cooking -an passion

Cooking .. A necessity .. An art .. A passion .. An experiment .. Something all of us have to do sometime or the other in our lives. Every culture has a unique food philosophy. The way we cook our food tells a lot about who we are. Palates may be formed by socio-cultural influences, but the act of cooking itself is a spiritual pursuit. Whether one is cooking daily for loved ones or preparing langar for thousands in a gurdwara or donning the chef's apron occasionally over weekends, cooking can elevate the soul to great heights. It is precisely for this reason that the experience inside a kitchen could be heavenly bliss. Food is a universal necessity. But it is only human beings who endeavour to transform food into something more. Food is also linked to occasions and memories. It has the ability to transport you to any palace in this world in a matter of seconds. Food has an incredible quality to push a person's happy buttons. The connection also works in reverse. When you cook something, your state of mind gets reflected on the plate. Anger, melancholy, ecstasy, serenity, sloth, lust and pride can all be 'transported' through food, intentionally or otherwise. All this makes cooking the most versatile art form and in a way, a spiritual activity. Unlike other artistic mediums, it has the capacity to engage all the What this means is that a chef's creative canvas knows no bounds. He has the means to play with the senses, serenade them and often, lead them gently to a higher plane. A sensitive chef's meal preparation can become a conduit to blissful tabula rasa, a state of blankness where the mind leaves behind the known and is open to the will of one's creative muses; a state that enables a journey towards the rediscovery of the self and creation of new perspectives. It is recognition of this power that makes cooking a truly spiritual and devotional experience. Just as prayers transmit our spiritual energy to the cosmos to be rejuvenated, a part of us gets devolved in the food we prepare - our personality, our wishes and joys - in continuance of the cycle of life. Cooking is perhaps the highest form of meditation, a divine ritual that is key to nourishing the soul and balancing the cosmic forces of yin and yang