Wednesday, May 19, 2010

"A hand filled with sadhana is a hand that will heal yourself and others" - Maya Tiwari

Sadhana is spiritual practice. It is repeated action done with observation, reflection and concentration on a goal. Sadhana is a lifelong process to prevent excess worldliness and to release life from the limitations with which it is bound. Any action can become sadhana with the right intention.

In the Vedas, the hands and the feet are referred to as the "organs of action." By using our organs of action, we engage in the moment-to-moment remembering of the five elements of our nature. Our hands are vital extensions that enable us to touch and be in touch with creation.

A timeless sadhana, eating food with our hands allows us to harmonize with nature. The mere touching of food with the fingertips stimulates the five elements. Each finger is an extension of one of the five elements.

For these same reasons are activities such as gardening or simply sitting with our spine up against the trunk of a tree are known to be calming, harmonizing and healing exercises. Kneading the earth with our hands, we connect with nature on the most basic level. With our spine aligned with mother nature's, we are able to more easily feel her breath and breathe together with her.

Ayurveda encourages us to use our body as a ruler and measuring cup for all our needs. We are born with all the tools needed to exercise our gifts for sadhanas, including those needed to feel and measure foods as we prepare them.

Your hands should be fully involved in all food preparation. Knead your energy into the dough, mash potatoes with your hands, tear leafy greens gently with your fingers. Measure your spices with the pinch of your fingers. The term anjali refers to the volume that can be held by your tow hands cupped together, two anjalis of food from your own hands are designed by nature to fill your own stomach.

When the hands need a tool to help, use the grinding stone or mortar and pestle. The closer to nature each utensil, the more connected and therefore healing the prepared food will be.

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