Creating a Culture of Care and Responsibility

-Preethi P, Sivaguru, vaishnavi, pravin, Abinaya, Nithyasanthosh, Gunavathi, SandhiyaSaravanan and Atchudhan

Introduction
At Stemland, we began an initiative: cooking and serving food ourselves and for the Vipassana meditators. Those staying on campus came together, learned to cook with joy, and shared the experience with happiness and responsibility.

Why Did We Start This Initiative?

We wanted to give rest to the Ammas who usually cook for us. They work tirelessly throughout the week and hardly get enough time to rest. We felt it was important to offer them a break.

But that’s not all— This is also not like other places where one just comes to sleep, stay, and eat. Here, we feel at home. This is a place for growth. We work together toward a common goal—growth, responsibility, equality, and the courage to create. So, we wanted to take part in food preparation at least once a week.

What Actions Did We Take?

We held a meeting to plan how this could be organized and what systems needed to be in place. In the end, we divided ourselves into teams:

• A cooking team
• A vegetable cutting team
• A cleaning team

Each team took ownership of their part and contributed wholeheartedly.

What Have We Noticed?

• We feel more connected to the space.
• There is a stronger sense of responsibility.
• We collaborate and work in teams more effectively.
• We learned how to cook and appreciated the effort that goes into it.
• Everyone participated, regardless of gender—there was no bias in the distribution of work.
• We developed leadership skills.
• We learned to see problems as opportunities for growth.
• We found the courage to speak up when something wasn’t going right.

Conclusion This initiative has helped us grow—not just in skills, but as individuals and as a community. What began as a small step to give someone else rest became a powerful practice in sharing, caring, and growing together.

Reflections:

SivaguruPrasath

    My name is Sivaguruprasath and I stand for Courage, full potential and equanimity for myself and others. Preparing sunday lunch was a beautiful experience of togetherness. All of us staying in the living space came together to cook, sharing tasks with joy and presence. It felt meaningful to prepare food not just for ourselves, but also for the Vipassana meditators. There was a quiet sense of service in every step – chopping, stirring, and serving. Cooking together deepened our bond and brought a feeling of gratitude. It reminded us how nourishing both food and community can be.

Vaishnavi K

    My name is Vaishnavi .K, I stand for kindness, unity, and respect for myself and for others. When we first started cooking on campus, we had no idea how it would turn out. I had many questions in my mind: Will it work? Will the Vipassana meditators like the food? But instead of worrying too much, all of us who stayed on campus came together and began cooking. To our surprise, we received positive feedback from the meditators. Their appreciation encouraged us to keep going and do even better. Through this experience, I learned something important: when you serve anything with love and a sense of responsibility, it naturally becomes special and even delicious. This experience also brought us together as a team. We supported each other and worked in unity and that’s what led to our success.

Pravin A

    My Name is Pravin. I stand for Equality and Compassion for myself and others. we people who stay in udavi started offering the lunch for those who participating vipassana meditation. Those of us who are not participating in the meditation come together to prepare our lunch for the visitors and ourselves. So that the meditators don’t need to think about the availability of lunch somewhere and could mediate properly. Even Though, Many of us are new to the kitchen, but with guidance from experienced cooks among us, we form small teams where everyone takes up a role: chopping, cooking, cleaning. Even sometimes mistakes are met with patience. This process itself becomes a practice in learning, and shared responsibility. Each person contributes in their own way, and becomes a space for selfless service. I find There is a satisfaction in serving something we created together, like it shows me the joy in contributing. In the end we serve food to both The meditators and to ourselves.

Preethi P

     My name is Preethi. I stand for courage and happiness for myself and others.
When we started preparing Sunday lunch, it showed the unity and spirit of togetherness. The people living on campus came together to cook, joyfully sharing tasks among us. We cooked not only for ourselves but also for the Vipassana meditators. This experience was more than not just making a meal, it was about building a strong sense of community. Through laughter, learning, and cooperation, we discovered cooking tips, understood the value of time management, and supported one another throughout the process. It helped us practice teamwork, share responsibilities, and strengthen our bond. Working together in this way gave us a sense of purpose like preparing a meal together can bring people closer and make a meaningful impact.

Abinaya K

    My name is Abinaya k, I stand for kindness and happiness for myself and others. Cooking food on Sunday gave me a new understanding of how much care and effort go into preparing meals. Before, I used to eat and enjoy the food simply, but after being part of the cooking process, I could see how much time, energy, and teamwork it takes. From planning the menu, chopping vegetables, to cooking and cleaning it is a full process that needs focus and dedication. While cooking, I also learned how important it is to work together. We helped each other, shared responsibilities, and supported one another when something didn’t go as planned. This made me feel more connected to my friends, and it reminded me that teamwork can make even hard tasks more enjoyable. One special thing I noticed was the feeling of joy that comes from serving food to others. Watching people smile and enjoy the meal we made was a beautiful moment. It felt good to do something with care and see how it brought happiness to others. This experience helped me realize that cooking is not just about feeding people it’s about love, kindness, and being present. It made me more grateful for the food I eat every day, and for all the people who take the time to cook and care for others.

Nithyasandhosh
    My name is Nithyasandhosh, and I deeply value kindness and equality, both for myself and for others. Every Sunday, I take part in preparing food for the Vipassana meditators. This is more than just cooking—it is a process of coming together, coordinating with one another, and working as a team with goodwill in our hearts. While preparing the food, we focus not only on the task but also on the intention behind it—serving with compassion and sincerity. This practice keeps me grounded and reminds me of the joy that comes from giving without expecting anything in return. It nurtures a sense of connection, humility, and gratitude, reinforcing my belief in the importance of kindness and selfless service in daily life.

Gunavathi
  My name is Gunavathi , i stand for happiness and perseverance for myself and others.As I stepped into the kitchen to cook for Vipassana meditators on Sundays, I felt proud of myself. Our group cooking efforts weren’t just about preparing meals, they were about supporting others and aiming to provide nutritious food. Each of us contributed our unique skills and strengths. I understood the importance of supporting others and how teamwork can create meaningful experiences and lasting memories. The cooking process itself became a meditation, focusing on the present moment and the task at hand.
Atchudhan
   My name is Atchudhan. I stand for love and peace for myself and for others. Cooking lunch for the Vipassana meditators was not just a task, but a meaningful experience rooted in care and collective spirit. As we prepared the meal together, each step became an opportunity to practice mindfulness, kindness, and teamwork. We cooked with intention not only to nourish bodies but also to support the deep inner work of those in meditation.