Charity at the Buddha’s door, a sacred place, not only a place to worship, a refuge when people are worried and sad, but a temple is also a place where people come and give their human strength and kindness…
On the 1st and 15th of the lunar calendar every month, there will be a group of ladies and gentlemen, volunteering to distribute food with the monks at Than Quang temple (Ngu Xa, Hanoi). The sisters said that people started this work about a year ago, after going to the temple once, they saw only a few elderly people cooking porridge together, stir-frying vegetables, and making food to distribute to people with complete income. difficult situation. Ms. Huong, who is also doing charity work on the temple, shared: ‘At first, when I saw the women working, I wanted to do the same, but I was afraid, I didn’t dare to ask to work with everyone, just donated money for everyone, so that everyone can help more people with more difficult circumstances. After a while, she was invited to work, so she also went to beg the teachers. I’m sure I’m also predestined, I ask the teachers to let me cook rice for charity, and The teachers immediately agreed. So I still try to make rice and distribute rice evenly, it’s good for me to do this.” Ms. Hoa, the oldest and oldest volunteer at the temple, also shared: ‘Since the day she went to the temple to do volunteer work, she has felt better and happier. Up here, she met people like her, much less bored than lying at home. Just keep her at home, she’ll get sick.”
People start work at the temple at 7 am. People will start distributing rice at noon, so 7 am is when people start going to the market, buying vegetables, meat, tubers, and fruits. The cooking area is at the back, separate from the shrine, so it does not affect the sacred place, but also ensures the nutrients for each meal. Because the temple does not have a lot of human resources, only the monks and about 7 more volunteers, the temple only makes about 100 simple meals. Going to the market to arrive is about 8:30, everyone will gather to prepare and cook. The monks will take care of the vegetables, blow the rice, and the ladies will cook the salty food like meat. Everyone works in a very harmonious and fun atmosphere. Everyone does their own work and helps others, everyone works and talks. These are the stories of everyday life with chicken feathers and garlic shells, but there are also stories that are funny or sad, and there are also stories to share about the history of the Ngu Xa area where many events have occurred. Although chatting and cooking rice, everyone worked really efficiently and carefully. By about 10 o’clock, everyone had finished cooking and prepared to pack food together. A free meal of rice may not sound too special, but actually, each meal that the temple and everyone make looks very full from color, flavor to nutrients. The packaging is also done very carefully and neatly, the person sharing the rice, the person sharing the food…. All still work together and talk. Done everything, each box of lunch is put in the bag, it’s time to share rice with everyone. and there are also stories to share about the history of Ngu Xa area, which has had many incidents. Although chatting and cooking rice, everyone worked really efficiently and carefully. By about 10 o’clock, everyone had finished cooking and prepared to pack food together. A free meal of rice may not sound too special, but actually, each meal that the temple and everyone make looks very full from color, flavor to nutrients. The packaging is also done very carefully and neatly, the person sharing the rice, the person sharing the food…. All still work together and talk. Done everything, each box of lunch is put in the bag, it’s time to share rice with everyone. and there are also stories to share about the history of Ngu Xa area, which has had many incidents. Although chatting and cooking rice, everyone worked really efficiently and carefully. By about 10 o’clock, everyone had finished cooking and prepared to pack food together. A free meal of rice may not sound too special, but actually, each meal that the temple and everyone make looks very full from color, flavor to nutrients. The packaging is also done very carefully and neatly, the person sharing the rice, the person sharing the food…. All still work together and talk. Done everything, each box of lunch is put into the bag, it’s time to share rice with everyone. Everyone finished cooking and prepared to pack food together. A free meal of rice may not sound too special, but actually, each meal that the temple and everyone make looks very full from color, flavor to nutrients. The packaging is also done very carefully and neatly, the person sharing the rice, the person sharing the food…. All still work together and talk. Done everything, each box of lunch is put into the bag, it’s time to share rice with everyone. Everyone finished cooking and prepared to pack food together. A free meal of rice may not sound too special, but actually, each meal that the temple and everyone make looks very full from color, flavor to nutrients. The packaging is also done very carefully and neatly, the person sharing the rice, the person sharing the food…. All still work together and talk. Done everything, each box of lunch is put into the bag, it’s time to share rice with everyone.
At about 11 o’clock, the temple will open and start the work of distributing rice to people in difficult circumstances. Hand-delivering each box of lunches to those in poor circumstances, I not only heard the words of thanks from those who were given a lunch but also heard the blessings of the teachers and volunteers. for those people. Is this an interference in human love, when the tradition of ‘good leaves cover torn leaves’ is thoroughly promoted in temples?
After everything was done, when 100 meals were all distributed, everyone started to clean up again. On the way to the temple, I saw the excitement and joy on each person’s face and the promises for the next volunteer.
- : Blog
- : 15/07/2022
- :
- : Ha Noi
- : Buddhist
- : passionate
