‘The village will reflect the fluidity of Thai culture as it flows between those ordained, the local communities and those wishing to find peace and develop insight.’

The Buddha Mettā Village project is largely being built by people living in the area with occasional visitors. They continue to develop the site when funding is available. They give their time freely and generously before and after work or school.

The whole community works on the project including small children and very elderly people. The relationship between those who are ordained and the lay community is seen as two parts of a whole and completely mutually beneficial.

Experiencing Dana -generosity - in everyday life

Receiving offerings has no feeling of begging or of being a burden. People come out on to the side of the road and take off their shoes, kneel down and touch the food to their forehead before taking it and putting it into each monks bowl.

Often it is a handful of cooked rice and a small plastic bag of something they are having themselves. The monk will then put the lid on the bowl and walk a step or two. Sometimes stop and have a few words of conversation, often they simply walk to the next house where someone wants to offer food. People who offer food range from 3 to 80, sometimes 3 or 4 members of a family will come out together.

Often having made their offering the local people just carry on with their day. Many households teach their children that it is best to give something before you help yourself so an offering to a monk or nun is a really good way to set your day up to be thoughtful and generous.