Two of my favorite things about living at the Monastery (1) the clarity of the night sky and (2) the purity of the flavors in the food we eat.
Without the light pollution, we enjoy the brilliance of the stars and the moon virtually every single night. Before coming here, I didn't really know what I was missing as I had lived in towns or cities my whole life. Sure, the moon and some stars were visible, but man, oh man! Now that I know what a night sky really looks like, I don't think I could ever give that up!
The same is true for the food we eat. The ubiquitous nature of sugar common in most Western diets precludes us from enjoying the huge array of flavors available to the palate through ordinary, simple foods. Without the "sugar pollution," the pungent flavor of fresh ginger or the natural sweetness of a yam delight in a way this former sugar-addict could never have foreseen! I'd like to say I could never go back to eating refined sugar, but we all know how persistent egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate can be. Without the support of practice and Sangha, I might be popping Milk Duds despite my very best intentions. Practice reunites us with what our hearts and bodies long for, and for that, we can be eternally grateful.
Here is a recipe that will give you a delightful taste of that fresh ginger I am talking about!
Gassho,
Rebecca
Tofu-Ginger-Sesame Spread
2 pounds tofu, drained and mashed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. grated ginger
1/3 cup toasted sesame seeds
Mix all ingredients together well and chill.
Serves 8