Last week here at the monastery I had the chance to do something very Buddhist. No, not meditate under a tree or read ancient texts. I did what thousands of people in Buddhist countries do every day: give. Decked out as a hotel worker (I had had a really quick crash course) I was serving food for a group of monks. One by one they came by, one by one I gave them a delicious bowl full of food.
What made the scene extra special was that I looked after not only Buddhist monks, but also Catholic monks. Our community hosted a '' Monks in the West '' conference where monks from different Catholic and Buddhist traditions come together to talk about monkhood, the challenges it brings and its significance in modern society. The conference was not only fruitful, but could also be called cozy with a good Dutch word. The openness and harmony between the monks was beautiful to see. It was all the better to physically support those monks with all the virtues they embody by offering them food. A true joy.
The joy of giving is liberating. The food we served with such extra care for this conference was of very high quality and it was difficult - impossible for me - not to be overcome by one of the most basic human desires (those for good food!). However, the moment I gave, or just imagined giving myself that attitude of service, the selfish search for the best snack for myself disappeared like snow in the sun. What follows then is not just satisfaction; it is the joy of giving.
The group of monks left early Friday morning. Many thanked us, the servers, for our service. I couldn't help but bounce the ball back: "Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to serve!"
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