The Reality of Food

The food in Mysore is so different from the food in America. Here there is so much intention put into even the smallest snack or cup of chai. The Indian people have a pure respect for their food. There are no preservatives or added color in the food prepared here. You can find Chinese, traditional Indian, French, Twainese ,and even Pizza Hut. Most everything is vegeterian but with the spices and color and freshness there is no need to eat meat here. More than half of the country is going hungry so there is little waste and all food is appreciated.


The experience that really opened my eyes was tonights dinner. In Mysore there are little cafes that are really out of peoples homes. They usually have internet and the head of the house is a good cook so they will open for a few hours in the evening or morning and prepare food for yoga students at a low price. Usually around 50r to 100r which is about a dollar or two you can get a huge dinner or even an all you can eat home stye buffet. Tonight there was a group of us that went to Ricshi's cafe right up the street. We all ordered a set menu that was 100r. We got a mixture of Dosas, dal, cucumber and tomato salad, and a fruit salad. Of course none of us were thinking so we kept asking for refills on dishes as we were cleaning our plates. As we were leaving we asked the lady of the house the name of the curried dish that was served. She told us it was not the ususal dinner to be served but we were eating so much they ran out of food and they gave us what they had saved for their dinner. I felt so bad and selfish. We didn't really eat that much in our standards but we ate more than we should. We as Westerners are spoiled and self centered. The point is we always want more. When is enough actually enough. She smiled and told us it was not a big deal they had bread for their dinner. The begged us to come back and even offered us a cooking class on Saturday. They Indian people are true loving people and we have a lot to learn from them. I am trully humbled.


On my way to shala every morning I pass a homeless guy who sleeps on the side of the road. He is just another to add to the number of hungry homeless people in India. For some reason my heart aches when I see him. His clothes are dirty and he is rail thin and eyes are yellow. His lips are usually so chapped and dry they are white and cracked. He is probably no older than 15 of 16 years of age. He is actually one of the only street people that doesn't beg for money or food. I have made a point to take him toast from my breakfast or buy him a coconut on my way home each day. Have you ever just wanted to take someone home and feed them and give them a chance at life. I want to give him a way to go to school or furnish him with a roof to sleep under, medical care, a job, or let him know someone thinks about him. All I can do is give him a God damned coconut or a piece of toast. The thing is I'm going to leave and than this guy is back to being just part of the forgetable homeless and hungry untouchable class of India. He might even be dead before he reaches 20. He has probably never even had a piece of cake let alone a birthday cake. He has a heart though. He has a mom, a dad, maybe a sister or brother but where are they. He sleeps alone and is homeless and hungry in Gokulom, 3rd stage , Mysore, India.

So the food is great here but the reality is that as you are stuffing your face with someone elses meal and the guy outside your window is starving to death it makes your dinner go down with bitter force. The lesson I have learned is you can enjoy your food but don't take it for granted. For once in your life actually sit down and taste what you are eating. Make your dinner with love and intention. Share a coffee or snack with someone who is less fortunate than you. Someone else in the world is wishing they had half of the Chinese lunch you boxed up today. Are you still going to throw it away because you didn't want left overs. Someone in India will die tonight because of hunger. Eat that for dessert.