This May, we are delighted to partner once again with VCAI to host our Simply V Cooking Class. It was an afternoon dedicated to holistic nourishment, where participants gathered to learn the art of vibrant plant-based cooking whilst also exploring deeper reflections on life, perspective, and inner peace.
In the Kitchen: Vibrant Culinary Creations
Our participants rolled up their sleeves and dove into preparing two distinct, beautiful dishes designed to balance texture, aroma, and nutrition.
The kitchen filled with incredible aromas as the group began making the first dish, a Potato Balado with Veggie Popcorn Chicken. Diced potatoes, plant-based popcorn chicken and green beans were tossed with an aromatic spice paste, creating a harmonious blend of flavours ready to be served over warm steamed rice.
Next, the class moved on to preparing a classic Stir Fried Vegetables with Black Bean Sauce. Participants marinated the gluten in soy sauce and spices whilst cutting a colourful assortment of fresh vegetables. After shallow-frying the coated gluten, the vibrant greens were cooked with chopped black beans until tender. Finally, the gluten and remaining vegetables were tossed in on high heat, resulting in a fragrant, glossy dish.
Food for Thought: The Old Man Who Lost His Horse
At the conclusion of the cooking session, as everyone sat down to enjoy the wonderful meals they had prepared, we shared the traditional story of the old man who lost his horse.
In the story, when the old man loses his horse, his neighbour offer their condolences, but he simply asks, “How do you know this is bad luck?” When the horse returns with another magnificent wild horse, the neighbour congratulates him, to which he replies, “How do you know this is good luck?” The narrative continues to twist, showing how every seemingly unfortunate event leads to an unexpected fortune, and vice versa.
This timeless tale served as a beautiful invitation for everyone to reflect on how we navigate the inevitable ups and downs of our modern daily lives. Together, we explored six key wisdom statements that we can carry forward into our daily routines:
- The Event vs The Story: The events that happen to us are fundamentally neutral. It is our immediate judgment, label, and the narrative we construct around them that ultimately creates our internal suffering.
- Impermanence: Absolutely nothing in life is permanent. Circumstances are constantly shifting, meaning what appears to be “bad” today can very easily transform into something “good” tomorrow.
- Equanimity: True peace comes from cultivating a balanced, steady mind that does not tightly cling to specific outcomes or get carried away by temporary tides of fortune.
- Divine Wisdom: There is deep comfort in learning to trust that a larger order and purpose exist in the universe, extending far beyond the limits of our immediate vision and understanding.
- Gratitude in Suffering: Even during our hardest moments, we can practice looking for the hidden lesson, the silver lining, or the unexpected gift that the challenge might be offering us.
- Integrity: No matter how unpredictable or difficult the external situation or outcome becomes, our primary anchor is to stay deeply true to our core values.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this month for making the class so memorable. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming sessions as we continue to explore delicious plant-based nourishment and mindful living together!
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