FIONA MACLEOD

Yesterday was the traditionnel alms round day for the monks and nuns in Bao Loc, which is the town where the lay friends are staying at. Monks and nuns walk in procession ( whick in true Vietnamese style is rather difficult to maintain in an orderly fashion as here every one is so relaxed and free in their movements and way of being).

Crowds had gathered since 7am with huge boxes of food to offer the monastics. Not only food but medecine and other useful items like toothpaste. It was really exciting in the streets ; so much good will and joy. The monks and nuns were overloaded so had asked us the lay friends who of course could not beg  for our food given that our salaries are so much higher than the very poor vietnamese (monks and nuns as many of youknow do not earn any money for the hard work they give daily), to stand by the side walks with bags to receive their surplus which we then had great fun redistributing to kids and poor people all around us.

over 3 thousand people came to the temple where we had lunch together, sitting in silence in the joy of being together and eating a very simple meal. I had received a small portion of cooked rice with sesame seeds and salt, a strawberry yogurt drink, an orange and some water : it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten ! All the joy we shared sitting there with the vietnamese (among us Americans determined to live in peace in the world) a delegation had just come from Korea, and it was just so good to smile to each other and eat a simple meal peacefully : for us, this is the way forward to true peace and we are here to learn this art of peaceful living with Thay and the monastics.

So I send you this time this peace. As Thay reminded us in his short introduction to the shared lunch, peace and happiness cannot be bought and they are available for every person, rich or poor, if you know how to recognise the joy of just sitting with good friends, eating a simple meal and the wonderful international art of smiling !

tomorrow we spend our last day at the fabulous monastery in the mountains and then we leave here to return to Saigon where we will be participating in the three day long chanting ceremonies to heal the wounds of war in each and every person : please see the www.plumvillage.org site if you would like to participate inyour own home and be with us in Vietnam inspirit.

all peace and happiness to you