Sometimes I find myself cooking with Hungarians, Brazilians, Norwegians, Indians, Russians, Malaysians, Americans. But very quickly we rise above our differences and establish a sense of community. Cooking is never a chore at Schumacher College. It becomes a celebration of food. The colours, the fragrance, the forms and the presentation all play their part, but above all we feel the presence of grace, we feel a sense of soulfulness, we feel inspired and elated.
Cooking becomes a gift, a service.
That is when I experience spirituality. Many course participants say to me that initially they come to Schumacher College because they want to learn from the eminent teachers, such as Fritjof Capra, James Hillman, Vandana Shiva, Arne Naess, James Lovelock or Willis Harman. But having been at the College for two or three weeks, they find that the lecture room is not the only place where they are learning. They say that they experience a tremendous sense of spirit and joy whilst the tasks of cooking and cleaning, composting, washing up and other practical activities are performed. At Schumacher College, attention is paid to the rhythm of the day, and how we can seek balance and harmony in our lives.