Yogiji Loved to Cook

Yogiji loved to cook was shared by Soorya Kaur (staff member of Yogi Bhajan) shared this photo and these words on page 69 of her book YogiJi – The Light of Our Souls, written in 2005

Like most Punjabis, Yogiji loved to eat. He enjoyed feeding people and never ate alone. In his presence, one could not use the expression, “I am starving”. “You are not starving”, would be his prompt retort, “you are hungry!”

Yogiji loved to cook and create his highly unusual, individualized versions of healthy cuisine. He would use everything available in the kitchen, wasn’t happy about wasting anything, and never followed a recipe! He used a lot of herbs and spices, garlic, ginger, onions, nuts. Every drawer in the kitchen was opened, and practically every utensil and ladle got used. We were often hesitant to eat his concoctions because they looked different from any other food we had eaten. It invariably surprised us that it was always delicious! He served each person himself.

Look for Yogi Bhajan book recipes here

Soorya Kaur Blessings

I wish to thank God for many, many blessings, but in particular, for my good friend Neesha Singh.  I could never have done this book without her editing and writing skills, and innate sense for photography.  We forged a partnership that made this book a reality in an extremely short period of time.

While I was working on the idea of this book, my pictures (I always attempted to make him smile for me) opened a floodgate of the intimate memories that I share here with you.  If I may humbly say this, I don’t think of this as “my book” because Guru Ram Das and Yogiji saw me through it, and it took on a life of its own.

It is difficult to decide whether Guru Ram Das adopted Yogiji or Yogiji adopted Guru Ram Das.  Every morning as he performed Seva (selfless service) washing the floors of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, Yogiji heard Guru Ram Das’ Bani (prayers).  During this period, he was enlightened by a miraculous spiritually elevating experience, and his bond with Guru Ram Das was sealed forever.  Guru Ram Das became his and our patron Guru.  We learn to call upon him to take our pain, to sort out our problems, to be there for us, to produce a miracle when needed, and he always delivered.