Textual Tuesday

Hari Om

In providing the morning prayers thus far, only a few have been shared; there are quite a lot that could be utilised! The important thing is to get the awareness levels raised and our little selves attuned to the Higher Essence of our being. There is one more essential prayer to be used every time something is to be taken into the mouth. "Grace," or offering thanks for the sustenance. 

Here, only the basic prayer is given. Other verses can be utilised. Indeed, at Sandeepany, no meal was taken without chanting the entire 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, plus this following shloka, which is none other than BG 4:24.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना || 24||

brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā

For those completely absorbed in God-consciousness, the oblation is Brahman, the ladle with which it is offered is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, and the sacrificial fire is also Brahman. Such persons, who view everything as God, easily attain him.

Now, it has been asked often what has this to do with the food on the table? Read again... Advaita teaches us that all is One. That which we term Brahman is contained in everything. Thus, the very cooking fire is Brahman. The food itself is Brahman. The preparation is Brahman. That by which we serve the food is Brahman. When we take that food into ourselves, where does it go? To Brahman!

There is a wonderful clip of Gurudev explaining this in his erudite and entertaining fashion... let us share it.