The Day After the Almsgiving

 

More Painted Ornaments: The Sailor Moon Series

Daughter's latest set of painted ornaments, representing some of the characters in the Sailor Moon anime:  Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Mercury.  They have been added to the tree.  

On Sunday, the day after the almsgiving, I focused on "erasing the evidence"  and put away the dishes used during the almsgiving.  I also put away all the Christmas themed dinnerware, too.  I had been planning to keep them out to use when daughter's friends came over for their annual holiday get together, but, that has now been postponed to the second weekend in January and the 12 days of Christmas will be over by then.  The Christmas drinking glasses are still being used, although, they will be put away over the next few days.  

I folded and put away the laundry, including the table covers and the sheets used to cover the sofas.

I tidied the laundry area, swept the kitchen and the family room, and took the recycling and kitchen trash out to the bins.

I also called friend R to check on her and to thank her, again, for helping me with the almsgiving.  

Later in the afternoon, late friend A's younger daughter arrived with a load of laundry to use our washer and dryer.  She brought us two portions of salmon with herbed butter as a gift from her father who works in a grocery store.  I was able to return their food container that had been sent home with us with leftovers after Christmas dinner and, since we don't return empty containers, I sent some of the ribbon cake I had bought from the Sri Lankan store in the container.  

I had a ham sandwich for brunch and daughter had leftover almsgiving rice and curries.  For dinner, I cooked the salmon we had received and served it with savory rice (with green peas added to it) and steamed broccoli and carrots.  Daughter had some dump cake for dessert and I had some of the cut up mixed melons and a slice of ribbon cake.

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- What I was able to accomplish in terms of  putting stuff away
- Being able to help my late friend's daughter by letting her use the washer and dryer
- The gift of two portions of salmon
- Working appliances
- Feeling energetic 

Sunday's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for Monday include doing another load of laundry, cleaning out the fridge, taking the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday, watering the front garden, and cleaning the kitchen.

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?

- 

Almsgiving 2024

 

Reliquary and Offerings

I held my almsgiving on Saturday, December 28.  The photograph above shows the reliquary (covered with a gold cloth and placed on a lotus shaped cushion) that the monks brought with them from the Temple for the occasion.  On the table in front of it, is a tray of offerings of the meal that was prepared, a candle, an incense stick, and a vase of flowers.

I woke up early on Saturday morning and after having a cup of tea, started on the To Do List I shared in the previous post, going down the items on the list, one by one.  Friend R arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. and she covered the sofa where the monks will be seated with the white sheets I had kept out for the purpose.  White is the color of purity and it is non-distracting.  Then, she made the salad for me while I put the rice to boil and warmed up the curries.  We had finished all the preparations well before 10:00 a.m., which gave us a little time to relax and for me to change out from the sweatpants and sweatshirt I was wearing to the white long skirt and the cream colored sweater I had set aside to wear for the almsgiving.  Again, white is the color of purity and not only does it not distract ones attention as colors and patterns would, it also minimizes any obvious social distinctions in dress.  

The monks arrived a little before 11:00 a.m. and the ceremony began with offering the tray of food and flowers to the Buddha, lighting the candle and incense stick and chanting blessings.  Followed by the offering of food to the monks.  

Almsgiving 2024

The monks brought their traditional begging bowls; the food is served into the bowl and afterwards, the bowls are washed and returned to the monks to take back to the temple with them.

After they had finished lunch and the coffee table was cleared, they delivered a short sermon about the three kinds of almsgivings - one is giving physical items such as food, robes, medicines, etc., one is giving another being the ability to live safely, without fearing for its life. and the third is the giving of knowledge and wisdom.

Then, there were more chanting, including the recitation of the Ratana (Gems/Jewels) Sutta (a discourse about the three jewels which are the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha) and transferring of merits to those relatives and loved ones who have departed.

The ceremony concluded about 1:00 p.m. and I sent a plate of food to the temple to be given to anyone who might come to the temple needing some food.

Then, we had our lunch and friend R helped me to put away the leftovers and do the dishes (I loaded the dishwasher with some of the dishes, but, there were others that needed to be washed by hand).  

I was just about to take R back to her place, when former neighbor T's daughter K called and asked if we'd be home because she wanted to drop off something and give me an update on her mom.  So, we waited for her and exchanged gifts with her.  The update on T was not that good (she's receiving hospice care) and that made me feel very sad.  

After K left, daughter and I drove R home. 

Then, I did two loads of laundry, did a little ironing, ran the dishwasher, wrapped more gifts to be exchanged tomorrow, and tidied up the place a bit.

Daughter's get together with friends that was scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to a weekend in January because one of them is ill and she didn't want to expose me to anything.  However, late friend A's daughters might come over to use the washer and dryer as their own washing machine has broken.  So, there will still be some visitors on Sunday, just a different set of girls.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- The almsgiving went very well
- Friend R's help 
- Daughter being able to participate
- The weather being sunny and mild
- T's daughter visiting and giving me an update on T

Saturday's joyful activity was holding the almsgiving.  I am so happy that I was able to do everything.  I am feeling physically tired, but, the tiredness is mitigated by a feeling of joy.

Thank you, everyone, for your participation in the almsgiving by being interested in the ceremony and your kind comments about the proceedings.  

Tis the Night Before the Almsgiving

 

Holiday Gifts

And I finally have some time to post a holiday update!  

We had been invited to Christmas dinner by my late friend A's family, so, in the morning, I baked a peach and blueberry dump cake, using homegrown peaches and blueberries I had frozen.  In the late afternoon, after some discussion about how we were getting there (I had planned to drive us over there and back, but, A's younger daughter wanted to come and pick us up due to a lack of parking spaces at their condo unit; then, while we were waiting for her to pick us up, she called to say that a parking spot had opened up and her dad had parked his car there to reserve the spot, so could we drive ourselves?) I drove us there.  The girls and their father had prepared a lovely meal and we got to meet one girl's boyfriend who entertained us with some magic tricks.  After we came home, I wrapped up the gifts shown above, to take to my cousin's house, the next day.

On Thursday (or Boxing Day as it is known in some countries; it's a regular work day over here), I called the monks to confirm Saturday's almsgiving, then, picked up the groceries I had ordered.  I had received everything I had ordered (including a dozen large eggs for $7.99), but, I had forgotten to order some orange juice to serve at the almsgiving.  So, I put in another order for groceries, ordering a few other items, such as bagels and cold cuts, in addition to the orange juice.  I ordered enough pantry items to bring the total up to qualify me for free pick up.  With daughter staying with me for at least another couple of weeks into January, the pantry items will not go to waste.  

I watered the backyard after I came home.  

In the evening, we went to visit cousin V and her family, including her daughter who had come from New York with her husband and two young sons.  Cousin R (cousin V's sister) joined us, too, and it was nice to see the family.  V's other daughter was not well and V had told her to stay in her room for the duration of the visit because she knows that I am still being extra cautious.  Although V had invited us to an early dinner, I had told her we'll just have a cup of tea and some snacks.  We had the tea and the snacks V had prepared and were considering leaving, when V started making "appa" or "hoppers" as they are also called in English - a type of bowl shaped pancake with a soft spongy center and a thin crisp edge - I couldn't resist!  Both my daughter and I love V's hoppers.  So, we stayed and had dinner, after all!

After we got home, I put away all the Christmas gift wrapping paper and card making supplies and cleared the big table in the family room.

Today (Friday), I picked up the second batch of groceries and picked up my friend R on the way home.  She had offered to come and help me with the almsgiving preparations.  We removed the Christmas dinnerware and the red plaid table cloth from the dining table and set out all the almsgiving plates and dishes, rearranged some of the furniture, got the robot to vacuum, and prepared the last two dishes that needed to be made - the shredded kale "mallung" with grated coconut and turmeric and another peach and blueberry dump cake.  I crossed off all the items on my Almsgiving Schedule that I had listed that needed to be done, today.  Thanks to R being here, we were done by 4:00 p.m.  We exchanged gifts after that and R was very pleased with the blanket I had made for her and the beaded necklace my daughter had made for her.  Afterwards, daughter and I dropped R off at her home.

R has promised to come over in the morning to help with the last minute preparations.  It's her late husband's death anniversary, so, the almsgiving will be given in his name, as well.  

Here's the To Do List for tomorrow:

- Pick flowers from the garden, arrange in vases
- Cut up fruits and arrange in saucers; cover
- Arrange the various sweets in saucers; cover
- Make the salad
- Pour treacle into the sauce boat
- Serve the yogurt into dessert bowls
- Serve the dump cake into dessert bowls
- Cook rice (red rice and white rice)
- Warm up the curries (they are thawing in the fridge)
- Dish up the curries
- Serve the rice and curries to be offered at the altar and the plate to be offered symbolically to the community of monks (not just the monks who will be physically present at the almsgiving)
- Boil a kettle of water and keep hot for the monks who prefer to drink hot water
- Pour out the juice
- Keep warm water in bowls for the monks to wash their hands both before the meal and afterwards

10:45 a.m. - everything should be ready
11:00 a.m. - the monks arrive

After they arrive, the monks will chant some blessings and offer the food to the Buddha and to the community of monks (Sangha).  

Then, the meal will be served to them. The menu has been posted on the fridge door so that we won't forget anything!

They need to finish eating by 12 noon.  After which, they will deliver a short sermon, we will offer the merits accrued by the almsgiving to those family members and loved ones who have departed by pouring water into a bowl until it overflows (there will be a larger bowl to catch the overflow), and then, the monks will chant more blessings.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, I will offer some donations to the monks.

We will have our lunch after they have left and then, I'll do a load of laundry (chair covers, table cloths, napkins, etc.) and drop R at her home.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friend R helping me with the almsgiving preparations
- Daughter doing what she can to help
- Being able to order and pick up grocries as needed
- Working appliances
- Celebrating Christmas with family and friends

Joyful activities have included spending time with family and friends; getting ready for the almsgiving.

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas or are celebrating a joyful Chanukkah.

On Tuesday

Little Cabbage Plant

This is the cabbage plant I am growing from the rooted core of a head of store bought cabbage.  I don't expect the plant to grow and form another head of cabbage, but, this is the first time I've been successful getting a cabbage core to root and grow, so I am thrilled to bits!  The leaves shown here are about two inches long; maybe, in a few weeks, I might be able to pick a couple of leaves to add to a salad or a soup!  

Tuesday was a bit of a windy day.  Not quite the wind storm we had been told to expect on Monday, but, enough of a wind to blow the clouds away.  It was a clear, sunny day, with blue skies and mild temperatures.  I brought the trash cans in, collected the mail, walked for 20 minutes,  watered the back garden, took the last few bags of decluttered items to the garage, chatted a bit with aunt C, and spoke with the monks at the temple.

A couple of days ago, the monks had called to ask me if I knew where they could obtain thread in the colors of the Buddhist flag (blue, yellow, red, white, and orange) for an upcoming religious ceremony.  They required a certain quantity of it and they thought I would know because I do a lot of needlework.  I also recognized it as a tacit way of inviting me to participate in the ceremony.  They know that I will not attend the event in person due to the number of attendees, but, here is an opportunity to participate by providing something needed.  So, after I mentioned a couple of craft stores where such thread could be bought, I offered to get the thread for them.  I picked out the crochet thread my mother used to use (in remembrance of her); the nearest store to me didn't have the colors I wanted, so, I asked my daughter to order it from the store website and have it shipped to me.  By doing the ordering for me, she, too, had the opportunity to participate in a meritorious act.  

Thread

The box of thread arrived, on Tuesday, and I called the temple and offered to bring it over.  The senior monk told me that he will tell the junior monk to call me, which he did, and he said he will drive over to pick up the thread, as they didn't want to inconvenience me by having me drive over.  So, in the evening, the junior monk arrived and picked up the thread.  I had ordered two spools of each color because I wasn't sure if the thread would be of the right hue and intensity that was wanted.  Once the monk approved of the colors chosen, I went ahead and ordered two more spools of each color.  The monks will chant blessings and knot and twist the different colored strands of thread into one strand,  During the ceremony, the attendees will pass the thread around and hold it while the monks chant blessings.  The thread unites the attendees.  Afterwards, the monks will cut shorter lengths of the blessed thread and tie it on the right wrist of each attendee and chant more blessings.  The thread absorbs the vibrations from the blessings and becomes a visual reminder of the blessings and a form of protection, as well.  Often, the blessed thread is white, but, the multicolored thread is special because each color represents something special.   

At the same time, I reserved the date for the annual almsgiving I hold at the end of the year or the beginning of the year.  We are having it at the end of December, this year, because that's when my daughter will be home.  So, this year, if all goes well, I would have started and ended the year with almsgivings!  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to provide the thread for the temple blessing ceremony
- Being able to order online and having it delivered
- Being able to schedule the almsgiving
- Water for the garden
- A lovely day

Tuesday's joyful activities included getting the thread for the temple and booking the date for the almsgiving.  

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M and tidying up the house a bit.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?  

 

Almsgiving 2024

Ready for the Almsgiving

The rain that was in the forecast for today took place very early in the morning and it had ceased by the time I woke up at 7:15 a.m.  There was bright sunshine during most of the rest of the day and I was very pleased.  

I didn't get a lot of sleep, last night, and I was a little tired when I woke up,  But, I had a cup of tea and started on the almsgiving prep work.  Then, I guess I felt a bit stressed, because I started to feel my heart pounding.  Usually, I start my mornings in a more leisurely way, reading my prayer book for the 20 to 30 minutes it takes me to say my morning prayers.  So, I decided to take a little time to say my prayers and my daughter came to check if I was OK.  I also took one of my medications that is meant to regulate my pressure and heart rate.  By the time I finished my prayers, the medication had taken effect and I felt much better.  The moral of that story is, don't skip saying your morning prayers, Bless, and don't forget to take your medications!  I cut up the fruits and the vegetables for the salad while my daughter dished out the sweets.

Gardener M arrived early to tend to the garden and tidy up the front walkway.  He also brought me another jade plant that one of his other clients wanted him to toss out!  

We had everything prepared by 10:45 a.m. as planned.  The sofa, where the monks will sit, was covered with white sheets to cleanse them.  Two types of rice were cooked, all the various curries were warmed up, a tray with small portions of every food item prepared served into small bowls was readied to be offered to the Buddha at the altar, and a plate with a regular portion of all the food, along with plates of fruits and sweets were set out on the coffee table and covered with a paper napkin or plastic wrap, to be offered, symbolically, to the larger community of monks (comprised of all the monks throughout the world, past, present, and future): 

The Table Set with the Offerings for the Community of Monks

The various dishes were set out on the dining table which acted as a side board.  At some almsgivings, the monks will sit at the table, but, we have always had them sit on the sofas in the living room.

The Almsgiving Food Offerings
(You can see the tray with the offerings for the Buddha)

I am very glad that we had everything ready by 10:45 a.m., because, unexpectedly, the monks arrived early!  My daughter was just checking the list posted on the fridge door with all the steps outlined to make sure everything was done, when I called out to her that the monks had arrived.

They brought with them the reliquary, which transformed my home into a temple for the duration.  The tray of food, the vase of flowers, a lit candle, an incense holder with a stick of burning incense were placed in front of it and offered to the Buddha.

The Reliquary and Offerings to the Buddha

The ceremony began with paying homage to the Buddha, the Dhamma (Dharma in Sanskrit; the teachings of the Buddha), and the Sangha (the community of monks or the disciples of the Buddha) and taking the five precepts that govern the daily lives of Buddhists (to abstain from killing and harming another living being, to abstain from stealing or taking what is not freely given, to abstain from adultery and other sexual misconduct, to abstain from lying and harsh speech, and to abstain from the consumption of alcohol and drugs which induce intoxication).  

The tray of food and other items on the altar in front of the reliquary were offered to the Buddha.  Then, the plates of food set on the coffee table, in front of the monks, were offered to the Community of Monks.  The actual monks who are present at the almsgiving are only a representative few of the Community of Monks.  It doesn't matter how many monks are actually present at an almsgiving; by offering the plates of food to the Community of Monks, we are symbolically offering the alms to all the monks, past, present, and future.

Afterwards, the meal we prepared was served to the monks.  I kept plates on the table, but, they brought their begging bowl with them and we served the food into the bowls.  First, the rice and curries are served.  When they are done with that, then, the desserts are served - a variety of fruits, a variety of sweets, a pudding, yoghurt and treacle.  Then, I asked if they would like tea or coffee and they indicated that they didn't need anything else.  

The Monks Having Their Meal
(photo taken with their consent)

After the meal, the monks chanted pirith or blessings.  We hold a specially wound thread while the blessings are chanted - the thread is a symbol of the connectivity between us and the thread also absorbs some of the vibrations of the chanting.  The ceremony concluded with offering a portion of the accrued merit to the departed family members and loved ones.  The monks spoke very kindly of my mother who taught them English and offered blessings to my daughter and to me.  Finally, we drank some blessed water and a piece of the blessed thread that we held was tied around our right wrists.  It is a visual reminder of the blessings and a symbolic protection.  

Finally, we offered additional donations for the monks to take back to the temple.  

Normally, the monks would leave after that.  However, these monks have known me for about 40 years and they've known my daughter since the day she was born.  So, after the ceremony was over, they inspected the Christmas tree (daughter had insisted on leaving it up for the monks to see) and admired it and admired the garden.  I think that they are amused by the fact that we decorate the house for Christmas even though we are Buddhists.  

They left around 12:30 p.m.  After that, I called neighbor S and offered to bring her a plate of food and daughter took it over.  Then, she and I had lunch and afterwards, daughter put away the food and did most of the washing up (I used some special china which can't be washed in the dishwasher, but we did a load in the dishwasher, too).  Afterwards, I took a long nap!  

It was past 5:30 p.m. when I woke up from my nap!  I guess I was tired.  The rest of the evening passed rather quickly - a cup of tea, some snacks, a light dinner of toast and scrambled eggs for me (daughter had rice and curries), another New Year's gift wrapped, the litter box cleaned, a load of laundry done, phone chats with family and friends, little blogging and it's almost 2:00 a.m. and time to go to bed!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to hold my almsgiving
- Everything went smoothly
- My daughter's help with everything
- M tending to the garden
- Medications!

Today's joyful activity was holding the almsgiving.  It has filled the spiritual area of my life to overflowing and filled me with pure joy.  

Plans for tomorrow include a long overdue visit to see my half-sister and have lunch with her.  Afterwards, I will start the process of putting away the dishes used for the almsgiving and do another load of laundry.  

I've tried to describe the almsgiving as fully as I could without getting too detailed.  But, if you have any questions about it, please let me know and I'll try to answer to the best of my abilities.  One of the words one of the monks said today was "sraddha"  which is Sanskrit for faith.  I wrote about it a few years ago, when I participated in Angela's Pause for Advent, here.  Sraddha was the energy that made today's event possible.

Almsgiving Preparations on Tuesday

Almsgiving Schedule

This is the schedule I made for myself, years ago, when I was working and would hold the almsgiving on a Sunday.  There's a list of things to do such as set the date, invite the monks and participants, decide on the donations I'll be giving, make the menu, check supplies, make a grocery list, etc.

Then, on Friday evening, after work, I'd take out the dishes I use only for the almsgiving, clean and arrange the house, make sure all the necessary things are set out and kept ready.  On Saturday, I'd continue with the house cleaning, do the grocery shopping, and cook.  On Sunday morning, I'd warm up the curries, cook the pots of rice, cut up fruits and vegetables, etc.  

I still follow this schedule, even though I've moved the actual day of the almsgiving to a week day.  It's the schedule which keeps me organized so that the actual event flows smoothly.  The monks always remark that my almsgivings are always very smooth without any last minute rushing around to set things up.

So, on New Year's Day, my daughter helped me to take down the plates and bowls and various other items and I put in an order for groceries.  On Tuesday, I picked up the groceries, put on the table covers and chair covers, and my daughter and I cooked the various curries we had undertaken to cook.  I cooked sauteed curried Napa cabbage and a kale mallung (shredded kale sauteed with grated coconut, onions, and turmeric) and I fried some pappadum (lentil wafers).  My daughter cooked a dhal (lentil) curry with red lentils and sauteed curried green beans.  She also peeled the hard boiled eggs I will use in a salad.  

Then, I did a load of dishes (some in the dishwasher, the rest by hand) and took out the cashew curry and garbanzo beans I had cooked and frozen earlier, and kept them in the fridge to thaw overnight.  

On Wednesday morning, I will make the salad, cut up the fruit and arrange them and the assortment of sweets in individual dishes, and cook the rice.

2024 Almsgiving Menu:

Red rice and white rice
Cashew curry
Sauteed curried garbanzo beans
Dhal
Sauteed curried green beans
Kale mallung
Sauteed curried cabbage
Salad (cucumber slices, tomato slices, red onion slices, halved hardboiled eggs)
Pappadum

Desserts: 
An assortment of sweets (chocolates, Sri Lankan sweets, cookies, zucchini bread, etc.)
An assortment of fresh fruit (grapes, slices of pears, slices of mango, slices of apples, tangerines, strawberries)
Watalappan (a Sri Lankan pudding made with jaggery and coconut milk)
Yogurt and palm treacle

Water and juice, tea if the monks would like some

Everything must be ready by 10:45 a.m.; the monks will arrive between 11:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.; they will chant blessings and we will offer the food and serve the meal to them.  The almsgiving meal must be consumed by them before 12 noon as the monks take a vow of abstinence from consuming solid food after noon.  Afterwards, there will be a sermon and more chanting of blessings; water will be poured from a pot (I use a teapot gifted to me by a friend many years ago) into a cup until the cup overflows (the cup will be placed in a bigger bowl to catch the overflow of water) in order to symbolically transfer the merits to our departed loved ones.  The empty cup represents the departed loved ones and the water represents the merit that we pour into them to fill them until it brims over.

I need to wake up early, which means I should go to sleep soon!

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- The groceries I ordered were all available
- Curbside grocery pick up
- Daughter's help with the almsgiving preparations
- My hands cramped only once all evening during the meal prep
- Being able to hold an almsgiving this year

My joyful activity was preparing for the almsgiving.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?

Thursday

Winter Treats!

Hot cocoa is just an excuse for whipped cream, in my opinion!  LOL.  

Last night, I resorted to taking a couple of Tylenols because I was feeling so achy from the vaccine.  That really helped; I probably should have taken them earlier in the day!  Anyway, I slept well and woke up feeling fine.

Today, I did a couple of loads of laundry and ran the dishwasher.  I generally do my dishes by hand, but, I've been told that I should run the dishwasher on a regular basis to keep the hoses from drying out and getting brittle.  So, every so often, about once a week or once in 10 days, I let the dishes pile up in the sink for a couple of days and do a load.  

Yesterday's planned dinner of salmon, baked potato, and broccoli didn't happen.  I had scrambled eggs and toast, instead!  Instead, I had salmon for my dinner, today, with "souped up rice" - I didn't finish the soup that M had brought me, yesterday, so, I added the leftover soup to the pot of rice I cooked today and it made a very nice flavored rice side dish.  I had some tomato chutney with the rice and salmon.  

I had a call from the monks at the Temple, today.  They were calling to check on me because I haven't spoken with them in a while (not since October, I believe).  I thought it was very kind of them to check on me.  I had been intending to call them - it was on my Time Management December To Do List!  Anyway, I have now booked the date with them for my almsgiving to be held in the first week of January (on January 3rd, to be exact).  Longtime readers of my blog will know what this means, but, basically, it is a religious ceremony where the monks are invited to a specially prepared lunch and they will chant blessings and give a sermon, in turn.  One can give an almsgiving at the Temple, but, I prefer to have the monks come to my home as I consider it a blessing for the house, as well. I used to do this at the end of the year, but, now, I'm preferring to hold it at the beginning of the year.  My daughter will be here to help me with the preparations and the serving of the meal, etc.   

I didn't hear from the pharmacy about Dancer's medication, today.  Hopefully, I'll hear from them, tomorrow.  If not, I'll have to call them to find out what is happening.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Feeling fine after the vaccine (yesterday's dose of Tylenol really helped)
- The monks calling to check on me
- Being able to schedule my almsgiving
- Working appliances
- Emails from friends

Today's joyful activity was scheduling the almsgiving.

Plans for tomorrow will hopefully include a trip to the pharmacy to pick up Dancer's medication!

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?
 

Tuesday: More Almsgiving Preparations

My daughter had been unable to sleep, last night, after waking up from what turned out to be a nap!  She had gone to sleep around 10:30 p.m., but, woke up a couple of hours later and couldn't fall asleep.  So, she tidied the dining area and the family room; everything was nice and tidy when I woke up!  Later, in the afternoon, she took another nap and afterwards, she cooked the rest of the almsgiving food that could be prepared ahead of time and helped me tidy my bedroom!  She is such a help to me!  

In the meantime, I accomplished all the items that I had on my to do list for today:

- Confirm the date with the monks - DONE
- Clean the rest of the house (daughter will help) - DONE
- Take down the dishes used only for almsgivings and wash them - DONE
- Take out serving dishes, basins used for washing hands, serving spoons, etc. - DONE

- Set out items needed for the transfer of merit: teapot, cup, and basin; fill teapot with water - DONE
- Set out new bottle of water for blessing; bowl to catch drips when blessed water is poured out - DONE
- Set out items for washing hands: fresh cake of soap, hand towels, jugs & basins - DONE

I vacuumed the house (except the bed rooms), brought the trash cans in, washed the front door, the front door steps, and the walkway, and rinsed all the plates and dishes, etc. that will be used, tomorrow.  In addition to the usual soap, etc., that I keep ready for handwashing before and after the meal, I also kept out a new container of hand sanitizer, along with a stack of new disposable masks, at the entrance!  Definitely a sign of the times!  

In the evening, I called friend R to check on her.  I also texted M, since he will be coming to tend to the garden around the same time as the almsgiving will start, to let him know that I'll be occupied when he arrives; then, I wrote out the check for his payment and kept it ready to leave it for him, in the morning.

Daughter wrote out the almsgiving menu and posted it on the fridge door so we won't forget anything:

Beverages: water, fruit juice

Soup (she made a vegetable cream soup)

Rice (red rice and white rice) with assorted curries 

- Dhal (lentil) curry

- Kadala (sauteed spicy garbanzo beans)

- Bonchi thel dala (sauteed spicy green beans)

- Kale mallung (shredded kale cooked with grated coconut, turmeric, and spices)
- Sauteed purple mustard greens

- Zucchini chutney

- Cucumber/tomato/red onion salad with hard boiled eggs, halved

It's a mostly vegetarian meal, although we serve eggs.

Followed by:

- A variety of sweets (love cake, blueberry yogurt mini muffins, butter cookies, and meringue kisses - all made by daughter, and peppermint chocolates) 

- A variety of fruits (grapes, tangerines, berries - raspberries and black berries - apple slices, and pear slices)

- A compote of peaches from the garden and cranberries

- Yogurt with palm treacle

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter's help with the almsgiving preparations
- Sunny weather for washing the door and walkway, etc.
- Working appliances
- Getting the house cleaned and tidied
- Hand sanitizers, masks, and being vaccinated!

Today's joyful activity was preparing for the almsgiving.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?

Monday: More New Year Visits and Almsgiving Preparations Begin

Another Homemade Card
(the last one, I promise!)

A friend of mine called today and said she was dropping off some additional gifts!  She had already given me some gifts, earlier, when we exchanged gifts by leaving each other's gifts on the doorstep, last week.  I told her it was not necessary, but, she insisted that it was!  LOL.  We stood outside the door, fully masked, and wished each other for the New Year.  She brought a calendar and some Harry Potter items for my daughter and a tin of French butter cookies for me!  Needless to say, I put the cookies away to enjoy later; much, much later! 

Today, I began on my almsgiving preparations in earnest.  Long time readers of my blog will know that I have been holding an almsgiving, nearly every year, usually in December, when I invite the Buddhist monks from the Temple to my home and offer them lunch and other donations. The last one I held was in 2019.  In 2020, I sent a donation to the Temple in lieu of holding an almsgiving (due to COVID) and that was the plan for 2021, too.  But, I missed not being able to hold an almsgiving in my house because I feel that having it in my home blesses the house, as well.  Daughter suggested having the almsgiving at the beginning of this year, instead, so she could help me with the cooking and the preparations.  I think I like the idea of starting off the year with an almsgiving; this might become a new tradition!

We scaled back the almsgiving due to COVID, since new case numbers are rising as a result of the Omicron variant.  Only two monks will attend (as opposed to the usual 5-7 in previous years) and no other participants will be present, only my daughter and I.  I did invite friend R, but, today, she called and asked to be excused, again, due to COVID considerations.  I quite understood.  The monks are fully vaccinated and boosted; daughter and I plan to wear our masks and we will have all three air purifiers running and have a couple of windows open, too, for ventilation.  

The almsgiving is scheduled for this Wednesday (January 5); I will call the monks and confirm it, tomorrow.

I have a master list of things I do to prepare for the event and I firmly believe that list keeps me focused and enables me to do everything in an organized manner!

So far, I have accomplished the following:

- Set the date/invited the monks

- Set the menu; bought the groceries
- Cooked most of the dishes (daughter did the majority of the cooking)

- Got the donations ready

- Cleaned the living room

- Rearranged the furniture to set up the seating area in the living room (very little needed to be done this year because only two monks)

- Set out candles, incense sticks & holder, lighter/matches to light the candles, etc.

- Cleaned the kitchen after daughter cooked and did the dishes

Still to do (Tuesday, January 4):
- Confirm the date with the monks
- Clean the rest of the house (daughter will help)
- Take down the dishes used only for almsgivings and wash them
- Take out serving dishes, basins used for washing hands, serving spoons, etc.

- Set out items needed for the transfer of merit: teapot, cup, and basin; fill teapot with water
- Set out new bottle of water for blessing; bowl to catch drips when blessed water is poured out
- Set out items for washing hands: fresh cake of soap, hand towels, jugs & basins

Wednesday, January 5 (day of almsgiving)::

- Cook rice (2 types - white and red) 

- Make the salad

- Cut up fruits and arrange in saucers; cover
- Arrange a variety of sweets in saucers; cover
- Pour palm treacle into sauce boat (to be served over yogurt)

- Warm up the soup, curries; dish out

- Serve up offerings to the Buddha and offerings for the Order of Monks
- Cover chairs, tables (can't do earlier because of the cat!)
- Pick flowers from the garden and arrange in vases
- Boil water and keep warm for those monks who prefer hot water
- Pour water and juice into glasses

10:45 a.m. - Everything should be done and ready!

11:00 a.m. - Monks arrive; Offerings to Buddha, Order of Monks, etc. take place and service begins with devotions being recited.

11:30 a.m. - Lunch is served to the monks

12:00 noon - Monks finish their lunch (they are prohibited from eating after noon), plates are cleared, a sermon is said, blessings are chanted, merit gained from almsgiving is transferred to departed loved ones, and donations are offered to the monks.

1:00 p.m. - the religious ceremonies are concluded, the monks leave; usually, lunch is then served to all the guests who participated, but this year, there won't be any other participants, although I will probably take a plate of food to friend R and neighbor S, etc.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friend N visiting (and bringing more gifts!)
- Daughter doing the cooking

- My new set of pots and pans (Christmas gift from my daughter; using them for the first time to cook the almsgiving food)

- The cleaning I was able to do
- Working appliances

Today's joyful activity was visiting, however briefly, with friend N.

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for Tuesday?

Almsgiving on Sunday and an Answered Prayer!

Before I describe my Sunday, I want to pause for a moment to link up with Angela on her Pause in Advent on this second Sunday in Advent.  Angela explains that "advent" means "coming" and she mentions a banquet where the host tells his guests, "Come, everything is ready."

I thought it was interesting that she should mention the preparation of a feast and inviting guests to come to it and how important the preparation of a meal and an invitation to participate seems to be across cultures and religions.

I have been spending the majority of the last few days preparing a special type of meal, called an almsgiving, to which I had invited the Buddhist monks from the Temple to attend and family and friends to participate.

My friend R stayed the night with me, last night, and we did as much of the cooking as we could do ahead of time.  This morning, R and I prepared the rest of the meal, warmed up all the curries that had been prepared earlier.

Almsgiving Lunch 

Almsgiving Menu:

White rice
Red rice
Rice sticks (noodles) with vegetables
Bread and butter

Cashew curry
Dhal curry
Curried garbanzo beans (and plain boiled ones for the one monk who is unable to eat spicy food)
Cucumber/tomato/red onion salad with hard boiled eggs, halved
Sauted green beans
Mallung (shredded greens - kale - with coconut)
Pappadum (fried lentil wafers)

Desserts:
- Variety of candies/sweets - thala guli (sesame and jaggery candy), chocolates, brownies, mini eclairs, individual chocolate mousse desserts
- Variety of fresh fruits, cut up (grapes, apples, papaya, persimmons, tangerines)
- Yogurt and treacle

Drinks:
- Orange Juice, water, hot water for the one monk who prefers hot water.


Before the monks arrived, I covered the living room sofas with white sheets as is our custom:

Covered Chairs

Of course, a certain kitty had to check it out:

"Who is on the covered sofas?"

"I'm hiding my face so Mummy can't see me!"

Fortunately, I was able to dust the sheets off before the monks arrived!  In any case, the monks like cats and there is a cat in the temple.

Everything was ready by 10:30 a.m., when cousin V, her husband N, and cousin P arrived.  We had a few minutes to chat, before the monks arrived at 11:00 a.m.  I bade them to enter in a more formal manner than I had greeted my cousins.  They brought the reliquary which we placed on the top of the tall, round side table in front of the bookcase (it is covered with a gold cloth).  The tray of offerings, vase of flowers, etc. were placed on the trolley table in front of it.  Blessings were said, and I mentioned my friend Tania and others who needed special blessings.  Afterwards, the monks were served their lunch.  My cousins and friend R helped with the serving. 

Monks Having their Lunch

According to the laws regulating the monks' activities, they need to eat their last meal of the day before 12 noon.  They may not eat again until they have breakfast the following morning.  They may not help themselves to any food that is not offered to them and they wait to be served.  They may not ask for anything for themselves, but, they may ask that another monk be served and, by tradition, when you serve one monk, you serve all the monks.  If they don't want any thing that is served to them, they indicate so by holding one hand over the plates or begging bowls (they didn't bring their begging bowls with them, this time; last year, they did).  Traditionally, the rest of us don't eat until they have finished eating and left. 

After the monks had eaten their lunch, they gave a sermon (on the subject of  the reality of change or impermanance), merits accrued from the almsgiving were transferred to our departed loved ones, and more blessings were chanted to bless everyone, including friend T and others. 

None of my Buddhist relatives or friends were able to attend my almsgiving, this year.  Cousin P, Cousin V and her husband, and friend R are all Catholic.  But, they came to help me and served the monks and listened to the sermon which followed.  As my daughter put it, I participate in their Rosary prayer gatherings and they participate in my almsgivings. 

After the monks left, we had lunch.  Then, cousin P left, but, cousin V, her husband, and friend R stayed to help me put away the food, remove the chair covers, put some of the furniture back in place, etc.  I packed up some food for them to take home, as well.

Then, I packed another container of food and we all went to the hospital to visit friend T (cousin V and her husband gave friend R and me a ride).  The food was for her sister and other family members.  We went in one by one, since only two at a time were allowed in her room, and her boyfriend was already there.  And that's where the answered prayer part of my post title comes in!  Friend T, who was unresponsive yesterday, was up!  Off the ventilator and breathing on her own!  Responsive!  Talking!  She has a weakness in her right side, but, she not paralyzed!  For someone who was given a 50/50 chance, she seems to have beaten the odds!  She thanked me for coming to see her!  We were all so happy!  I asked her sister when the ventilator was taken out and she said, shortly after 12 noon!  I know she had a lot of people praying for her and we are all convinced that her recovery is in answer to all our prayers!  It is nothing short of a miracle!

Then, we all came back to my house for a little bit.  After cousin V and her husband left, I drove friend R home.  I was tired after I came home, so, had a cup of tea and rested a bit.  Then, I dished up some of the almsgiving food to take over to my neighbor S, across the street, but, when I called her to tell her I was bringing over some food for her, she said she was just about to bring me some Armenian food her mother had made!  So, she came over with her food and I gave her some of my food and we both laughed about our food exchange. 

I called cousin P to give her the good news about friend T (she and her daughter had gone to see T, yesterday, and cousin P had said she was shocked to see her like that) and also called the Temple and spoke to the monks and told them the good news about friend T.  They were so happy to hear it.

Then, I put away the last remaining bits of food and washed all the dishes and pans! One load in the dishwasher and the rest by hand.  I will put them away, tomorrow, and do the laundry, tomorrow, too. 

Cousin P called me later in the evening to check on me and we chatted for a long time.  Friend R called, too, to say she felt guilty about leaving me to do the washing up by myself, but, I told her she had been more than helpful with all the prep work.  Besides, she has to go to work, tomorrow, while I have the whole day to put things away, etc.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Friend T's miraculous recovery
- The almsgiving went off very well
- My cousins and friend participating and helping me
- A working dishwasher!
- Neighbor S bringing me more food!

Monday's To Do List:
- Put away washed dishes
- Laundry
- Iron the table covers and cloth napkins
- Return the last few pieces of furniture to their usual places (the trolley table has to come back to the family room, one dining chair needs to be returned to the table, etc.
- Cover the family room sofas with dust sheets (those covers were taken off before the almsgiving, today)
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Do as much erasing of evidence as possible

Thank you, everyone, who said you will keep friend T in your thoughts and prayers.  I want you to know that our prayers on her behalf have been answered! 

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday? 
-

Friday Update

Dancer's vet called me this morning to ask how he was doing and to give me the test results.  His blood tests were normal for the most part and his urine test was normal.  However, there seems to be some signs that he might have hyperthyroidism.  She explained a couple of treatment options that are available and emailed me more information.  She said we could wait and test him again, in six months' time, and take it from there.  I've forwarded the emails to my daughter and we will discuss them after she's had time to read them.  Dancer is still a bit subdued, today, but, he's eating and starting to meow at me a bit more and is seated next to me, here, on the sofa, as I write this.

The second phone call I received this morning was from a friend, informing me that a mutual friend was in the hospital (ICU), after a stroke!  I would have liked to have gone to see her, today, but, I was unable to do so.  I plan to visit her tomorrow morning.

I went grocery shopping at the Armenian store, later in the morning.  I bought almost all the fresh produce I needed for the almsgiving - scallions and snowpea pods for the ricesticks dish; cucumber, tomatoes, and red onions for the salad; kale for the mallung; yogurt; papaya, apples, and fuyu persimmons for fruit; and two cans of condensed milk.  My total came to $15.60.  I wanted to buy a packet of shredded carrots, but, they didn't have them, and I still need to buy some regular milk, as well.

I came home and ate a sandwich for brunch (I had eaten a banana, earlier, before I went shopping).  Then, it was time to go to my appointment with the podiatrist.  I had to go downtown and it rained all the way there!  The freeway was practically at a standstill and it took me longer to drive to the appointment than I had anticipated.  I was so afraid I would be late, but, I got there right on time at 2:30 p.m.  It was a new podiatrist and he said everything was fine, but, my feet were very dry and recommended I applied lots of lotion.   I am to see him, again, in February.

The drive home was bumper to bumper, but, at least, the rain had ceased.

M was already here, tending to the garden, when I got home, a little after 4:30 p.m.  I made us some tea and we chatted for a bit.  Then, he helped me rearrange the furniture and take down the almsgiving dishes.  After he left, I washed the dishes and vacuumed.  Then, did a load of laundry (kitchen and bathroom rugs, Dancer's towels, etc.)

Remember the almsgiving preparations list I posted earlier?  Here's an update:

- Set the date/invite the monks/invite the participants - DONE
- Confirm the date with the monks - DONE
- Call and remind the invitees - DONE
- Make a tentative menu - DONE
- Shop for non-perishable groceries - DONE
- Cook and freeze the cashew curry - DONE
- Cook and freeze the garbanzo beans - DONE
- Cook and freeze the dhal - DONE
- Check supplies (non-grocery)/shop for items needed - DONE
- Go to the bank/Get donations ready - DONE
- Make the grocery shopping list - DONE
- Grocery shop for perishables - DONE
- Clean the house - dust, vacuum, bathrooms - MOSTLY DONE (need to mop my bathroom)
- Rearrange furniture to set up the seating area in the living room (M will help on Friday) - DONE
- Take down dishes used only for almsgiving and wash them - DONE
- Set out candles/incense sticks & holder; lighter/matches - DONE
- Set out items needed for the transfer of merit: teapot, cup, and water basin; fill teapot with water - DONE
- Set out new bottle of water for blessing; bowl to catch drips when blessed water is poured out - DONE

Saturday, Dec. 7 To Do List:
- Visit friend T in ICU
- Pharmacy for medication refill
- Any last minute grocery shopping (shredded carrots and milk)
- Clean out fridge
- Put out frozen items to thaw
- Pick up friend R
- Cook
- Mop my bathroom


Today, I am grateful for:
- Dancer's blood tests, etc. were mostly normal
- Safe drive to downtown and back
- Podiatrist visit went well
- M's help
- All what I was able to accomplish

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for Saturday?

Almsgiving Preparations - 2019

Long time readers of my blog know that I hold an almsgiving, every year, in December, when I invite the Buddhist monks from the Temple to my home and offer them lunch and other donations.  The one year when I failed to do so was in 2016, when I fainted from dehydration (although I didn't know that was the cause at the time) in the bathroom and hit my head on the edge of the bathtub/shower door track, two days prior to the almsgiving, and didn't feel up to doing all the work involved.  This year, I am making sure I stay well hydrated!

I have exactly one week left to prepare for the almsgiving, scheduled for Sunday, December 8.  Time to review my checklist and schedule!  There is only so much I can do ahead of time, but, I am going to try to do as much as I can to prepare ahead of time.  My daughter will not be here to help me with the almsgiving, this year, although friend R has said she will come and help, as she usually does.

I have a master list of things I do to prepare for the event and I firmly believe that list keeps me focused and enables me to do everything in an organized manner!

So far, I have accomplished the following:

- Set the date/invited the monks/invited the participants
- Confirmed the date with the monks
- Made a tentative menu
- Shopped for non-perishable groceries
- Cooked and frozen the cashew curry
- Cooked and frozen the garbanzo beans
- Cooked the dhal - will cool it in the fridge, overnight, then freeze.


Still to do:

- Check supplies (non-grocery)/shop for items needed
- Go to the bank/Get donations ready
- Call and remind the invitees
- Clean the house
- Rearrange furniture to set up the seating area in the living room (M will help on Friday)
- Take down dishes used only for almsgiving and wash them
- Take out serving dishes, basins used for washing hands, serving spoons, etc.
- Take out plates, bowls, etc. for guests
- Make the grocery shopping list
- Grocery shop for perishables

Saturday, Dec. 7:
- Pick up friend R
- Any last minute grocery shopping
- Put out frozen items to thaw (might do that Friday night)
- Cook the rice sticks
- Make the soup
- Make the garbanzo/edamame/carrot salad
- Set out items needed for the transfer of merit: teapot, cup, and water basin; fill teapot with water
- Set out candles/incense sticks & holder; lighter/matches
- Set out new bottle of water for blessing; bowl to catch drips when blessed water is poured out
- Set out items for washing hands: fresh cake of soap, hand towels, jugs & basins

Sunday, Dec. 8 (day of almsgiving):
- Cover chairs, tables
- Arrange flowers in vases
- Cut up fruits and arrange in saucers; cover
- Arrange a variety of sweets in saucers; cover
- Pour palm treacle into sauce boat (to be served over yogurt)
- Cook rice (2 types - white and red)
- Make salads
- Warm up soup and curries; dish out into smaller serving dishes for serving to monks; bigger serving dishes for guests
- Serve up offerings to the Buddha and offerings for the Order of Monks
- Boil water and keep warm for those monks who prefer hot water
- Pour water and juice into glasses

10:30 a.m. - Everything should be done and ready; guests arrive and their contributions, if any, are added to offerings to the Buddha and the Order of Monks

11:00 a.m. - Monks arrive; Offerings to Buddha, Order of Monks, etc. take place and service begins with devotions being recited.

11:30 a.m. - Lunch is served to the monks; I will ask one of my friends to help dish out the yogurt and puddings

12:00 noon - Monks finish their lunch (they are prohibited from eating after noon), plates are cleared, a sermon is said, blessings are chanted, merit gained from almsgiving is transferred to departed loved ones, donations are offered to the monks.

1:00 p.m. - the religious ceremonies are concluded, the monks leave, lunch is served to all those who participated.

Followed by washing up and cleaning and putting things away until the next time!   My family and friends usually help me with the washing up and putting away the food and putting the furniture back in place.


It's a lot of work, but I will try to pace myself and do as much as I can in advance.   Friend R has promised to come early on Saturday morning to help, but, I need to be prepared in case she is unable to do so. 

Do you do anything similar to an almsgiving?