Category:Our Cooking (Disciples of SP)
Theme Analysis
The quotes compiled in this category elevate the everyday act of cooking from a mundane chore to a profound manifestation of pure devotional service. Within the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the absolute nature of spiritual activities dictates that preparing food for the Lord's pleasure is identical in potency to preaching, chanting, or writing transcendental literature. The core philosophical thrust is that the consciousness of the cook determines the spiritual quality of the offering; therefore, devotees must meditate exclusively on satisfying Kṛṣṇa rather than themselves. To ensure this purity, stringent brahminical standards are established for the temple kitchen, restricting direct Deity cooking to initiated disciples while emphasizing absolute cleanliness. Furthermore, the systematic training of devotees in this art ensures that the global movement is sustained by nourishing, sanctified prasādam.
- The Absolute Nature of Devotion: In transcendental loving service, there is no hierarchy of importance; whether one is writing books, painting, or cooking in the kitchen, all activities dedicated to the Lord are absolute and equal.
- Sevā as Active Engagement: True devotional service, or sevā, is never idle or inert. It requires dynamic, practical activity, and expertly preparing meals for the Deity is a direct and vital form of this active engagement.
- Purity of Consciousness: The fundamental principle of a spiritual kitchen is selflessness. A devotee must consciously prepare every dish solely for the pleasure of the Lord, completely abstaining from tasting or eating the ingredients before they are offered.
- Strict Brahminical Standards: To protect the purity of the Deity offerings, only initiated disciples—specifically those with second initiation—are permitted to cook directly for the altar, while others may assist under careful guidance.
- Expertise and Practical Training: Devotees, particularly women, are encouraged to become expert in the arts of Deity worship and culinary preparation alongside their preaching duties, ensuring that the movement maintains a high standard of care and opulence in its offerings.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples That Cooking Is Pure Devotional Service.
Pages in category "Our Cooking (Disciples of SP)"
The following 38 pages are in this category, out of 38 total.
A
- All the wives of our students should be especially trained up for Deity worship and cooking, and when possible they should go outside on Sankirtana Party with their husbands and others
- Any householder devotee who is working full-time (with his wife) as a sankirtana book distributer, of temple managerial duties, artist, cook, etc. shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare minimum necessities by the temple itself
- At night offer puris, milk and other nice preparations should be offered also. In the morning offer fruits and during the day time nice dhal, chopaties, etc. Sometimes special preparations can be offered on Sunday - Kachories, sweet balls
G
- Girls should be taught how to become faithful wife, how to learn nice cooking, cleansing, dressing. Simple method. There is no objection of their becoming scholar, but that is not necessary
- Girls who are living in New Vrindaban should be engaged in the following activities; 1) taking care of the children, 2) cleaning the temple, kitchen, etc. 3) cooking, and 4) churning butter
I
- I am very glad to learn that you have now become a very good housewife with your very good husband. It is learned also that you are cooking very nice foodstuffs for him. This is very good
- I have no objection to your printing it with the name "Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook'', but the royalty should go to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Just as I am publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is with Macmillan Co. but the royalty is going to the BBT
- I shall also give you one very nice brahmacari from Los Angeles, Jaya Gopala. He is trained in Sankirtana Party and in cooking, so you can leave him for taking care of the temple affairs when you go to work
- I wanted that all our girls, they should be expert. And in America they are doing that. They should learn the art of cooking and prepare very nice foodstuffs, daily change of menu
- If we are cooking, it is for Krsna, not that we are cooking for our purpose. Ultimately, although we shall eat the prasadam, but when we cook, we don't think that we are cooking for ourself. We are cooking for Krsna
- If you write books about Krsna, if you read books about Krsna, if you talk about Krsna, you think of Krsna, you worship Krsna, you cook for Krsna, you eat for Krsna - so that is krsna-kirtana
- In the transcendental loving service of the Lord, it doesn't matter whether we are working, cooking, painting, writing, chanting, or whatever, they are all the same. There are no such distinctions of higher and lower on the transcendental platform
- Isana may continue as cook there. He should always be kept engaged. He is a bit crazy but he is a very good soul
- It is a question of love that sometimes I cook, you eat and sometimes you cook, I eat
S
- Sevanam does not mean sit down idle, inert. No. As soon as seva. Seva means activity. One has to preach, one has to write, one has to do this, do that, cook, offer the prasadam, everything. Seva, activity
- So you please continue your devotional service, cooking etc, and you can also keep giving Bhagavatam class if you like. Women in our movement can also preach very nicely. Actually male and female bodies, these are just outward designations
- Somebody responsible should be in charge. That way instead of salt something may be put. So many people cooking is going on. All right. Hare Krsna
T
- The dishwashing occupation is open to anyone who wishes to help. There is no restriction. Also, non-initiates may help in cooking prasadam under the direction of devotees. That is all right
- The large brass Deities can be bathed the same as the small ones if they can be handled easily; Cooking can go on after the Deities' plate is made
- This is psychology. If woman is chaste, even though she is not very beautiful, she will be liked by the husband. So train them in that way: very chaste, faithful wife and knows how to cook very nicely
- This sandesh can be kept at least for a fortnight without damage, but cheese cannot be kept more than three days
U
W
- We are preaching God's glory. We are publishing book for understanding God. We are cooking for feeding God. So many, all our activities are meant for serving the Lord, that's all
- We performed Lord Caitanya's Birthday ceremony, not very gorgeously, but amongst ourselves, and Govinda dasi cooked very nice Ekadasi foodstuffs. The next day I expected some big ceremony but it couldn't be performed
- We request our editors of cook books to add all these nice preparations described (in CC Madhya 3.47) by the experienced author Srila Kaviraja Gosvami
- We shall teach the girls two things. One thing is how to become chaste and faithful to their husband, and how to cook nicely. If these two qualifications they have, I'll take guarantee to get for them good husband
Y
- You are an experienced lady, and you can teach especially the girls there to cook nicely for the Deity, to prepare flower garlands nicely for the Deity, to clean and dress the Deity nicely
- You should make sure that there is nice fresh, clean dress every morning, nice bathing ceremony every morning, nice offerings of prasadam. You should see that the Deity is tended for and cooked for only by the duly second initiated brahmanas
- You'll find in our temple, we are cooking so many nice preparations. Perhaps you have tasted some of them. But we are not preparing tea or coffee or meat - nothing. These are anarthas. What is the necessity?