SubhanaBarzaghihasbeena friendand
guidetomeforover 20 years.Throughher
spiritualretreatsandone-on-oneteachings,
Subhanahastaughtmesomuchaboutthe
importanceoftakingcareofourmind,the
importanceofritualandceremony– in and
aroundfood– andhowtocultivatequality
andtruehappinesswithinourday-to-day.
I havefoundtheselifeskillstobeinvaluable
in myhospitalitycareerasa businessowner,managerandchef,
andespeciallynowin thisincreasinglycomplicatedworldwefind
ourselvesin.Subhana’shumilityis palpableandpowerful,andshe
is passionate about sharing her wisdom and knowledge with all.M
editation,silentcontemplation,mindful
eatingandpersonalreflection.These
area fewtechniqueswemayhavecalled
uponrecentlyinordertostaycalm
andcollectedduringthistimeofuncertainty.But
forlong-termBuddhistpractitioner,teacherand
psychotherapistSubhanaBarzaghi,thesearen’tsimply
techniques,theyarewaysoflife.AskingBarzaghito
sumupBuddhismis a bitlikeasking someone
todescribethecolourblue.But
shemanagestodoit inan
honestandinsightfulway.
“I thinkofit asa spiritual
practice,”shesays.“There’sa
contemplativedimensionof
meditation,andpractices
ofmindfulness,compassion,
loving-kindnessandinquiry.”Morethananything
though,Barzaghidescribesit asa processofpersonal
transformation,a journeyshehasbeenonfor 45 years.
“It’sanawakening,at anin-depthlevel,”shesays.
Barzaghiwasthefirstfemaletobegiventeaching
statusasa ZenRoshiintheDiamondSangha(an
associationofZenBuddhistCentres)inAustralia
andacrosstheworld.ZenRoshiessentiallymeans
“ZenMaster”,andinthisroleBarzaghipasseson
herknowledgetopeoplesuchasKylieKwong,aswell
asthegreaterBuddhistcommunityacrossAustralia
andNewZealand.Shewasalsoa foundingmember
oftheSydneyZenCentreinSydney’sAnnandale,
a place of meditation and practice.Alongwithmeditation,Buddhismhaslong
beenlinkedtotheartsandcreativepractices.
“[Thearts]arelinkedtoBuddhism,particularly
intheZentradition,”saysBarzaghi.“You’vegot
Zenandtheteamaking,calligraphyandflower
arrangement.Zenencouragescreativeexpression.”
Todevelopherpracticeandcreativity,Barzaghi
hostsretreatsinByronBay,whereshemeetswith
peopletopaint,domosaicworkandmeditate.
Barzaghiis alsodeeplyentrenchedinthe
NorthernRiversregionofNSWasa founding
memberofBodhi,analternative-livingcommunity
establishedinthe’70s.Livingtherefor 25 years,
shedevelopeda deepappreciationfororganic
farmingandproduceasa responsetoworking
oncommunitygardensandorchards.“Yougrow
yourownfood,youbuildyourownhouse,you
birthyourownyoung,youburyyourowndead,”
shesays.It wasalsoherethatBarzaghihelpedto
setuptheFundamentalFoodStore,anorganic
foodshop,whichis stilla thrivingbusinesstoday.
“Wewerekindofpioneers.”
WhileBarzaghi’sappreciationoffoodstemmed
fromgrowingherownproduce,it hasdeepened
throughthepracticeoforyoki:a contemplative
practiceofeating.“It’sthisreallybeautifuldanceof
servingandbeingserved,andthesenseofgratitude,
the deliciousness andmindfulnessallwoveninto
theactofeatingasa practice,”
saysBarzaghi.Serverspresent
mealsinsilence,andbefore
eatingthere’sa blessingof
thefood.“Youhavemore
timetobereallypresentwith
eachmouthful,”shesays.
Oryokialsoencouragesyou
tocontemplatehowmuchfoodisreallyneeded.
“Byslowingdownandbeingreallypresentinyour
experience,it enhancesallthesenses,”saysBarzaghi.
Withnewchallengesthrustuponuscollectively
eachday,findinga senseofpeaceintoday’sworld
is vital,whetherit’sthrougha personalspiritual
practice,slowingdowntoappreciatea meal,or
findinga newcreativeproject.
Inthistimeoftransition,introspectionand
uncertainty,Barzaghileavesuswitha thoughtto
contemplate:“Springcomeswithflowers,autumn
withthemoon,summerwiththebreeze,winter
withthesnow.Whenidleconcernsdon’thang
in your mind; that is the best season.”●“Byslowingdownand
beingreallypresentinyour
experience,itenhances
all the senses.”GOURMET TRAVELLER 33WORDS
JORDAN
KRETCHMER
(MAIN)
&
KYLIE
KWONG
(INTRODUCTION).
PHOTOGRAPHY PENNY LANE (KYLIE KWONG)
& SABINA RABOLD (SUBHANA BARZAGHI). ARTWORK SUBHANA BARZAGHI.