Tarla Dalal: Perfect recipe to please God

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">I believe in God but I am not one for rituals. I pray for a few minutes everyday, when I awake in the morning, and when I retire to bed. <br />Basically, my prayer when I go to bed is to thank Him for all that He has blessed me with. The reason why I am not so much of a ritualistic person is because my mother taught me that rituals have no meaning if your karma is not good.<br />I was taught early on that it is very important to be a good human being and perform your karma well. In today''s time, too much emphasis is paid to rituals and thereby God is forgotten. <br />I am fond of listening to Pandurang Shastri, there is so much that one can learn from his sermons. I experience peace of mind and feel relaxed listening to his preachings.<br />Earlier, I used to travel to Athvale to listen to him, now I read extensively his discourses. What appealed to me the most is that he says it''s not difficult to reach to God.<br />Happiness, he says, lies in your family. Make your family happy. And once there is love and peace at home your life will be good. For ultimately, God resides in every Home.<br />He also urges us to strife to excel and upgrade in everything that we do, be it our work, kindness, charity, or our way of thinking.<br />Dada (Shashtriji) said that if we offer anything to God with love, He will surely accept it. He accepted from ''Shabri'' fruits that she had tasted, for she had offered with true love and devotion.<br />So during chappan bhog I did make Apple Pie and Orange Pie to offer to the Lord, ofcourse it was a vegetarian recipe as I cook only vegetarian food. <br />I start my day with bhajans; it''s the perfect beginning for my day. I love listening to bhajans of Narsee Mehta, and abhangs on the walkman, when I go for my morning walks.<br />This helps my physical and spiritual well-being. I have a huge collection of bhajans.<br />I talk to God about everything, He is like my father. At times I even get angry with Him. When I had an eye problem and I was in pain I was terribly upset, but then I have accepted it, it''s the way God wanted it.<br />It''s only because of God''s grace that I have been able to achieve so much in life. But there is no ultimate point of success. One cannot reach the top, for life is a learning process that goes on. But success should not go to one''s head. <br />One should remain humble and continue to thank God.<br />(<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">As told to Purnima Goswami Sharma</span>) </div> </div>