In the West, yoga is sometimes perceived as a type of physical workout that involves getting into tights and molding the body into contorted positions while keeping one’s hands in a prayer position.  The word yoga, however, literally means “union,” and is an ancient Indian spiritual science designed to bring about the union with, or realization of, our own Divinity.  Just as all religions can lead one to God, each created to suit the many different types of people and cultures, so there are various paths of yoga.  These yogic paths do not just involve standing on one’s head, but utilize the mind and heart as tools to help us become fully conscious of the One.  The four predominant yogic practices are Raja Yoga, which uses various methods to control the mind and enter into meditation; Jnana Yoga, or using knowledge to realize the Divine Truth; Bhakti Yoga, or the yoga of love and devotion to the Divine; and Karma Yoga, the yoga of doing selfless service for other living beings.

Chai Yoga, or the conscious preparation of chai, can also be taken as a path to enlightenment by incorporating the practice of one or more of these four yogas.  First, we compose a mindful awareness of our being on every level: our attitude, body, breath and senses.  In other words, clear the mind, be comfortable in the body, breath, and be aware of, but not overtaken by, sensory perceptions while preparing chai.  Only then can we access the depth of meditation that will allow union.  This is Raja Yoga.  This state of meditation is the door into the innermost mind, beyond thought, that is not separate from the cosmic mind, one with the simmering masala universe, wherein lies knowledge of Absolute Truth.  This deep wisdom is found through the practice of Jnana Yoga.

Love is always present.  It is the energy that binds the universe together as One.  If the first two yogas sound a little bit too out there, then we can embrace Bhakti Yoga, our innate love for the creator, as our path towards union.  We set the intention to prepare the best cup of chai we are capable of as an offering to our Divine Beloved.  With love in our hearts, a vision of the Divine Form in our mind’s eyes and praise on our lips, every movement we make as we prepare the chai is transformed into an expression of devotion.  Without attachment to the fruits of our labor, and expecting nothing in return for our kindness, our actions then become the practice of Karma Yoga.  Serving good-tasting, healthy chai is a great service to mankind.  And as we realize it is the Divine who is stirring the pot through our hands, the chai becomes a pure offering.

When one is fully engaged with a yogic practice, anything, even the simple act of making chai, can be an opportunity to consciously merge with the Divine Source. The secret is, to prepare the chai with utter sincerity, as if it will be the last time.

With the success of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, we have received many visitors to our what is a chai wallah? post, from those unfamiliar with the term.  To clarify the term chai wallah as it is used in the movie, and to offer a poignant example of this site’s intent, we thought it appropriate to offer an addendum to that post.

From the opening torture scene, to young Jamal jumping into a pit of feces porridge, we realize that we are embarking on a visual journey through the raw reality of India and the dark underbelly of human existence. Although it comes across more subtly than Jamal’s shit bath, when the game show host refers to Jamal as chai wallah, it portrays a deeply-rooted issue that smells even worse: the discrimination perpetuated by the Indian caste system.

In the movie, when call center employee, Jamal, says that one of his assistant duties is serving tea, the game show host cuts him off mid-sentence and mockingly refers to him as chai wallah.  This is not because Jamal is a chai wallah in the traditional sense, but because being a chai wallah is an occupation generally held by members of a lower societal status, and by doing this, he designates the “low” stature of his guest to the audience.  The fact that the host can repeatedly condescend his guest on national television with a smile on his face, and have the audience laughing along with him, is indicative of the limited mindset of those who adhere to the hierarchal Indian caste system, equivalents of which are present in every nation on the planet, where the elite cast judgment and degrade a person because of their “placement” in society. (Of course, not all those who are karmically blessed with affluence hold ethnic prejudice in their hearts and display it through their actions.)

This is not only an Indian dilemma, but a human predicament that chains us to the gross realm of egoic illusion and prevents us from recognizing our own True Divine Nature. To put down the chai wallah, or any other human for that matter, debases the entire human race.

As you can see by our illustration of chai wallahs, we hope to elicit the exact opposite sentiment.  To us, the chai wallah is the welcoming face of India who embodies the Vedic tradition of Atitihi Devo Bhava, or treating the guest as God, no matter who they are. Our vision is to portray the chai wallah, the clay cup potter, the tealeaf plucker and any other “lower caste” humans as unique expressions of the divine who are worthy of being glorified.  We are all the same.  This experiential realization was the greatest boon of our pilgrimage.

What is a chai wallah?  A manifestation of the Divine Presence who is blessed with the humble duty of serving up a sweet break in a sometimes bitter world.

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