ex-l wrote:I am sure that I am not the only one on this forum whose food was not considered "pure enough" ... and yet I was also one of the few risking disapproval introducing organic and wholefoods into the movement. Tonnes of sugar ... heavy spice ... food colouring ... oil ... that is fine. Health!?! We were "bhagats" doing "health Bhakti", to quote Jayanti Kripalani.
Hey ex-l, a few responses: from when I arrived in London in '77, we "Pandavs" were regularly buying bulk and shopping from wholefood and organic suppliers. We did not try to "educate" the SS though. Maybe you were applying the same "purer than thou" and proselytising approach regarding food to the SS that they use on others! They did not like your oneupmanship or a taste of their own medicine!
I've coincidentally just made a contribution to the forum on your point regarding strong spices and tonnes of sugar as acceptably sattwic in the topic "Hullo from terry", so won't repeat here.
But I will relate another story about food snobbery - which I know is true as I heard it straight from the horse's mouth. (Then BK) Stuart Hepburn volunteered to go to Edinburgh to begin service there (was it 1978?) He left a good job and flat in London, and had to start from scratch in Edinburgh. After one or two false starts with premises, he finally got a decent place together and began "service", putting his heart, soul, time and money into it after doing his time at his paid job. After 6-12 months things were going well, and so Sudesh was sent there to consolidate and expand. Stuart vacated the bedroom in the centre so she could use it, aiming to live out of his suitcase and sleep on the floor. He prepared food and offered Bhog so that his guest would have something to eat when she arrived (by train I believe).
When they arrived back at the flat, Sudesh asked him to find somewhere else to stay as he couldn't stay there. Like most have reported, when these things happen, you are confused but go along with it, trusting in the "senior's" experience and judgement. While he packed his things, Sudesh wrapped all the food he'd made, and after he was out the door, she called him back and gave it to him. Being a gentleman, he told her that it was "Bhog" that had been specially prepared and offered for
her after her journey. She insisted he take it, as if she were doing him a favour. It was only later that he realised the significance of it all.
Now Sudesh gave me this advice, when I asked her about a situation at my job where people used coffee mugs as ashtrays, whether I should take my own. She said, "You are world transforming yogi. Surely you can transform the vibrations in a cup? Rinse it well, and remember Baba as you drink". What's good for the gander ain't good for the goose it seems.
Here's one more: At Tennyson Rd, both upstairs and downstairs crammed full of people for some event. The dessert comes out - Jelly! (For those few who don't know, commercial packet jelly is made from Gelatine, i.e. from ground up animal bones, hooves and other waste from the abattoir). Young enthusiastic BK that I was, I knew a fair bit about food. I found one of the centre Sisters and told her, who then went and spoke to Jayanti, I think, who then conferred either with Sudesh or Janaki.
The word came back to me while people continued being served (I had refused), "thank you for telling us, we won't serve it again but lot's have already eaten it so let's let it go, don't say anything to anyone else". The "mother" who prepared it came up to me distressed, and I had to console her, tell her things like, "common mistake, not many people realise etc etc ..."