Love you D! Your big heart always shines through so brightly in your amazing cooking. Every single meal during the One Month Dzogchen Retreat at Padma Samye Ling was an extraordinary surprise! Definitely the best month of food I've enjoyed my entire life, by far. Your friendship has been invaluable to me since we met in 2007. You're a treasure of kindness and badass creative spark I'm deeply honored to know. May all beings care for one another with tender, powerful, heartfelt kindness, respect, gratitude, and uplift. Thanks dear friend. dragpa

@DerekSarnoChef

2 ай бұрын

Love you D! I hope you get some rest soon. Thank you for all you do. See you soon.

@melissawhite9301

Ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤

@josefinagarza241

Ай бұрын

This is to awesome ❤

@josefinagarza241

Ай бұрын

I need that book❤

dude, this is incredible. i showed up for the vegan food. i stuck around because of franky. but now i'm permanently loyal because of you as a human. thank you so much for sharing all of this

@pdblouin

2 ай бұрын

Highly recommend his interview on Simon Hill's podcast, in that case. I sure as hell wasn't expecting to cry on my walk to work

@arualaaf

2 ай бұрын

@@pdblouin I will check that out. Thank you 🙏

@kat4animals004

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing about the podcast. ​@@pdblouin

@mangledmango

2 ай бұрын

seriously incredible

@mangledmango

2 ай бұрын

@@pdblouin i cant find it can you help?

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen

@pagirl913.

2 ай бұрын

Agree 100%

One person. Cooking for ALL those people. No assistants. No sous chef. No prep cook. No dishwasher. Just one guy, doing it all. The ability to batch cook like that I found really mesmerizing, not to mention the execution of top-notch restaurant-quality meals in the process. The reunion with Frankie was the icing on the cake in this wonderful video. I like to call myself a Buddhist-Atheist, so this clip really resonated with me. 😃

@lisetteem588

Ай бұрын

i thought i saw some in the kitchen one time? xxx

@aprilblossoms4

Ай бұрын

Not taking away from this wonderful chef at all but there are a lot of places where people cook for thousands everyday at Hindu temples(the food is completely free most times).

Derek this is absolutely beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m in tears watching your reunion with Frankie. That was all mesmerizing to watch. I’m looking forward to the recipes once you recreate them. Welcome back home. We are also grateful for you. Thank you for everything you do for the animals. ❤

@turquoisetreee

Ай бұрын

I too started to tear up watching Frankie on the couch ~ such amazing love and energy you both have 🤗

@nenagluhak7374

Ай бұрын

I love you❤❤❤❤❤❤

This video brought tears to my eyes. And not because of all the onions being cut. Beautiful in so many ways. Peaceful ashram. Knowing your dharma. Being of service. And love radiating from the center. Thank you for sharing this. May all beings everywhere know peace. 🙏🏻📿🪷

@MOOin.thegamercow

Ай бұрын

that onion pun is golden

@jackiefox7224

10 күн бұрын

Beautifully said. It brought tears to my eyes as well. 🇨🇦

Just came across your channel. I'm a Quaker who practices silent worship and happens to be vegetarian. I found much encouragement here. Holding you in the Light.

@lisetteem588

Ай бұрын

are not all quakers veg? i only met one wonderful girl one day, and she was, as was i and am, but im not religious. xxx

silence, is very much under appreciated and feared by most people. Especially in these times, we need peace, we need quiet.

@monicaramirez51015

Ай бұрын

😊exactly!!!!! All a person needs to share is a SMILE 😊 and STAY QUIET 🤐 get work done much SMOOTHER

@josefinagarza241

Ай бұрын

I miss the quiet, love God,love my family❤​@@monicaramirez51015

Thank you for sharing this with us. This is so beautiful. I have volunteered to serve at Vipassana 10 day silent retreats, but you, you are doing all of the cooking prepping, buying , planning by yourself for 30days… this is phenomenal and a great act of loving kindness

I hardly ever comment on videos. But I would like to tell you that this one really might change my life.

Claire de Lune, saying goodbye to precious Frankie, dealing with the grief of your beloved, taking your gifts & sharing them, your spiritual journey & finally reuniting with your girl - thank you for this gift. You are a gem ❤️🙏🏻

@WhiteLotusOm

Ай бұрын

Beautifully said as I felt the same made me tear up from beginning to the end!

@lynnritchie231

Ай бұрын

I used to play it to my husband to try to relax him in his final days. It's a very special piece of music.

We are so grateful you are here! I lost my husband around the same time and I believe we are about the same age. It stays with you. I know your fiancé would be so proud and inspired by your dedication to animals and doing good in this world.

@dianastoevelaar9548

Ай бұрын

❤WOW!!! You are such an inspiration for so much more than your amazing vegan cooking skills, endless creativity, and speed in the kitchen, Derek! I’m so sad to hear about your loss of the love of your life, Derek. May love ❤️ find you again for you have much to offer a partner. I’m so glad to see you and Frankie have each other to shower with unconditional love and affection. 💞 Your video just popped up in my feed, and I watched the whole way through mesmerized by your skill and dedication to service and your spiritual practice. Needless to say, as a vegan of 37 years, I subscribed. Your recipes will be a wonderful inspiration in a few weeks when I take on the meal prep for my daughter, her husband, and two-year-old daughter. I’m out of practice cooking as I consume a 100 % raw vegan diet myself, but very happy for cook healthy whole vegan food for others to keep them healthy and on the vegan path. 😊 I’m looking forward to watching more of your videos.😊

I hear you, Derek! I lost my partner in a rollover 11 years ago. I also chose to look to the light, instead of the darkness.

hi derek! i am a 20-year old artist, and have been following your channel for some time. i consider myself a good cook and love your recipes. but it's the little things you do just being a great human that mean so much more to me. like making some extra food for the neighbors, cleaning the counters and dishes on the way, playing with frankie, making everthing plant-based. i love your attitude towards life and i have always imagined myself becoming like you when i grow up. empathetic, charming, talented, and a free soul! i look up to you as a human being. cheers, sommaiya

As a fellow chef and meditator (hindu) I appreciated all your beautiful meals (that looked delish!). As a recent widow I appreciated the spirit in which they were made. Namaste 🙏📿☮

I didn’t think I could love Derek more than I already did. I was wrong! 🙏🏼❤️

Edit: What do vegans eat? This was an incredible experience. Thank you for taking us along. That kitchen!! Wow! Preparing food is a form of meditation and healing. I cook when I’m happy, sad, or feel lost.

WE are so very grateful that YOU are here.

What a sweet girl Frankie is. And you are a beautiful human beeing, Derek. Take care!

I'm not buddhist, and I don't meditate, but I could happily spend 30 silent days eating this delicious food! 🤔👌🤣

@janefrancesanderson9092

Ай бұрын

😅🤔👋

Cooking is a form of meditation

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful display of your acts of kindness to humans (in addition to how you display your love of animals). I’ve always been in awe of your skills and after seeing this I truly am in awe of your heart. I’ve seen over the years on your IG how every year on your beloved’s passing and birthdays you honor her and I’m deeply sorry for your loss. How you govern your life continues to be a touching tribute to your dear Amanda. Thank you, Derek. 💜

The finest film on here. Frankie in- and outro; Clair de Lune, a month of silence with a month of exhaustion. And your loss. Staggering. Has me in tears. I also came for the food, will stay for the man making it. Bravo.

Derek, that was one of the most beautiful things I ever watched. Thank you and bless you.

I don't know quite well how to say this, but you're a huge inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing your story, this video is incredible.

I love ALL of your videos Derek, and find you very therapeutic to watch, but oh gosh was this one emotional and beautful in a way I cannot describe. I am so sorry for your loss, I know too well how grief can affect us all - thank you for sharing such a special meaningful video with us 🙏😢💚

I had tears watching this with my cat, asleep on my lap. You're an inspiration! Watching you I could feel the everyday joy come through in your cooking. I know it's therapeutic. Thank you. Please, keep on keeping on.

Beautiful, Derek. This level of vulnerability-acknowledgment-healing is what the world needs now. Thanks for sharing your gifts.💕

I'm so grateful for you, thank you for inviting me into your spiritual retreat, and sharing your amazing recipes

You’re a true role model, Derek. Peace & love.

Just amazing!! We are so honored you shared this with us - breathtaking in so many ways! Just can't wait to try some of these recipes. Frankie was just so insane with the happy when she saw you, then hugged you with her whole soul after she calmed down...that is one sweet furbaby you got there! Cookie for Frankie!

Hi Derek, Thank you for sharing your heart. Spiritually, I can feel the weight you are carrying. I am sorry for you tragic loss. Thank you for being kind and sharing your gift with so many with your vegan food. Our belief system is very different, but know there is someone who is praying for you to find peace and joy that is lasting. Frankie missed you, as much as you missed her. So sweet. ❤

Good grief Derek, where do I start. First ... she's still here, in every beam of sunlight, in every drop of rain, in every gust of wind and every grain of earth. You will be together again my friend. Matter and energy are neither created or destroyed, they merely change forms. Second .. your food looks AMAZING. My mouth was watering with every dish you made. Absolutely incredible, you "still have it" indeed! Third ... your devotion and sacrifice to those you cooked for is selfless and beautiful. Part of me also thinks this is as much for you as it it for them. Fourth .... Your reunion with Frankie made me cry. Dogs are proof of a "higher power" hence Dog is God spelled backwards. Much love to you my friend.

If Mr Sarno was in the chef team at my next meditation retreat, the wholesome food would either finally help me enter the initial jhānas, or arouse wicked sense-desire about it through Māra. Whatever the consequence, now a craving aroused in me to propose him as the chef for my future Buddhist retreat in the UK. Thinking about the benefit percolated through sharing such a personal story, engaging in non-harm cooking, and promoting Buddhist spiritual values is very heart-warming. It is very uplifting and very appreciated. May Mr Sarno, Franky and all the community here be content, at ease, and in peace.

Derek, I am grateful that you shared your journey with us.

I could watch this video every single day. It was the most beautiful, caring video I've ever seen. Then your reunion with Frankie. I sat silently and cried. Thank you for allowing us to be part of something so special.

To love as you have loved is a wonderful thing and to honour that love as you honour that love is incredible. ❤

Wow love your idea.!! “Serving one menu while finishing the next one that’s on deck while prepping the next and thinking about one after.” ❤

This video was so serene and full of peace. I didn't miss any voice over or commentary. And Derek you may not have noticed but you looked younger on Day 30 than when you started. Like you took the baggage off of you and relaxed. Thank you for sharing your incredible experience.

Thank you for sharing something so personal. You give me pause to think about my impact in the world and what have I done or not done to make a difference. I look forward to the recipes you share from this since they will be full of love and healing energy. Much love to you

OMG! PLEASE share these ASAP. My husband will be recovering from surgery next week and this is the food he needs. Thank you so much for sharing this ❤️

Derek you are such a beautiful person 💚 I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you lots of love ❤️ The retreat is wonderful. I cook at home most of the time in silence. It is so peaceful. Your reunion with Frankie brought me to tears 😭 She is such a beautiful soul mate 😻 Thank you for sharing such an intimate and vulnerable part of you with us 🙏🏼

Just wow. To turn our tragedies and trials into something positive for ourselves and others is one of the greatest triumphs in this life 🙏 I had to put this video on full screen, it made me feel peaceful just watching! The food looked fabulous. The place was beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing journey with us. Love it when you play with Miss Frankie's legs 😅

Whenever you leave this world to see Amanda again, a lot of people will miss you. Even if we don't know each other, I will be one of them. Your work is so important. The message you spread will hopefully help to change the future to be a better one for all living beings on earth. I hope you can feel the love of all the people whatching your videos. You are a precious soul. Thank you.

There are no words to express the sadness you have gone through. You are an amazing man. You give birth the food. I have cooked several of your dishes for my family and they absolutely loved them. You have taught me so much. I can't thank you enough. You're like the Bob Ross of vegan cooking. Thanks again, Brian K Taylor 😊

Derek, that moved me to tears, I was so touched by everything. I will soon be moving to an ashram in Switzerland where I'll be living from now on. I will be the garden and kitchen coordinator there and I was wondering how for God's sake I am going to manage that. I have seen many of your videos, but seeing you cooking in an ashram was just the inspiration I needed! You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Be sure that your recipes will be cooked in our Swiss ashram 👨‍🍳 Much love 💖

I was wrestling with my dog earlier this evening. She loves to wrestle on the bed. I'll grab her and flip her on her back and tickle her belly while she wriggles about biting on her favourite toy. Tonight she let out a scream I've never hear her make before. I must have caught her wrong or twisted something. She looked so betrayed. I hugged her and kissed her and apologised over and over. She was fine, no lasting damage and within a minute or two was leaping around like a loon again. She puts all of her trust in me and to think for even a second that I'd harm her purposefully nearly broke my heart. I don't know why I mention this, it just came up again in my mind. This is such a beautiful video and I adore the love you and Frankie share.

Beautiful piece. Gorgeous food. Stunning landscapes. Such a perfectly fitting way to celebrate your love for Amanda, Frankie, and all living beings. Very nicely done, Chef. ☮️💟🥦

Derek, I am so sorry for your loss of your beloved Amanda. This sacred tribute to her is very beautiful. I found it to be meditative watching it. And your reunion with sweet Frankie was so emotional to watch, tears of joy. Thank you for sharing your love of cooking with your love for all sentient beings. From a fellow lefty Namaste🕉🙏🌍💖

Beautiful food, beautiful retreat center, beautiful silence and a beautiful tribute to your fiance! Thanks for bringing us along with you this time.

This is absolutely beautiful. The energy is palatable. Thank you for sharing an experience that is very vulnerable and meaningful to you. I'm excited to see the recipes that are birthed from that space of silence and receptivity.

frankie is so sweet 😭i'm so sorry to hear about your loss. some of the best most memorable food ive eaten in my life was the vegan meals at a buddhist retreat in thailand! it truly opened my mind and tastebuds

ALL OF THE LOVE

From a gentleman that makes beautiful food, I am not surprised at the beautiful peace and unwavering kindness. displayed. Thank you for sharing such a personal journey and such wonderful food. I wish you and Miss Frankie a peaceful summer.xx

this one did hit different, grateful for the peek into the 30 days. silence, stillness and service. can easily see the light in people eyes when they took their first bite of each dish xxx

Tears in my eyes when you came home to Frankie

I am so sorry for your loss of your wife. However she is always with you. These journeys are truly magnificent. You learn so much about oneself in these process. Thank you for sharing part of your journey. 🌟🙏🏼🌟

Wow the attendees look like they got the best, healthiest food ever! What a gift. I found myself wanting to know the menus...to inspire daily cooking...so if you ever compile a list it would be valuable to me and others I'm sure!

@lynda4661

Ай бұрын

Please .. a cookbook? Loved watching this video your food awesome ,, I lost my son 9 yrs ago love never ends our loved ones are always with us helping us .. until we join them .. bless n love to you please would love your recipies ❤️🙏

Thanks for taking me on the ride Unk. Beautiful.

The love you have for your dog is how I love my dogs..

Derek of all your videos here on the channel, for me, this one has had the most profound impact. The healing, restoration, and transformative process of your journey shines through. Although it for us is only minutes of your month experience the resilience you have is beyond compare. Your value is not measure in recipes or likes a video has, it is in the love you share with all of us. I too shared tears of joy in your reunion with Frankie. Thank you for your courage in being so vulnerable and authentic in sharing this deeply personal experience. It has brought depth to my own practice and journey. Much love from Vegas. ❤

This is so generous and genuine. Thank you for sharing this with us. Much love.

Beautiful and moving ❤ Much love always.

Still got it! Thanks for such an honest, genuine and inspiring video. All the best to you from Sweden!

This is such a powerful video. Thank you for sharing it Derek. I am so looking forwards to seeing the recipes over the next few weeks.

Amazing chef, beautiful compassionate, loving soul you are 🫶

Derek, thank you so much! I was in tears hearing from your terrible loss…. and watching your touching reunion with Frankie. Thank you!!!!! I’m the head of an animal charity organisation and I simply love your channel!!!

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing. I lost my husband, my best friend at the age of 52 and became vegan immediately after that. I'm so glad I found your channel and love everything you post, especially your interaction with Frankie. How can you be vegan and not an animal lover?? Keep the faith and keep doing what you do. Thank you!!!

@lisetteem588

Ай бұрын

so cool the loss triggered for you.. i find it so weird at funerals my family are heartbroken for the sick body we said goodbe to, but say hello to the burnt offering of what was well being maybe days before..then eat well.. i cant understand ow they dont see it! EVERything is connected. Birds outsdide are cooing becuase they want me to feed them something now.. Will give them seeds.

So very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your marvelous gift with us through your videos.

Derek. Words do nothing. I am crying. I am so touched….i have only admiration for what you do & have done & who you are… I am truly blessed by what you share in your life & always try to learn from it to work to improve myself & of coarse my culinary skill. Again, thank you for sharing your experiences.

Thank you! For allowing us on this journey with you. I feel honored ✌️ Not sure I could leave my fur baby that long. Bless you🙏

This stirred something deep in my heart, and brought a couple of tears to my eyes. I am grateful that you shared this experience with us. Thank you, Chef Derek, sincerely. This spoke directly to my Soul 🙏❤🌎 Chop Food. Carry Veggies. 😉

What an amazing insight, the residents certainly looked grateful for such lovingly delicious treats. Thank you for sharing. Much love x

I love all of your videos. This was above anything I could ever have expected. I will watch this again and again. What a gift.

I didn't think I would get emotional watching you cook food. There is a lot of power in silence and reflection. Thank you for giving us this unique gift of kindness.

Derek, I feel honored to have received such a personal story from you and I thank you for sharing it with us. I am blown away inspired to see how you were able to harness your grief in this amazing way. We all have to deal with it at one time or another- none of us gets out alive. After watching your retreat experience (beautifully shot and edited BTW) i had to sit in my head for a bit. It wasn’t moving…it was next level, so need a new word for that dude. Thank you, peace, and I am right here for you. Headed to Schnucks grocery to buy ALL their wicked stock. 7 items I’m told! Love Love Love. And lighting a little candle on my Altar today, for Amanda.

Derek, I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure she watches over you and Frankie and is extremely proud of all you do, and share. This was a beautiful video. Thank u❤

So sorry for your loss and thank you very much for sharing, this was a beautiful video.

Thank you Derek, beautiful!❤

Love LOVE your Frankie content. I lost my black Labby in Jan this year. He was 14.5. Miss him madly 🖤 Seeing Frankie makes me heart happy

I am speechless which is a good thing. I have not seen anything like this on social media before but I practice this way of life for 20 years now. When I found my teacher who was waiting for this student because I was ready my life changed. I have spent many a retreat in silence and I practice mindfulness meditation daily. A huge follower of Thich Nhat Hahn. Your passion for food/life is understood by not all but your way of carrying yourself mesmerizes many. I hope you have found another love because we all deserve love as many times as it’s given. Cheers ❤️

Watching now…the ‘silence’ of the video with the occasional sounds of chopping, cooking, life activity, and talking was as calming and reflective for me as a viewer as it was for you as a participant. You are a human on a whole other dimension….your heart, soul, and capacity to give have blown me away. The scenery was totally mesmerizing and the close ups of the food were magnificent and bursting through the screen. Color, texture….I could bite into every dish❤️ Miss America could not contain herself when you were reunited❤️🐾beautiful dog❤️🐾

You just made a grown man cry.. such a beautiful video. Been following you for a while now, as I Try to improve my cooking. Thank you Derek

What a wonderful video. So meaningful, so full of peace, love, talent, dedication. You are a really special soul. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you. Much love ❤

You are one of my biggest inspirations for going vegan recently. I feel very connected to your content and this one was particularly special to me because, I also have a fiance who I love very much and my life would absolutely shatter if I ever lost her. I feel your loss on a personal level, and the bond you have with Frankie feels like the bond I have with my own animals. I actually broke down when you reunited with Frankie. This one was such an unbelievable journey and I find it so incredible how much care, detail, and creativity goes into each meal you create. You are very serious and thoughtful about your process and this one reminds me of how much I have yet to learn. I look forward to many many more. Thank you for sharing your gift with all of us.

I'd just very recently come across your instagram account and was so happy to learn today that you also follow the teachings and practices of buddhism. My deepest condolences to you and your fiancé, Amanda, I appreciate the shock of your parting and am touched by how you keep her here, close and safely inside of you. Lots of love to you precious Frankie, I look forward to sharing your recipes with my family and friends in the forever gift of sharing the joys of compassionate and delicious cooking and meals.

Always grateful for you Derek. You’re a remarkable man. Love from Scotland ❤

This was so beautyful to watch. Thank you for sharing, I am so inspired by your kindness Derek. What a human you are🧿

Thank you for sharing this insight into what's precious to you.

Thank you for sharing Derek. What a truly special place to return to.

Un menú diferente cada día y todos se ven deliciosos en ese ambiente tan tranquilo tremenda experiencia gracias por compartir

you know, this might be the most perfect youtube video of all time. thank you

This video is unbelievably amazing, peaceful, gorgeous. For 30 minutes you feel in a different place. Thank you for sharing this video, this is a gift❤. Frankie was sad and then so happy.

aww I also cook for retreats :) and also miss my Mika 😻

@anonamouse9198

2 ай бұрын

You are winning at being human Derek. Sir. An example to all of us 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

I don't even know what to say. I waited to watch this video on my birthday if that gives you any indication of how I have been waiting and looking forward to this video. I dream of visiting a buddhist retreat such as this (I'm from new york too). Your story telling is so so moving. And with ALL of the incredible work you did there, to be able to film it as well (when you must have been exhausted) and you executed it so creatively.(I loved the added audio tracks of the teachings behind the visuals in the kitchen etc.). I am so moved. I really really think you have another cookbook here. I know much of the food was maybe "simpler" than what you might usually prepare but sometimes this simplicity is so helpful & quieting to our minds too. All of those meals looked so completely nourishing to the souls too-- something we are all desperately in need of these days. And lastly, of course I was crying at the end. Pure, unadulterated joy with the princess. Thank you for making the effort to first film this entire experience but to edit it so beautifully and tell your story so well. I cannot even wait for the recipes and I really hope you will consider a cookbook. I think people would totally embrace the writing content with your philosophies on what it means to feed people (a talk i heard as well today) along with these beautiful group meals. Please consider it and thank you again for making this film. It truly inspired and moved me to remember what is important in life, to keep asking how i can give more. And to keep practicing::

I am now 71 yrs old, female, and have been vegan for 10 years, when I initially lost 29 lbs and felt so wonderful. But now I have regained almost all of it, due to vegan chocolate, crisps and generally snacking - all plant based of course. I am so pleased your video just popped up on my feed as just watching you prepare this healthy food is inspiring me. I shall be following you now and anticipating learning how you make your food and savouring those wonderful flavours. Thank you so much for being prepared to share your recipes, from the UK!!

I knew there was something about you that I loved.I thought it was the amazing culinary skills, or Frankie, or your humor but this!!!❤❤❤ You are an amazing human being.

Such an inspiration you are to show how people can truly heal through food and spirituality. Your gesture of kindness towards others surpasses solely the art of making food but connects to the soul. Thank you for sharing your journey with us 🖤

I’m speechless…and that’s a beautiful thing. May you continue to find yourself and your peace. Your dialogue is such a blessing; something I needed so much at this time.

Derek - you are a generous soul to share your talents with people at the retreat, and for recording them and sharing the video on KZread. You've definitely " still got it."