The monk sat crossed legged on the table next to the Buddha. He began chanting and praying which sounded beautiful even though I didn't understand any of the words. Some of the Rastas had joined us and were repeating some of the prayers after the monk. After half an hour the monk stopped and someone brought out small empty bowls and a glass of water and passed them out to us. Jacopo and I got one. Mr Surat explained that I had to place my hand in the palm of Jacopo's and then place the glass of water in my palm and pour it into the empty bowl as we pray for our families. So Jacopo and I did as we were instructed and with my hand cupped inside his and the glass of water balanced in my palm we poured the water into the bowl. But when Mr Surat saw us with our glass already empty he told us that we had done it too soon. We were supposed to wait until the monk started chanting something special for our prayers. So Jacopo poured the water back into the glass and this time we waited for Mr Surat's signal to start. "Slowly, slowly" he instructed us. We both said our prayers while the monk chanted. Whe he finished we were guided to take our bowl and together walk towards the biggest tree around and pour the water from the bowl onto the trunk of the tree. Water flowing from 2 people, from one source to another, as a purification and then giving life to another being.
Each of us then offered food to the monk by placing the food on a pice of silk cloth on the table and bowing. THe monk pulled the silk cloth closer to him and removed the offering and replaced the silk cloth back on the table for the next person to give him their offering. Both Jacopo and I gave him white rice, as is customary here.
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