Peggy Page

Night Fare is a classical example of how people feel comfortable when they are among people who speak the same language, dress in the same manner, eat with fingers and enjoy the same type of food. Expressions on the faces of the men showed that they are at peace with their surroundings. They are comfortable with, for example, eating with fingers and they should be allowed to. To people of another culture eating with hands is not acceptable and unheard of. With the many diverse cultures it is important to allow the cultures to have their own traditions and to be able to live without fear and prejudice. As long as the action taken does not cause harm to the individual or to another person, the individual should be allowed to have their own practices.

This restaurant serves its food on dishes. If it serves its food on banana leaves as well this restaurant would be a classical example of an environmental friendly restaurant.
At the end of the meal the banana leaves are folded, collected and thrown into the bin. Water will be saved for not having to wash the crockery and cutlery. Crockery and cutlery need not be produced. This reduces the amount of materials to be dug up from the ground and the energy required to produce the items. Growing banana trees helped the environment and the leaves are used and not wasted.

My gut reaction is that this would be an ideal film to show workers in the aged care facilities that eating with fingers is an accepted practice for many ethnic groups. We are bounded by rules and very often we have rules such as we must eat with knives and forks. My view is that it is better for the person to be comfortable with what he/she is using and enjoys their meal then to be upset and angry at having to use knives and forks.

I wonder what “Occupational Health and Safety” would think about eating with fingers! In my view it is a cleaner option as the person is responsible for his/her own cleanliness verse the times when cutlery still have pieces of food stuck to them.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Children are born with different levels of resilience to situations. The young girl in this short film seems happy and is coping well with her situation. Another child may not. If parents can accept that children are born with a different levels of resilience, different talents, different needs, different characteristics and not be bounded by rules that “my child” must also do this and that to keep up with the Joneses, the world for children may be freer. Children will not be subjected to the fear imposed on them by their parents.

The first Noble Truth taught by the Buddha is that life is not satisfactory. How could it be for the young girl when her life is full of fear of not having done this and that? How can she find peace with mummy’s demands on her?

Parents will not find peace in life as long as they cling on to their wants and the children will not find peace in life trying to meet the wants of their parents. It will be a stressful life for everyone.

Peggy Page
Education Convenor (Volunteer), Buddhist Council of Victoria

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