Lifestyle
Meditation is the activity where you are living only in the moment. You are not at all concerned about anything else. Making chai is just like that. From boiling the water to pouring the liquid in the cup, every step is worth feeling. We will explore exactly how the act of making chai mirrors meditation.
It demands your presence
You don’t make chai on autopilot. You need to be mentally present if you want the right taste. You need to know when to add the sugar, tea leaves and other ingredients and how much. If you overboil the tea or add too much or too little ingredients, then you risk ruining the entire experience. This is how meditation works. The task is simple but demands basic attention.
It has a rhythm
Preparing chai has a rhythm and a process. It is a step-by-step process and each step gently leads to the next one. Even in meditation, you first have to sit down, relax your body, calm your mind and go in a concentration mode. This act becomes a ritual and as you get habituated, you start performing the task in a flow without thinking too much.
It engages all the senses
Making chai engages all your senses, just like how meditation encourages you to be fully aware of your surroundings. Watching the liquid’s colour change, smelling the sweet aroma, hearing the sound of bubbles and hissing of the milk, touching the warm kettle and pouring in the cup and finally drinking it. Even if you don’t notice it, you are putting all your senses to work while preparing tea just like meditation.
It slows you down
In this fast-paced world, the act of preparing chai encourages you to slow down. In meditation, you are doing nothing but calming yourself down and putting your mind at rest. Just like that, the act of making chai is a slow process and should not be rushed through. It teaches you patience and teaches you how to let things unfold themselves rather than thinking too much at every step. Just a few minutes of preparing chai is a good therapeutic process for your mind.
Nourishes your body and mind
Just like meditation, chai is a nourishment for both body and mind. The hot drink soothes your throat, boosts your digestion and improves your health. It also gives you relaxation and mental clarity. Away from all the chaos, meditation and chai offer you a few minutes of peace. Chai or meditation is a personal pause that everyone needs at some point during the day.