What an amazing Karma Kitchen event we had last Saturday in Altea, Spain!

First of all we want to express our gratitude to Laurent and family, because they allow us to use their restaurant, Mister X; and they do it with an immense amount of trust and grace, so may their blessing multiply! Thank you!

It was really amazing also to see volunteers coming from different places in Europe: Marseille, París, Seville… some connected through awakin circle in Delhi, others through the ServiceSpace community in the part of the planet we call France… (the power of many to many!). We had such a wonderfully diverse group of people, with our fears and lack of experience, but also with immense gifts and hearts, which allowed us to navigate the event together and put up a great experience for so many guests (70+). 

One of the aspects that amazes us more about Karma Kitchen projects is how people come together and without experience and without knowing each other, everyone steps up to their roles and tries to contribute from a selfless heart, and that’s precisely the invitation: how can we show up with a heart of kindness and generosity for everything and everyone we meet? how can we meet each other where we are and create safe spaces where we can thrive individually and collectively?

In Karma Kitchen, the inner and outer intertwine so beautifully. Speaking to a volunteer he said: ‘I remember in a Karma Kitchen I had judging thoughts towards a person, because he was just eating and not contributing for so many times. I found myself in that inner space, but then I realized: I am not here to judge people, I am here to love them. After that shift, that person actually approached me, and invited me to come visit their amazing project, and then connected me to many other possibilities overtime’. 

Another volunteer shared how she struggles usually being part of groups, but how this time, even if she couldn’t contribute much because she was tired, she was not judged and she felt welcomed, as she could be herself and find her own time to rest.

‘Come, come whoever you are’. 

We have come to understand and embrace certain types of diversity, and we are in the process of integrating other types, but how much can we embrace the diversity of inner landscapes? In projects like Karma Kitchen one is invited by the context itself to look within and find courage to enlarge one’s own capacity to embrace subtle diversity, and that can really touch people’s hearts and start healing processes, in a society that lacks kindness and care and overflows with competition and limited perspectives of what is normal or what is successful, or even what is good.

There is also an inherent belief that if we don’t put people under a certain pressure, they will not perform, they will not be their best selves, but, is that true? Same logic happens in orthodox farming: you have to put certain pressure on the land to perform. But Fukuoka, for example, did not operate in that way, and after a few years, his land was the most fruitful in Japan, even without the use of fertilizers or pesticides.  What are the fertilizers and pesticides we use in our organizations and social movements today? As a good friend says, it’s a good question to hold :). 

The volunteers did amazing and they prepared a whole menu with indian, mexican and spanish dishes. Guests loved it and appreciated the love behind it! We even have some kids serving with us, and the whole atmosphere was filled with noble intentions of wellbeing for others. We yet have to improve in how to coordinate so we don’t create more stress in certain members of the team, so we are thinking to create certain guidelines that can allow the whole team to enjoy the experience fully and without stress, but as we keep learning, it is amazing to witness the bravery of unexpert cooks and servers, and how they can fill the atmosphere with that love, even in the midst of self doubt or lack of experience. You are all amazing!

We are also grateful for Annie, who hosted our volunteers in her house, and who is opening her place to Ahimsa Ashram, a new community based initiative that is going to start in Altea on the principles of gift and inner transformation!

Overall it was a great evening, in which we were able to plant seeds inside and outside, generating an entire new field of possibilities. When we look back at these events we are always amazed at how many projects, connections, friendships etc are incubated here. In a world where subtle service is less seen and valued, volunteers give us hope that we can actually continue to foster these ecosystems of love, and create the fabric for a kinder society. 

EXTRA GIFTS:

Some volunteer answers to the question.: What was your fauvorite moment at Karma Kitchen:

«Singing and dancing while doing the pile of dishes»

«Seeing a volunteer tired yet smiling, thinking: ‘why did I come here, and why do i still love it ?’ »

«When a volunteer came and offered all of us water as we were working in the kitchen!»

«Love how one volunteer stepped in every time we were rushing in the cleaning dishes area!»

«The deep conversations with everyone!»

And a poem written by one of our volunteers, Ganesh, from India:

Life in the Karma Kitchen

Life in the Karma Kitchen felt so much fun
But it seemed to be always on the run
With preparation, cooking, and spending time with clients n friends
And endless orders, queries and dirty dishes to attend

Everything was handled much better than in present day restaurants
Coz we combined forces to work as diligently as ants
Doing things which were beyond our normal capacity
With an objective of kindness originating from selfless hospitality

I know all of you since a few days, not too well perhaps
But one thing I’m sure of is, that you all are fighters
And thats why I express myself as a writer
About your struggles with work and intuitions
While dealing with various day to day emotions

You maybe scared or worried at times
And it seems futile what I’ve written as rhymes
I can’t be physically there for you
Neither can I come to always help you too
Nor do I have any medical expertise
All I have are words which may help you rise

I know the time of struggle wasn’t easy but you’ve come a long way
Now you are independent, you have your own say
According to me, patience really pays off in the end
Your life stories will inspire, becoming the latest trend

Life in the Karma Kitchen felt so much fun
But it seemed to be always on the run
I just hope yours stays like Japan,
The land of the rising sun ☺️