Everything is Changeable

Looking at life, we notice how it changes and how it continually moves between extremes and contrasts. We notice rise and fall, success and failure, loss and gain; we experience honor and contempt, praise and blame; and we feel how our hearts respond to all that happiness and sorrow, delight and despair, disappointment and satisfaction, fear and hope. These mighty waves of emotion carry us up, fling us down, and no sooner we find some rest, then we are carried by the power of a new wave again. How can we expect a footing on the crest of the waves? Where shall we erect the building of our life in the midst of this ever-restless ocean of existence?

This is a world where any little joy that is allotted to beings is secured only after many disappointments, failures and defeats. This is a world where scanty joy grows amidst sickness, desperation and death. This is a world where beings who a short while ago were connected with us by sympathetic joy are at the next moment in want of our compassion. Such a world as this needs equanimity. This is the nature of the world where we live with our intimate friends and the next day they become our enemies to harm us.

The Buddha described the world as an unending flux of becoming. All is changeable, continuous transformation, ceaseless mutation, and a moving stream. Everything exists from moment to moment. Everything is a recurring rotation of coming into being and then passing out of existence. Everything is moving from birth to death. The matter or material forms in which life does or does not express itself, are also a continuous movement or change towards decay. This teaching of the impermanent nature of everything is one of the main pivots of Buddhism. Nothing on earth partakes of the character of absolute reality. That there will be no death of what is born is impossible. Whatever is subject to origination is subject also to destruction. Change is the very constituent of reality.

In accepting the law of impermanence or change, the Buddha denies the existence of eternal substance. Matter and spirit are false abstractions that, in reality, are only changing factors (Dhamma) which are connected and which arise in functional dependence on each other.

Today, scientists have accepted the law of change that was discovered by the Buddha. Scientists postulate that there is nothing substantial, solid and tangible in the world. Everything is a vortex of energy, never remaining the same for two consecutive moments. The whole wide world is caught up in this whirl and vortex of change. One of the theories postulated by scientists is the prospect of the ultimate coldness following upon the death or destruction of the sun. Buddhists are not dismayed by this prospect. The Buddha taught that universes or world cycles arise and pass away in endless succession, just as the lives of individuals do. Our world will most certainly come to an end. It has happened before with previous worlds and it will happen again.

'The world is a passing phenomenon. We all belong to the world of time. Every written word, every carved stone, every painted picture, the structure of civilization, every generation of man, vanishes away like the leaves and flowers of forgotten summers. What exists is changeable and what is not changeable does not exist.'

Thus all gods and human beings and animals and material forms -- everything in this universe -- is subject to the law of impermanence. Buddhism teaches us:

'The body like a lump of foam;
The feelings like a water bubble;
Perception like a mirage;
Volitional activities like a plantain tree;
And Consciousness like jugglery.' (Samyutta Nikaya) Everything is Changeable

Everything is changeable from "what Buddists believe, K.Sri Dhammananda, buddist Cultural Center.

Grilled Salmon with Lemongrass and Garlic

In recent months, I have been busy with moving preparations. The kitchen utensils have been carefully packed. Since then, cooking is hard to do for not having proper equipment to prepare fancy dishes. Today, I am sad to say goodbye to my blog Fans for a while because in the next few months I will be even busier settling into my new home in Florida.  Forgive me if I cannot post new recipes on my blog.  I will now share a last, easy and healthy dish that I have been enjoying for the past few months since I do not have all the necessary pots and pans. This is a very healthy dish, using spices commonly used in Asian medicine. Salmon with skin is very good when seared in a non-stick pan; however, other fish are also suitable for this season.  I hope that I will return to my blog and continue to offer you recipes for delicious delicacies of the tropical world that I will learn while living in Florida.

Ingredients;

2 salmon fillets

2 tbs oil

Marinade sauce ingredients:

1 tsp ginger

1 garlic clove, minced

1 shallot, minced

2 tbs minced lemongrass

1 tbs lemon juice

1 tbs fish sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tbs honey or brown sugar

1/2 cup water

Sesame dressing ingredients:

1 tbs fish sauce

1 tbs vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp sriracha sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

2 green onions, sliced

Directions:

Combine the marinade ingredients and mix well.

Place the salmon fillets onto a shallow container and pour the marinade sauce over them. 

Marinate the fish for an hour. Remove and discard the sauce.

Heat the grilled pan with oil and pan sear the salmon for 6 minutes (3 minutes on each side).

Pour the sesame dressing over the salmon and serve.

Honey-Garlic Drumsticks

Garlic and honey are staples of Asian cooking, and these two ingredients together make many dishes taste good.  I will now share an easily prepared sauce that can be used to marinate most poultry. Garlic is a healthy food ingredient, and honey is a natural sweetener to replace sugar.  I use chicken drumsticks for this recipe, but chicken breasts and thighs are best.

Ingredients:

5 chicken drumsticks

2 tbs olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce ingredients:

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup honey

2 tbs rice wine vinegar

2 tbs soy sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Other items:

3 green onions, cut into 2 inch lengths

 Serve with hot cooked rice

Directions:

Wash the drumsticks.

In a small bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients well.

Heat oil in a pan and brown the chicken on both sides.  Add garlic and stir well for 1 minute.

Add the sauce ingredients mixture and bring to boil. Turn the heat down; cover pan, and cook for 20 minutes.

 Uncover and adjust the seasonings to your taste. Let cook for another 10 minutes; add green onions.

Make a quick stir and serve with hot cooked rice.

Easy Molasses & Ginger Bread

According to all new studies about the benefits of blackstrap molasses for healthy living, I found another way to add molasses into a bread recipe and to add molasses into the daily diet. This recipe is very easy to prepare; It can be adapted to a one-bowl recipe for easy clean up. The fresh ginger makes this bread quite tasteful.  However, if fresh ginger is hard to find, powdered ginger is just fine. To learn more about the benefits of molasses, the web address, http://dietsok.info/blackstrap-molasses-8-benefits-for-your-health/, will explain them. I hope this recipe will always be a part of your healthy living.

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp fresh minced ginger

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground clove
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Wet ingredients:

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup molasses

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil or vegetables oil
1 egg

Topping with 1/4 cup coconut flakes

Equipment:

One 8 or 9 inch  round cake pan

Directions:

Use 1 tbs coconut oil to grease the cake pan.

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Sift the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl.

Combine the wet ingredients egg in another mixing bowl. Use a handheld beater to beat well 

Add the combined wet ingredients with the sifted dry ingredients and beat just until smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and top with 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

This bread tastes fantastic when served warm.

Easy Grilled or Baked Salmon

When it comes to a healthy easy recipe, this is one at the top of my list.  Fish is always quick to cook, and, after about 3 to 5 minutes, most of the time a meal is finished . A fish meal does not need many ingredients to make it taste good. Today, I will share this recipe using just a few ingredients usually available in most kitchens, and the result will satisfy everyone.

Ingredients:

6 oz. salmon fillet

Marinade ingredients:

1/8 tsp dried basil

1/8 tsp dried dill

1/8 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

Pinch of chilli flakes

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp olive oil

Directions:

Combine all the marinade ingredients and mix well. Pour mixture over the fish and marinate for 1 hour.

Choose one of two ways to cook the fish:

1- Heat a nonstick grill pan with a little oil. Add fish and grill 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

2- Place fish on a baking dish and bake in a countertop oven, such as Nuwave®, and bake for 7 minutes

Enjoy!!

Easy Sticky Rice with Pandan Leaves and Coconut Oil

In the south of Vietnam, pandan leaves are fragrant herbs that the South Vietnamese people use for many dishes. The pandan leaves are not just seasonings that make the food more delicious, but they also have the effect of treating diseases as a medicine in traditional medicine. In the old days, modern medicine was not available, so our ancestors had to fight diseases with all the natural herbs and pandan leaves available to them.  I will try not to go any further into the medical field here because this is a cooking blog.  However, I really want to share some information about pandan leaves that is very useful. The pandan leaves binomial name (Pandanus amaryllifolia Roxb) belongs to the pineapple family growing into large green, upright sprays, about 1 m high, with a diameter of about 1 - 3 cm, branches. The leaves have a smooth texture, with a length of 40-50 cm, arranged in a trough shape, with a non-spiked edge, a light-colored underpost, with beautiful aromas, such as perfume, which is even more pronounced when it is dried. According to some studies, the pandan leaves are used to treat hypertension, support joint pain and rheumatism. Also, many people suffer from poor appetites, which lead to weight loss. Therefore, the easy-to-follow method of "pandan leaf" by boiling two pandan leaves before eating 30 minutes often can help you increase your appetite. The pandan water can help to reduce the feeling of anxiety.  In addition to the above treatment, pandan leaves are useful for overcoming hair problems, such as to remove dandruff and by shampooing hair regularly will make hair strong and shiny. With so many health benefits of consuming pandan leaves, I will share one easy recipe to make pandan leaves with sticky rice for breakfast. This is easy when using a rice cooker. I do not live near a Vietnamese supermarket; therefore; it is hard to find fresh pandan leaves which is best to use for making this recipe.  However, I bought frozen pandan leaves at H Mart, the Korean supermarket, which is good too.  With all the benefits for human health, I hope this recipe will contribute goodness to all people who like to live long and healthy lives.

Ingredients:

3 cups sticky rice

2 cups pandan leaves (about 7 leaves)

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbs coconut oil

2 cups water

1 cup coconut flakes

Equipment: rice cooker

Directions:

Place the pandan leaves in a blender or food processor. Add 2 cups of water and blend until all leaves are finely chopped.  

Drain the liquid through a fine sieve. Squeeze out all the bright green liquid as much as you can.

Wash the sticky rice very well.

Place sticky rice in a rice cooker.  Pour all the pandan water into the rice.  Add salt and soak for a few hours or overnight.

After soaking for a few hours or overnight, add sugar and 1 tbs coconut oil with the soaking rice. Close the lid and turn the rice cooker to the on position.

When the rice is done cooking, use a fork or chopstick to flip the rice and add coconut flakes. Mix well.

Serve with more coconut flakes on top.  Enjoy!!

Peace in each breath

Peace in each breath is peace in life Practice breathing for good sleep and peace in life.

If you are frustrated at work or at night you can not sleep because you are too stressed or angry and have dropped your precious breath, dropped your breath, it means forgetting your precious Mind-Body.

Breath is worth the price of human life and is more valuable than jewelry, money. This lesson aims to help you have a relaxed life, have fun and have a peaceful sleep in the busy flow of modern times.

Identification:

If you are breathing, breathing in, breathing without knowing whether you are breathing, or too stressed with in breathing ... all of this makes you more stress.

In order to have the lightness of the body and the relaxation of the mind, you need to breathe freely and know that you are breathing, practicing every day like that three times a day, or anytime anywhere or at least once. You will find that you can effectively reduce tension, lighten your mind, help your body relax and sleep well in the night, sleep in peace.

You can do this anywhere, anytime and don't need any equipment, without wasting your time and money, just be aware of yourself and breathe in any action: when you go, stand, sleep, and sit.

Practical Steps:

Very simple, very fun and very effective; You will find yourself relaxed, reduce stress and will sleep well when practicing before sleeping once.

Step 1:

If while you are sitting, sitting anywhere: in a chair, in a bed, while driving to work or shopping, etc. ... Sit firmly in your back, take a deep breath, and breathe out completely evenly with your mouth. Natural, with the mouth 'O' put the wind out.

Practice and look and listen to your breath, it will be effective and interesting.

Step 2:

When the breath is first inhaled in step 1, in this step you relax your face and mind while closing your mouth and gently inhale through the nose, counting from 1 to 10 in mind, recognizing it. At this point you breathe, evenly breathing, relaxed.

Step 3:

Breathe deeply, breathe lightly and recognize your breath, keep your breath for a few seconds (usually 5-6 seconds) and can continue counting 1-10, in consciousness and letting go of thoughts.

Step 4:

When you inhale deeply and recognize breath 1-10, you breathe out completely with your mouth, palate makes up the word 'O' to make sounds like the wind, relax the whole body, and simultaneously create Make a connection to your body and mind.

Remembering, breathing deeply, breathing calmly and calmly through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, not moving the tongue and placing the front of the throat in front is the key to peace and good control of your breathing. You will have good sleep, deep and peaceful.

Then you breathe so well with your nose, occasionally escaping the 'O' wind.

Before sleeping, sit or lie flat on the bed and hold the breath comfortably with you in the chest cavity for a few seconds (5-6 seconds).

Holding this breath inside allows oxygen to circulate in your lungs and then help blood circulation to be more efficient throughout the body and oxygen is more present in the brain. This increase in oxygen has the effect of relaxing, awake and healthy living.

Focusing on the breath helps you forget stressful thoughts and allow you to focus on calmness, relaxation, memory growth, and good concentration for your goals.

Sincerely with Compassion,
Dharma Mountain and Forest Meditation,
Mendicant monk Thich Giac Chinh.

Shrimp Egg Foo Young

According to a BBC London program, one egg a day will keep the doctor away.  Also, just in terms of traditional medicine, eggs are both food and medicinal, and eggs are present in quite a number of dishes that are used to prevent circulatory diseases, hypertension, and many other diseases.  Eggs are easy to prepare, and the best and healthiest way is to hard-boil. Furthermore, egg foo young is not hard to make. Adding shrimp, ground chicken, or pork will make a good meal with complete protein for the body. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

2 eggs

5 shrimp, peeled and deveined

Pinch of salt, sugar, and white pepper

1/4 tsp light soy sauce

Vegetables::

1 cup bean sprouts

1 tbs chopped red bell pepper

1 green onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbs peanut oil

Gravy ingredients:

1/3 cup chicken stock

1/4 tsp oyster sauce (optional)

1 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp cooking wine

1/4 tsp salt

1 t sp cornstarch

Pinch of white pepper

Directions::

Mix well the gravy's listed ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Break eggs in a bowl and mix well. Add the bean sprouts, bell pepper, and green onion to the beaten eggs and mix well.well 

Heat oil in a large sauté pan. Add shrimp in single layer and cook for one minute on each side. Remove.

In the same pan, add garlic. Stir for a few seconds. Add eggs.

Cook over medium heat until just set. Add shrimp there.. Try to flip the egg (it takes time to practice). Remove egg and place on a serving dish.

In the same pan, add the sauce and bring to boil. Add shredded carrots and cook until thickened. 

Choose one of two ways to serve:

1 – pour the sauce over the complete dish.

2 – serve sauce on the side.