Conviviality?: Eating Together with Hare Krishna Believers

The practice of eating together is of increasing interest in social scientific fields. Often referred to as "conviviality" or "commensality," eating together is on global decline. It is claimed that the absence or presence of the practice impacts mental development, physical health, sports achievement, and substance abuse. The decrease may be explained by changing lifestyle practices and labour patterns influenced by urbanisation, materialism, and consumerism. Led by an interest in Hare Krishna dietary practices, the researcher visited three Hare Krishna eco-communities in Europe to observe their food-sharing programmes and daily living. Food-sharing programmes are arranged to represent Krishna philosophy coupled with a lifestyle alternative based on simplicity, non-violence, and caring. As well as teaching about food, Hare Krishna communities provide a detailed educational programme on environmental sustainability through guided eco-tours and lifestyle practices. Apart from observations and participatory action, twenty-nine interviews were conducted to tease out details of Hare Krishna food practices from growing food to sharing it with others. The researcher utilised some tenets and methods of social practice theory to understand and analyse the community's dietary practices. Findings show a high level of conviviality in the community when outreach programmes and food-sharing schemes are executed. However, eating together in the official settings of temple communities falls short of the expected sociability and conviviality by encouraging individual introspection and seclusion. While the Hare Krishna movement proves exemplary in cordially sharing with outsiders more sustainable food and dietary competences, some of its spiritual practices may counterbalance the efficacy of the community's ecological education. Apart from its social scientific applications, this research offers a point of departure for interfaith discussions about eating together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]