🌿 A Glimpse into the Heartwarming Moments from the Food Spirit Learning Modules Workshop, held from June 20–22, 2025, at Wongsanit Ashram, Nakhon Nayok.
Over these three days, we explored the essence of “life” through food in a profoundly meaningful way.
🌾 Journey of Life through Food
We were invited to revisit our memories and personal experiences through food — emotionally, physically, relationally, and economically.
Food is not just something we eat. It is a living narrative of each individual, weaving together to form a collective stream of community life.
🍃 Life Force & Inner Food Walk
The presence of Nakorn Limpakupthavorn (Prince), an expert in biodynamic agriculture, opened our senses to the elements of earth, water, wind, fire, sunlight, and air — and to the sacred growth of plants.
It’s not merely about cultivation, but about being present with the ecosystem: its scent, taste, rhythms, and transformation.
Every element became a life lesson.
🍽️ Mindful Eating
Eating became a practice of mindfulness — not only tasting the food but recognizing the delicate, complex relationships between humans and nature.
🤝 Food Distancing
Ajarn Pakorn Lertsetthianchai led us in reflecting on the concept of food distancing — when food grows far from the hands of the producers and the heart of the community, we start to forget who and what we’re consuming.
🌏 Transforming the Food System
The U Theory by Otto Scharmer, shared by Hans van Willenswaard, took us through a journey of Open Mind, Open Heart, and Open Will, allowing us to reimagine the food system from source to sink.
Through three key practices — space, time, and purpose — we were invited to co-sense the future we truly want to live into.
👩🍳 Cooking Groups – The Kitchen as a Learning Space
Guided by “Pa Noi” Potip Petchporee, we explored ingredients from three sources — a fresh market, a supermarket, and a convenience store, alongside vegetables grown at the ashram — each representing different food systems in daily life.
Cooking was no longer just about making meals. It became a transformative process of reconnecting food, people, and the planet.
Each dish was designed with unique challenges: no heat, using local greens, and connecting to one’s life story.
Every plate became a form of art — expressing roots, memories, and identity.
🌱 Life Projects – Planting the Seeds of Change
Each participant designed their own “life project” based on what they learned — from food systems, to the spirit of eating, and the human-nature connection.
Inspired by Khun Jik (Pan-Yu Pan-Kin project) and Khun Pui (Plant for the City project), we saw how food can be the seed of transformation — for both individual and collective change.
We gathered our insights, emotions, growth, and intentions — to return to ourselves, reconnect with others, and see the world anew.
We left Wongsanit Ashram with eyes that will never see the same way again —
because food has helped us understand ourselves, understand others, and understand the world. 🌎
