Reciting Meal Gatha in front of others

[Kaitan]

I would like to commit to recite the Meal Gatha, during Ango, but I don't know how to approach it in front of my family and friends. I don't feel comfortable, I would like to hear some experiences from fellow Sangha members.

Gasshō

stlah, Kaitan

[Kokuu]

Hi Kaitan

I often recite it in my head when I am around others.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Tairin]

Hi Kaitan

I often recite it in my head when I am around others.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

Same here. No one has ever asked but if they did I’d simply say I was taking a moment to appreciate the meal before me.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Bion]

I just put my hands in gassho, recite it in my head and carry on. Dit it today as I had lunch in a restaurant, did it yesterday as I had lunch with a friend... Folks do weird stuff all the time and I don´t ask them why, so sometimes, my business is not their business

Gassho
sat and lah

[Koushi]

I also normally bow my head and recite it to myself. Then again, if I’m at an event or around family and there’s a Christian prayer, I’ll also bow my head.

When in Rome, as they say.

Gassho,
Koushi
ST

[Matt Johnson]

I sometimes Gassho, and sometimes when I was with friends I just did it with a feeling of tongue in cheek. Many of them have practised yoga so a Gassho is not so out of place but it sometimes gets smiles and eye rolls. My family got into it for a short period of time. Now it seems to have devolved into a pause most of the time just before I eat the first bite.

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Jundo]

I would like to commit to recite the Meal Gatha, during Ango, but I don't know how to approach it in front of my family and friends. I don't feel comfortable, I would like to hear some experiences from fellow Sangha members.

Gasshō

stlah, Kaitan

Well, if folks in the other religion say Grace to Jesus, it does not bother me. I just listen and, in my head, add "and ditto, Buddha."

If it is in a place where religion of any kind ... ours or others ... would make someone else uncomfortable, I think it fine to say it silently, within, as others above have suggested. Even just a single Gassho to one's meal before eating is often enough, and might be felt to embody all the Gathas and Sutras within it. Even both Gassho and words in one's heart can be enough if sincere.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Kaitan]

Thank you, all, for the responses! Very helpful advices

Gasshō

stlah, Kaitan

[Chikyou]

I would like to commit to recite the Meal Gatha, during Ango, but I don't know how to approach it in front of my family and friends. I don't feel comfortable, I would like to hear some experiences from fellow Sangha members.

Gasshō

stlah, Kaitan

Hi Kaitan,

So I recite the meal Gatha, in gassho, wherever I am. I recite it in my head/under my breath and I usually eat alone, others in the cafeteria either don't notice or don't care. It's not a big deal. I don't make a spectacle of myself with it of course.

If I'm really self conscious (it's in a super crowded setting for example) or I'm short on time or space (like when I'm eating in the front seat of my car ) I say the much shorter "itadakimasu" which means largely the same thing.

Gassho,
SatLah
Chikyō

[Antonio]

It is question of habit. I do this everywhere (Always in gassho, but in silent in public). In the beginning you can feel weird but after you will get used.

Gassho,
SatLah

[Matt Johnson]

Closeted Buddhists?

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Kaitan]

I say the much shorter "itadakimasu" which means largely the same thing.

This looks neat!, thank you, Chikyou



stlah, Kaitan

[Jundo]

"itadakimasu"

Just a note that "itadakimasu" is just a regular, daily Japanese term, not particularly Buddhist in origin but very nice, used by everyone here from children to grandma for almost every meal, which simply means "I humbly receive (this meal)" before digging in.

It is a lovely expression and, if in your heart it contains all the Gatha, then it does.

An English "thank you" or Spanish "gracias" can be the same too.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Ekai]

I say it silent around others especially my teenage son. You know.. the eye roll…

Gassho,
Ekai

sat

[Tai Do]

I recite in English while I'm alone or with my wife. When we are with the children, we let them create a gatha on the spot (they almost always end up thanking the son, the Earth, the animals and people for the meal). When I'm outside , I recite in my mind.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah