( Reading time : 3 minutes )
Long time back, an interviewer asked Sanjeev Kapoor, India’s celebrity chef as to what was the best approach towards improving one’s culinary skills. Kapoor replied, by saying “If you understand the science behind cooking, then it becomes easier.” Yes, there is a lot of science involved in every aspect of cooking whether it is heating, steaming, boiling, cooling, soaking, straining, energy conversion, volume calculations and so on.
Each type of dish requires careful planning, which demands the highest level of patience from the Chef. The container has to be chosen according to the type and quantity of dishes which are getting prepared. Fire is the fuel whose energy makes the cooking possible. The ingredients used in the cooking process are the 3 forms of matter (solid, liquid and gas), which is cooked within the container. The outcome of a set of intricate processes are the lip smacking delicacies. The Chef plays the role of the enlivening ‘Awareness principle’. This process can become sacred, if the Chef can nourish the dishes with subtle thoughts of care and affection during the preparation.
Our wonderful Universe is governed by thousands of scientific laws and principles, which are constant. Every human being has to transact with the external world of objects and the internal world of emotions/ thoughts. Challenges come in varying degrees and intensities, which makes us wiser, provided we have the attitude to face them appropriately and learn from them. Each one of us is like a ‘Master Chef’ processing the complex inputs, streaming in through our sense organs. The world of objects, emotions and thoughts can be compared to the insentient ingredients used in a cooking process. A meaning is derived from them, the moment all these ingredients are processed internally by our Mind and Intellect.
The Universe is always beautiful and magnificent. As a ‘Master Chef’, we always have choices to exercise. The meaning which we derive, depends upon how we relate ourselves to every object, emotion or thought. The beauty and magnificence always lies in the eyes of the beholder only.
Wisdom Nuggets 