at that moment. The moment of birth is defined when the child touches the earth. The sun and moon are primary, but all nine celestial bodies determine the constellation. This constellation dictates the first letter of the name, which is crucial for well-being. The specific language or full name is secondary; the foundational first letter must correspond. This is a cosmic science upheld by tradition. Neglecting this alignment is why problems arise. We are individual drops, but together we form a great river in service. The guru and disciple become one through this understanding.
"The first letter name should go."
"Take your name according to the constellation."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Gurudev is a goldsmith
Welcome to the spiritual home. Its atmosphere is a blessing of presence.
You have entered the Ashram, which is a Paras-stone. Contact transforms your substance, like iron to gold, but three qualities remain: sharpness, form, and danger. The Satguru, as a goldsmith, can break these with the hammer of knowledge. This process is a beautiful pain. We are here for lectures on Nāda-Yoga and practice. Questions can be submitted for public or private answer. Prayer and singing happen daily. Prasāda, a blessed offering, is distributed. It grants Satbuddhi—good intellect and thoughts—which leads to world peace. It brings Siddhi: health, joy, and prosperity. The divine itself seeks blessing. True value is understood through devotion, not transaction. Distribute prasāda intuitively, not by counting. We also celebrate birthdays and offer collective prayers for specific intentions. Heartfelt good wishes are a powerful blessing.
"An iron knife is united with the Paras. What happens? The knife turns into gold."
"Prasāda means blessing. Blessing means Prasāda."
Filming location: Strelka Ashram, Europe
DVD 224
