by Gurani Anjali
Let us acknowledge the prasad. Prasad is fruit or food that is sanctified. It is consecrated food. We see the fruits sitting in the round tray, called a thali. It is so beautifully arranged. See how beautifully it is arranged. We cannot see the one that arranged it. That is the work of Ishvara (supreme self), coming in the form of a person. They arranged the fruit and then disappeared. Now all we see is the arrangement. And the arrangement says so much.
Fruits are a symbol of life. It is a symbol of sacrifice. It is food that creates the body and food is very, very, very silent. And because it is so silent, it says so much. We are to learn from these fruits. Everything in this world is alive and everything is sacrificing itself for the other; and we are also like that. See the sacrifice—the fruits, their lives, their selfless nature. They are sacrificed so that they may enter us. So we may live and seek our highest knowledge. So we may speak and always bring honor to that which is sacrificed for us—for the continuation of life. May we speak [honorably] of this sacrifice – which is done in silence.
We raise our hands in chin mudra. Put your thumb and index finger together; signifying eternity. The other three fingers signify past, present and future and the three gunas (constituents of the manifest world); tamas (darkness, inertia), rajas (passion, activity) and sattva (lightness, illumination). This is the mudra (gesture) of consciousness.
The prasad is going to be sanctified by the sacred sound of Om. Our breath and our intentions will go into the fruit. We’re putting the prana, a divine element, into this fruit that is placed before us. Take a deep breath. Look at Agni, the flame that flickers not in a windless place. That flame is symbolic of the flame that lives within us. Agni is a great power, a great, silent witness. Without the flame, nothing can live. Om, shanti. Look at the flame for a moment, take a deep breath. Connect with your own atma, your own purusa nature, your soul within the cavity of the heart. Then look at the fruits that have surrendered themselves. You also have the same nature as the fruit. Together let us pay our respects and bless the prasad.
Om shanti, shanti, shanti
(Chanted as a communal blessing of the prasad.)
Prasad is a beautiful nectar. It revives; and continues in a blissful state, giving life. It has a splendor to it. It shows the glittering effect of your purusa nature, of your soul. The splendid brilliance of the fruit – signifying surrender. We are also to be like the fruit; giving nourishment to all those who may come into our lives. We are to surrender like the fruit, in order to uphold the dignity of the life that stands before us; never abusing, always honoring. Silently going – silently giving. How silent the food is. May we also be silent and do what we can to purify our whole existence and the existence of all those who are dear to us and the whole world. Let us be like the fruit.
Let us continue to work hard every day. Let us continue to put our affection into our work. Let us eliminate suffering amongst all seekers after truth. The fruit symbolizes sacrifice. As it has done, may we also do. It has given up its life for us so that we may live through it, so that we may always sing the praises of this great sacrifice. Learn the meaning of sacrifice, of taking on the responsibilities to live through and move in the rta (sacred order of life, truth). This is what the fruit has done; it is sacrificing its life, silently, for all of us. And it will enter into our being. So that it will live through us. As we live in this world, be a light in this world.
May we learn from this piece of fruit that you will hold in your hand and put in your mouth. This prasad is now sanctified and as you put it in your mouth, remember the sacrifice. It will nourish your body and strengthen your mind. When you put the fruit in your mouth – worship, bow your head. It enters us so quietly, and the taste is pleasant and sweet, refreshing and clear. May you learn to be just like that; sweet, fresh, silent and so tasty. Let us take a lesson. Let us be like that.
When eaten, it nourishes the body and when the body is nourished, it seeks the fruit again and again and again. And once the body begins to realize the true significance of the fruit, which is its sacrificial nature, then the body will proclaim and speak about the fruit, about how sweet it is. It is only when something is totally sacrificed, that it can be sweet. So as you partake of this fruit, see the sacrificial nature in it and see how you are also sacrificial at times. To make your whole life a sacrifice – this is the aim of the seeker-after-truth.
Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
Gurani Anjali