I heard: “If you’re too busy to meditate for 10 minutes, then meditate for 20.” Going to a Buddhist monastery by motorcycle is the kind of compromise my boyfriend and I do. He drove the motorcycle while I sat behind him, fearing to die every 10 minutes. I cannot say I fully appreciate being a passenger on a motorcycle. However, it provides me a rare moment of peace. My mind juggles from fear to appreciation of the wind on my skin and there’s no room for anything else. This morning, I needed peace and he needed to ride a motorcycle, so we headed up to Tam Bao Son, a Buddhist Monastery located in Harrington, Quebec, not too far from Montreal. Upon our arrival, we could smell the delicious food from the parking lot. Two old ladies stood up behind their pots, dressed in loose brown clothing and speaking Vietnamese. “Tell me when it’s enough”, one said while filling my plate. “No waste food. If want more, come back.” At the monastery, if you arrive between noon and 3pm, you are welcomed with a warm vegan meal. There’s no cost, only voluntary donations. If you prefer, you can bring your own lunch, but no animal […]
