“Saying Grace” is a part of the whole dining experience that I really enjoy. I have so many vivid recollections of those moments when we’d pause and offer our gratitude “for what we are about to receive”. We didn’t say grace all the time necessarily, these memories are intertwined mostly with holidays – a golden pause amidst the bustling cheer.
In order to bring more of these pre-meal, golden-pauses into my life I sought out the places where these pauses are practiced with great frequency, like ashrams – ashram life is filled with these moments.
I said “grace” a lot in India, every meal to be exact, and learned a few of the beautiful mantras commonly recited for the purpose of giving thanks.
What I love most about pure eastern spiritual practice is that it’s a science. There’s no dogma, try it for yourself, see what you think. What the great sages found was that mantra practice can effectively soothe the mind. And reciting mantras with others expands their effectiveness.
I love a good rational explanation. The best chanting coach I know in these parts is Suzin Green, who we recently had the pleasure of hosting for Kirtan (devotional chanting) here in Lambertville. She’s truly amazing and she teaches Monday nights in Princeton.
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