THE FRESH MIND Meditation RECIPE

As you walk into kitchen, prepare your mind with the right motivation: To want to bring well-being to others and yourself.

Just notice your emotional state of body and mind.
Nothing to do, just notice.

Next, open the cupboard and fridge and observe your ingredients with no preconcieved idea, a fresh view.  Think what you could make with the ingredients you have on hand for your meal. 

Begin cooking, just appreciating whatever is happening, just the way things are.  A no big deal attitude.

Distractions come, mind wanders—bring mind back by concentrating on an object.. your breath, your posture, stirring the pot, chopping the onion, a spoon, tasting the flavors, noticing the fresh colors, smelling the aromas or your motivation. Concentrate on the object while your thoughts run here and there. Keep returning your mind to the object. There is nothing else to do for 30 seconds. Make this practice a habit, relax into the routine of these mindful mind refreshers. 

Serve with a loving heart.

KITCHEN WISDOM

Cooking can cause anxiety and pressure and seem like too much of a chore especially with the busy lives most of us live. Cooking with a fresh mind involves a meditative awareness to cooking. What is that?  It means trusting ourselves; being willing to make mistakes, letting go of expectations, hopes, fears, and obsessions.  It helps loosen the grip that our emotions and the objects of our emotions have on us.  Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated. It can can be a truly magical experience if we are willing to trust our own intuition.  Using the fresh mind recipe can help us train our minds in letting these things fall away by watching our thoughts and appreciating whatever is happening.  Cooking is an essential activity and training the mind is essential too.