Heart to Heart Communion

Pray Before You Eat
Sai devotees in particular and many Indians in general are expected and exhorted to recite (either openly or within the mind) two verses from the Gita (4:24 and 15:14) before taking their food — be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. The first verse changes the simple and routine act of eating into a purposeful step towards the union with God and encourages us to dedicate every physical and mental activity to Him as a sure means of attaining Him and His qualities of perfect love, wisdom, peace and happiness. The second verse makes us realise, rather dramatically, the presence of God within ourselves as a matter of daily experience rather than as some rare revelation. ...   

Brahmarpanam Brahma havir

Brahma karma samadhina (4:24)

Aham Vaishvanaro bhutva.

...  The more we contemplate on this and the other so many involuntary systems and processes operating in the body such as the nervous system, and the circulatory system, we feel deeply humble and begin to perceive the hand of the Lord in our bodies themselves. So this body wherein resides the Lord Himself becomes His temple to keep which clean, neat, beautiful and in excellent condition becomes our sacred duty. How happy too one can become when one realises that this body made of flesh, blood and bones is indeed a marvellous temple for the Lord of the Universe! It is that happiness which is bestowed upon us through this prayer.

O. P. Vidyakar

Please read the complete article in the print version of SPIRITUAL IMPRESSIONS
( Vol.1 No. 1 March - April 2001)