A couple, who grew up in Galilee, Israel, and now prefer to be known as international citizens due to their extensive travels across various countries, recently visited and experienced life in our Thai community. They are extreme environmentalists who avoid flying to reduce pollution, choosing instead to cycle and hitchhike. Over the past two years, they have traveled to 16 countries. They live in an extremely minimalist way, not even using a tent for accommodation. They sleep directly on the ground, using the sky as their blanket and the earth as their bed. Their diet requires no cooking; for the past five years, they have only consumed raw vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
The couple showed a strong interest in the lifestyle of the Second Home. Before visiting, they read the 800 Values of Lifechanyuan. During their week-long stay, they participated in farming and maintenance work and proactively joined our philosophy study sessions and community meetings. They love nature and strive to minimize harm to the environment. With kind hearts and a willingness to help others, they hope their good deeds will positively influence those around them. The woman holds her own faith, referring to it as the Creator, and they both believe in joyfully accepting everything arranged by the Creator. With hearts full of gratitude and contentment, they often encounter extraordinary experiences and miracles during their travels.
Their views on love and sexuality differ from traditional marriage and monogamy; they welcome like-minded girlfriends or boyfriends to join their lives. This differs from our approach to free and open relationships that follow the natural course of events. However, they did question our community's allowance of meat consumption, believing that all life is equal and that there is no hierarchy among living beings. The woman also noted that, unlike other communities where individuals rotate through various roles, our work assignments are fixed. We explained that in our community, job roles can be adjusted based on individual and community needs, but members usually stick to one type of work for a long time to pursue excellence.
During a community meeting, the woman suggested that silent members should be encouraged to voice their opinions when addressing community issues and resolving conflicts. She also asked Roumei to share how she manages to serve everyone so diligently, selflessly, and with a self-sacrificing spirit. This deeply touched and inspired me, reminding me that maintaining the community requires the active participation and effort of every member.
Due to heavy rainfall, our entire mango orchard, as well as the kitchen and vegetable garden in the merit park, were flooded. Like the local Thai residents, we became recipients of disaster relief. Longpao arranged for us to collect a truckload of food and supplies from the temple. After the floodwaters receded, everyone helped clean up the mango orchard. A capable brother repaired the water pump, and three members successfully returned to the orchard. Life in the community has now returned to normal.
September 29, 2024
