Stillness and the process of quieting the mind are necessary ingredients for both spiritual progress, and a great black bean dish.
There is no instant fix for our spiritual growth, nor can black bean cooking be rushed. Both require patience and a process of becoming. When we seek relief from the suffering of our human condition by going for the 'quick and easy' use of canned black beans, we usually wind up with fast-food spirituality or bloated stomachs and gas. In our desire to seek relief from our hunger there is a common and understandable fantasy that celebrates speed, multitasking and instant gratification. Maybe true divine satisfaction comes with the realization that stillness and slow cooking is the answer to our spiritual and culinary search.
Whether they are made in the Cuban, or Mexican styles, I love black beans. Planning a meal ahead of time requires only a small amount of planning and spiritual discipline. In my bean meditation there are several important steps to making a great pot of beans. The first is soaking the beans overnight. Then there is the rinsing of the beans after soaking, separating out the good beans from the spoiled. Finally there is the slow cooking, with the most important ingredient, stillness. Even though I can virtually taste the beans before they are cooked, I must wear patience. Truly neither a watched pot, nor my spiritual growth boil according to my plan. Sometimes the stillness of the slow cooking process appears interminable, however when I surrender, all comes together better than I planned. When the water and beans actually come to a slow boil, there is a slow steady process of becoming, similar to my own spiritual growth.
Carl Sagan: "If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."
In reaching our divine goals using canned black beans in the creation of a feast is equivalent to Fast-Food Spirituality. When we choose to open a can, rather than take time to slow cook our beans we know we are rushing the process. How do we know when we have succumbed to Fast-Food Spirituality? A critical part of learning discernment on the spiritual path is recognizing when our spiritual hunger is fooling us. That is when we need a sense of humour and the support of real friends. As we face our obstacles to cooking a true black bean feast, there are times when it is easy to fall into a sense of despair and self-diminishment and lose our confidence on the path. We must keep the faith, in ourselves and in others to create a great black bean feast, and grow spiritually. Slow cooking begins with stillness, and allows for greater digestion as well as spiritual evolution.
Cuban Black Beans, (Mari's way)
1 lb. dried black beans
2 Qts. water
2/3 c. olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled, finely chopped
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
6 sweet chili or ancho peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. whole dried oregano, crushed
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup of cilantro leaves
Pick over beans, discarding any shrivelled, broken beans and foreign particles. Wash well and soak overnight in sufficient water to cover plus an additional 2 inches. The next day, drain beans; rinse in fresh running water and drain again. Discard any beans that float to top or are split. Place the beans in the crock pot. Cover with water plus an additional 2 inches. Turn the crock pot setting to HIGH. Approximate cooking time is 2.5 hours. The beans are done when they can easily be mashed with a fork.
Once the beans are cooked you can prepare the remaining ingredients. Chop the onions finely. Saute the garlic, onions, and peppers in the olive oil. Salt the beans to taste. Add the herbs to the sauteed ingredients. Transfer the cooked beans to a 3 qt. soup pot and then add the herbs, and sauteed ingredients. There are many options to add: grated cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes. Beans can be served over rice or as a side dish to accompany grilled fish or chicken. Con Mucho Gusto!
This week's exercise: The first step is to follow the recipe and create your own black bean meditation. The second step is to slow down and enjoy yourself while you are slow cooking your beans. The third step is to thoroughly enjoy this product of your spiritual growth.
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