A different kind of Christmas
A couple thousand years ago, Jesus was born. Christians around the world celebrate his birth, and talk about a second coming. But, that wish for a return is mistaken. Jesus was not alone as the “son of God”. He was a physical manifestation of God on Earth. There have been multiple instances of this before and since Jesus’s time. But, not many pay attention.Jesus wasn’t Christian. Nor were any of the other representations of God in man’s form. Hindu teaching calls them Avatars: divine incarnations sent to re-balance Dharma. We recently had one such avatar. He went by the name Meher baba. And, his birthday is today. So, that makes this day A different kind of Christmas.
Born 25 February, 1894, his parents weren’t Mary and Joseph. They were middle class Zoroastrians. His father was a shop keeper in Pune India. He had 5 siblings. There was no virgin birth or any other mythical occurrence. A lot of people don’t realize this, but, Jesus also had at least 6 siblings. Thanks to selective editing, that part of his life is generally overlooked. Born Merwan Irani, the name Meher Baba was bestowed upon Merwan Irani later in life, when he, and the world discovered he was, indeed, the Avatar.
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Why is it so hard to accept A different kind of Christmas?
With about 2.5 billion people, Christians represent the majority of religious people in the world. Most of them follow a highly structured orthodoxy based in fear, intended to control the masses. Doctrine revolves around myths and parables hand picked by elites from centuries past. The largest group are Roman Catholics. That name tells you what you need to know. Jesus was a critic of, and stood in stark resistance to the Roman empire. But, in 325 AD, the council of Niceae adopted their version of Jesus’s teachings into the official religion of the same Roman Empire. But, they couldn’t wipe away all of Jesus’s teachings. He taught Peace, love, and respect for all things in the kingdom of God. His birthday is an international Sensation called Christmas.
Meanwhile, Meher baba has, at best, a million, plus or minus, followers. Most reside in India with pockets in Europe, America, Australia, and elsewhere. It’s a perfect example of people missing the boat because they were looking in the wrong place. Joan Osbourne was right, when she sang “What if god was one of us“. In India, most people are more open to variations in religious thought than the rigid Christian image in the western world. Baba dropped his body in 1969. But, few in the western world caught onto his existence. Although, some famous names shared his love in their work. Pete Townshend of the Who is probably the most well known. And, Bobby Mcfarren had a huge hit song quoting Meher Baba: “Don’t worry, be happy.” But, the mainstream missed the signs.
What were the signs?
In India (and elsewhere), there are people known as Perfect Masters. There are 5 of them. At the age of 19, Merwan met one of them. Her name was Hazrat Babajan. She knew he was “the one”. When she kissed him on the forehead. His god consciousness enveloped him. He slipped into a coma-like state. he stayed this way, unable to care for himself, semi-catatonic for 9 months.
Over the next seven years, he went on to meet with the rest of the 5 masters who helped him awaken the divine within him. As they put it, he was god becoming man in contrast to man becoming god. During this period, he entered the 7 planes of existence, later described in his seminal work: God Speaks. The first plane is the gross world we experience everyday. The higher planes go through the mind, soul, power, a vicarious experience of the god force, and being the god force itself.
In 1925, he became silent. While this is a common practice among monks and other religious people, Baba’s silence was different. He continued to interact with the world using an alphabet board, and his own version of sign language. But, he never spoke another word the rest of his life. Like Jesus, he dedicated his life to bringing happiness, comfort, and service to people, washing the feet of lepers, and, helping the poor and downtrodden.
Tear down the wall
Baba sent a message of love, and worked to breakdown walls between religions. He proclaimed: “I have come not to teach but to awaken”. Similar to Jesus, he disdained organized religion, asserting that god is in everyone, and that our existence is more illusion than the reality that we are all part of the vast eternal. We are god as god is all things at once. he used the metaphor of the ocean. We are drops of water, But, when we merge into the ocean, we are no longer drops, but the ocean itself.
This concept is the ultimate in compassion and acceptance. If there is no difference between all that exists, to harm one is to harm all. Thus, any man made construct that seeks to divide is counter to the natural order, and god himself. While others said similar things throughout time, Baba had a special authority on these matters. Believe his divinity or not, what he said rings with a universal truth echoed through the centuries. Jesus, also, railed against the unnatural control of organized religion. When he turned over the tables in the temple, he made that clear.
People questioned Baba, stating that they loved Jesus. he responded (paraphrasing here) “and, rightfully so”. He didn’t seek to dissuade people of their religious beliefs. His goal wasn’t to tear down religions, but to unify them. Not as one conglomerate bent on control. But, as he putted, strung like beads on a string. One’s path to enlightenment is a singular journey. No one religion has all the answers. Your answer is specific to you.
Maybe we should celebrate A different kind of Christmas
In the world of politics, some claim there’s a war on Christmas. That’s not true. And, if you believe Christmas is December 25, that’s a whole other discussion. No one knows when Jesus was actually born. The day was just picked, based on the winter solstice. Claims that Christmas is under attack come from people who think their religion is better than others. Jesus teaches otherwise. He said There are 2 commandments that matter: Love God and love thy neighbor. He doesn’t say to love a Christian Hindu, or other god, he just says God. And, Your neighbor has the same spark of divinity in him/her. Therefore, love them as you love yourself or god no matter what their beliefs are.
A lot of people who call themselves Christians aren’t very Christlike in any way, shape, or form. The Christmas spirit that only comes out once a year demonstrates that. Allowing people to starve, suffer, and die while enriching and empowering others is antithetical to Jesus’s teachings. Baba echoes things that Jesus, Krishna, and Buddha said. Love one another. Recognize the divinity in all things, and be one with the universe. According to believers, this is because they are all the same being. Yes, we had a second coming. And, you missed it. Maybe it’s time to listen to the simple message all brought: Love one another. Then we can have a different kind of Christmas.
Respect all things great and small
On the political scene, there is a true Christian running for Senate in Texas. James Talarico actually reads the bible and recognizes what Jesus and Baba both said. He is against “Christian Nationalism” because the people pushing for it aren’t following the teachings of Christ. The bible doesn’t say anything about sexual orientation or Building temples. It does say a lot about loving the stranger or neighbor, feeding the poor, and helping each other. Talarico says the reason we have poverty is not because we can’t feed the poor. It’s because we “can’t satisfy the rich”. Just like the “war on Christmas”. Christian nationalists are calling this an attack on them, instead of listening to his words. He is stating the fact that if you want to call yourself Christian, follow Jesus’s teachings.
Jesus and Baba share many of the same ideals and concepts. Talarico points out that followers of Jesus didn’t call themselves Christians. They called their movement “The way”. The title Christianity was applied 300 years later by Constantine. Similarly, Baba’s followers call themselves Baba lovers. And, their beliefs are more Christian than the Christian nationalists trying to control the world. The love of all things great and small, without regard to faith or beliefs is a hallmark of this dedicated minority. They don’t disparage people for their beliefs. They embrace and learn from each other. Remember, Baba’s concept isn’t to destroy religion, but, to string them together linking the commonality instead of accentuating and exploiting differences. God favors none, but encompasses everything and nothing equally.
Everything and nothing
That is one of Baba’s major themes. Some people may have trouble comprehending what everything is. Or, for that fact, what nothing is. Baba points out: everything is both everything and nothing. Our existence on earth is nothing compared to the vastness of the universe. But, what we call god is not a grey haired man sitting in judgment in the clouds. God is everything, everywhere, all at once. Our insignificant being is not nothing, it is a part of god. So, nothing is everything. And, nothing as a concept is encompassed in everything. Even a vacuum of existence, while being, apparently nothing, is like the blank space on a canvas. So, nothing has a form and can only exists since it is part of everything.
Okay, a little too philosophical? perhaps. but, it illustrates just how little we know. And, for any one person or group of people to claim dominion over anything else is, in essence, blasphemy. Even if you don’t subscribe to any religion, you can still recognize the truth of the concept that we are all part of everything. So, when people posit that an affront to one is an affront to all, it makes sense, regardless of dogma. This is not a new concept. It appears in 1 Corinthians 12:26 : “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”
As for the power of nothing, Baba said: When nothing upsets you, you are at the beginning of the path. When you desire nothing, you are halfway on the path; when nothing becomes everything, you are perfected.
A different kind of Christmas is nothing new
Meher Baba may be the “second coming” most Christians missed. People in his orbit attest to his divinity. They, and other Baba lovers “pray” to him, much like people pray to Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna. But, none of this is new. People have always prayed to Deities in different forms. Greek, Roman, and Norse Gods predate Jesus. Zoroastrians, Hebrews, Hindus, and a dozen other religions all existed before Jesus embodied God in man’s form. The concept of the god man he and Baba represent is a way for people to put a face on the concept of god. Calling one or the other your “savior” isn’t going to save you. That’s something you have inside you. These figures just help extract it.
Ultimately, it’s just different phrasing of the same concept. We are all part of everything. Recognizing that, respecting that, and striving to be one with the universe is the goal. Each person must find their own path. Baba doesn’t chastise people for following Jesus or other religion. To him, they all have the same goal. Each must follow his/her own path to enlightenment. Some people believe God is everywhere. God is everything. Or, as Mojo Nixon puts it: Elvis is Everywhere. Who is right? Yes. They all are.
Follow your own path. Start with food.
While Talk of Baba centers on spirituality, philosophy, and the concept of Love as a uniting force, we do still have a life on Earth. Baba says “don’t worry, be happy. So, why not make this a happy occasion. Besides, Time is a relative thing. That’s why random dates mean things to people. If it reminds you to love each other and share in our commonality, it’s a good thing. So, let’s celebrate a different kind of Christmas with non-Christmas like Cuisine. To that end (not the final end, here are some recipes to enjoy on this joyous holiday.
Meyer Lemon Edamame Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Shelled cooked edamame
- 4 Cloves Fresh garlic
- 2 Cups Raw fresh Spinach
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1/2 Cup Meyer Lemon Juice (preferably, Fresh Squeezed)
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Ground Coriander
- 2 Tbsp Tahini Paste
- 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pulse garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add Spinach and Herbs, pulse until well chopped.
- Add in the Edamame, and puree until fine.
- Add the tahini and Lemon juice. Continue running the processor until smooth, no lumps. Scrape down sides and continue processing. Add in the spices at this time.
- While the machine is running, drizzle in the oil until it is well incorporated. If it separates, add some more beans. Taste the hummus, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Refrigerate and serve cold with pita and vegetables. You can drizzle a little olive oil and/or lemon for service, even garnish with fresh chopped herbs and, or chili flakes.
Savory Herbed Potato Latkes with Chive Cream fraiche
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Tbsp Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 Tbsp Corn Starch
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs assorted
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter to cook in
- For Creme Fraiche:
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 2 Tbsp Heavy Cream
- 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Chives
Instructions
- Make the Creme Fraiche: Whisk Sour Cream, Cream, and Lemon Juice together. Cover in plastic and place in a warm area overnight. It will thicken from the reaction of enzymes. If it is still a little loose after sitting overnight, add a little sour cream to thicken. Add in chives, salt, and pepper and mix well. Refrigerate until needed.
- Shred potatoes either by hand or with grater attachment on food processor. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until well incorporated.
- Heat butter in a pan over medium high heat until it melts. Scoop in latke mix and flatten to a pancake. Brown for a couple minutes per side. The thinner you make them, the quicker they will cook.
- Serve the latkes with creme fraiche or sour cream. Garnish with herbs if you desire.
Truffled Grilled Eggplant Plank with Wild Mushroom Ragout Served with Caramelized Leek studded Cauliflower Puree and garlic Spinach Timbale
Ingredients
- For the Eggplant
- 1 Large Eggplant
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Thyme
- 1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- Truffle oil to Drizzle
- For Mushroom Ragout
- 2 Cups Assorted Wild Mushrooms, Cut in large chunks or slices
- 1/2 Cup Sliced Fresh Shallot
- 1/2 tsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
- 1/2 cup Sherry Wine
- 1/2 Cup vegetable stock (optional)
- 1 Cup Grape tomatoes cut in 1/2
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Basil, sliced
- Truffle oil to taste
- For Cauliflower Puree
- 2 Cup Fresh Cauliflower
- 2 Cup Yukon Gold Potato
- 1/2 Cup Fine Diced Leeks
- Salted Water to boil
- 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- For Garlic Spinach Timbale:
- 1/2 Lb Fresh Spinach
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 1/4 Cup Diced Sweet Onion
- 1/4 cup Diced Red Pepper
- olive oil for cooking
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the eggplant: Chop your garlic and herbs, toss with oil and vinegar, and season. Peel and slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch Thick Planks or rounds. marinate the eggplant for about an hour
- Make the Ragout: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Saute the garlic and shallot until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft. Add the sherry and cook down until half the liquid is gone. Then add the tomatoes. Cook until they become soft, but don't fall apart. If the sauce looks a little dry, add a little vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper, Add the basil and truffle oil at service time.
- Make the Cauliflower Puree: Boil the potatoes in salted water until slightly soft, drain well, toss in olive oil, and spread out on a sheet pan. Toss the cauliflower in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place both in a preheated 400 degree oven. Cook until soft. In the meantime, heat some olive oil in a saute pan. Saute the leeks over medium heat until translucent. When the Cauliflower and potatoes are done, puree in a food processor, Add in half of the coconut oil. Check the consistency. If it is not too thin, add more coconut oil. Season the puree and fold in the leeks at the end. Keep warm until service or reheat when ready.
- make the spinach Timbale: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Saute the onion and garlic until translucent. Add the peppers and spinach and cook them down stirring until the spinach becomes wilted and pliable. Season the mix, Then strain off extra liquid. Stuff the spinach and pack tightly into ramekins. Hold in a warming oven.
- Grill the eggplant over a preheated grille or grille pan. Cook until nice lines appear and the "steak" softens all the way through.
- Assemble the plate. Carefully spoon the Puree into the middle of the plate, maybe slightly off center. Prop the eggplant against or on top of the puree. Turn the spinach Timbale out onto the plate next to the eggplant. Top the eggplant with the ragout. Then, drizzle a little truffle oil on top of the eggplant and ragout. Serve hot.
Baraabar Dhal
Ingredients
- To be used in all dishes:
- Coconut oil for cooking
- Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh garlic and ginger mixed
- For Black Urad Dhal
- 2 Cup Black Urad beans
- 1 Cup Diced Sweet Onion
- 1 Cup Diced Fresh tomato
- 2 Cup 1/2 inch cubes Peeled sweet potato
- 6 Cups water or vegetable stock
- 2 Tbsp Garam masala Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Scallion
- For lentils:
- 2 Cups Red Lentils
- 4 Cup Water or vegetable stock
- 1 Cup Diced Carrot
- 1 Cup Fresh Clementines
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Mint
- 1 Cup Julienne Spring onion, white part. Plus, 1/2 cup Green parts cut like scallions
- 2 Tbsp Curry Powder
- For Rice:
- 1 Cup basmati Rice
- 2 Cups water or vegetable stock
- 1 each cinnamon stick
- 3 each Whole Cloves
- For Vegetables:
- 2 Cup Fresh Green beans Cut in thirds
- 1 Cup Fresh Bell peppers
- 1/2 Lb Fresh Baby Spinach
- Vegan paneer or tofu seasoned with garam masala
Instructions
- Soak the Black Urad in water for at least an hour. You can soak overnight. Then drain them well.
- Make the Urad: Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add in the onion and half of the ginger and garlic mix. Saute until translucent, stirring as needed. Then add in the sweet potatoes. Allow them to get some color and begin to soften. Then add the seasoning. Stir. Add in the Urad Dhal, stir and allow the seasoning to evenly coat. Then add the water or stock. Simmer the mix until most of the liquid evaporates. Check that they are cooked. they should be soft, but maintain their shape. Add in the tomato, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 1 minute. Then remove from heat. Add cilantro and scallion right before serving.
- Make the re lentils: Heat Coconut oil over medium high heat. Add the whites of the spring onion and the remaining garlic and ginger. Saute for 1 minute. Then add the carrots. Saute until they begin to soften. Add in the curry. Then add the lentils. Stir to coat evenly. Then add the water or stock. Simmer until most of the liquid is gone. The lentils should be soft, but, retain their shape. Add in the clementines. Season with salt and pepper. Then add in the green herbs at service time.
- Make the Rice: Boil the water or stock with the cinnamon and cloves. It will take on a slightly brown tinge. Add the rice and a little salt and pepper. Simmer for a couple minutes. When most of the liquid is gone, turn off the heat and cover. Let the rice absorb the remaining liquid.
- Cook the vegetables: Julienne the peppers and cut the beans. heat oil in 2 separate pans. For the spinach use a large pan. Drop the spinach in the hot oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use tongs to move the spinach around. let it wilt so it remains green. The whole process takes about a minute or less. Add the beans and peppers to oil at high heat in the other pan. Cook until they almost pop. Season and remove from the heat. You want them to maintain color and crispness. At this time, you can also sear the paneer. There are vegan versions available or you can season tofu. Heat a light coating of oil over high heat and cook the paneer one side at a time until golden brown.
- Assemble the plate. To stay in tune with nature, we start with rice in thge middle, then build concentric circles outward. you could stack the layers or do lines or even serve buffet or family style.