Grace

Elsie Mokete, full of grace

 When we practice zen-cuisine, before we begin cooking, we stop and pause for a minute to ground and center ourselves. Mindfully, we take the time to look around the kitchen at the beauty and simplicity available to us whenever we take the time allow ourselves to be aware of these possibilities. A sense of ease and contentment flows through the body/mind, and we settle into a gentle acceptance is what is unfolding in the present moment. This experience of being fully open to life is often described as ‘grace’. Spiritual teacher Adyashanti calls such an incident an “ah-ha! moment of recognition” You intuitively know something you weren’t aware of before.  For Meditation teacher Sally Kempton, this grace enlivens with its transformative energies. We discover that through the power of grace, “the secret landscapes of our inner consciousness are open to us.”  

Elsie's Graceful walking Meditation

Grace comes to us as we open our hearts and minds to new insights, offering a glimpse of opportunities we have not even yet imagined. Grace is, in fact, our inner teacher, and it is not something separate from who we are. Through grace, we rest in awareness that we are Awareness. As Rumi says ,“Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of every wave till it gets to the shore “ Filled with grace, we can prepare food in a relaxed manner without clinging to any fixed ideas about what is going to take place, or what the end result will be.

A Sense of Wonder and Joy

 As zen-cuisine practitioners, we are willing to step into this spaciousness, and open ourselves to a new and fresh perspective. Whenever we take time to savour the moment while working in the kitchen, we can sense the grace flowing in and around us. We also discover that a mysterious gift of joy accompanies moments of grace, transforming our consciousness. Through this shift in perception, we are offered a way to awaken into a more holistic and tender understanding of life. Grace manifests in and through us. It is part of our deepest self, and does not come from somewhere else. Grace is inseparable from who we truly are, and is always available to experience.  May abundant grace, good food,and good company empower your zen-cuisine practice. Happy Cooking!