Living like a monk in the modern world...or at least trying to...

Illuminated script, with monks chanting artwork

Monks.  Is there something or anything of this somewhat unusual yet spiritual, counter-cultural lifestyle that we here in the modern world we can live and learn from?  Let's take a look...

[By the way, I use the word monk to mean both male and female.  The word "monk" comes from Greek μοναχός, (monachos) meaning solitary, or to live alone, and the term is gender neutral.]  

Yes, the life of a monk is an unusual lifestyle here in our active, modern day world. 

Instead of life in the world, some are drawn to living a life of simplicity, prayer, contemplation, spiritual growth, serving others.... as a solitary or living in community in a monastery.....

And as we know there are monks in different religions of the world; Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and so on.  And there are different types of monks. 

Orthodox monk praying

Lately I have been reading a lot on the spiritual practices of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.  It is quite rich in its depth.    I am finding much food for the soul.

Within Eastern Christianity, the inner life, quiet, stillness and prayer of the heart is emphasized.  The focus is on experiencing the Holy, or union with God.  

In many ways it is a spirituality of "be" rather than "do".

In Eastern Christianity there are three types of monks; an anchoritic monk,  meaning a solitary, a cenobitic, meaning living in community in a monastery under the spiritual leadership of an abbot or abbess, and the third type, a skete, a community of individuals who live alone but in close proximity to one another.   

But no matter what type of monk or what religion, prayer is central in the life of a monk.   And prayer all throughout the day.  Prayer in listening, chanting repetitive prayers with a prayer rope or beads, breath prayer, praying at designated times throughout the day and night, and so on.

But the big difference between the West and East in this is the emphasis of silence and listening for God rather than talking to God and asking or pleading for something.

The monasteries produce(d) many things to sell in order to pay their operational expenses and maintain self sufficiency.   Many monasteries provide(d) services to their local communities such as education and teaching, research, medical care, and so forth.  In fact, many modern day universities and colleges evolved from monasteries.

But unlike our modern, mainstream, money making, profit oriented world, monastic money making is/was only done in order to keep the monastery running.  The excess money earned is/was given to the poor and various charities. 

Young Buddhist Nuns praying

So, let's revisit that original question at the beginning of this post...

Is it possible to be a modern day monk?  Is there something or anything of this spiritually rich lifestyle that we,  in the modern, mainstream world we can live and learn from?  

What do YOU think?

A Spirituality of Hope

"Hope" in many languages

Faith.  Hope. Love.
All three very important to be sure.  However, I think "hope" tends to get the short end of the stick as compared to "faith" and "love".    We hear all about faith and love.  But hope...well, not nearly as much.

But..it is hard to have faith, hope and love or practice one without the other two.  All three are inescapably intertwined with one another. 

I took this photo (to the left) of the "HOPE plaque" posted at the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.   It is the word hope in many languages.  How many languages can you decipher?

Or, in how many languages can you say hope?  (See below for "hope" in many languages translated.)

What is it about hope?  For starters, it implies something is not right or totally perfect in the present, here and now.   It implies the future.  For example, we hope things will someday be better.

Hope is also associated with suffering...from the most great to lesser forms.  

Remember the story of Pandora's Box in Greek mythology?    When Pandora opened her box, all the good spirits escaped except hope, who stayed behind to comfort humankind. 

Yes, hope suddenly becomes VERY important when.... you or a loved one are in the hospital, or dealing with illness and or injury.  Or you are far away from home, such as on a deployment on the other side of the planet, hoping to come home someday.  And or if you are unemployed or underemployed, we hope to find a good job!  And on it goes.

Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl talks about the importance of hope in his book Man's Search For Meaning.  While imprisoned and starving in the concentration camp, he observed that no matter how starved and emaciated, those that held on to hope, the hope they would someday be free, someday see their loved one's again, stayed alive and survived.  But the one's who lost hope and gave in to despair, were usually dead in a day or two...even the people who still had their health.  Yes, the people that kept hope alive, stayed alive and survived.

I believe hope is key to life.  Real life.  And I mean really being alive, really living, not just existing.  

Hope is future oriented and it is positive.  But it is much more than wishful thinking.

What is the difference you may ask?  Well, just as there is a difference between happiness and joy, so as with wishful thinking and hope. 

In a world where despair, anxiety, stress, negativity, fear and worry pound us from all angles...

What we need is a spirituality of HOPE.

And what is a spirituality of hope?

Faith, Hope, Love and St. Sophia icon

A spirituality, being something that is practiced is something we work on.  It is focused on God, Spirit.  It is love based.   Hope is life giving, it is both something we do and try to be...

Hope anticipates, has expectation, inspires trust, helps give us confidence and inner peace.  

And in a world of economic crises, wars, violence, distress, illness, fear and disease... we all need a spirituality of hope.  Yes, it takes work.  It takes a lot of work.  Hope is not easy.  It takes focus and energy.  You really have to work at it.

And I will be working on a spirituality of hope...all the rest of my days.  

"Hope" in many languages...

ελπίδα (elpsis) in Greek, esperanza in Spanish,  أمل  (amal) in Arabic,  hopp in Swedish, आशा (asha) in Hindi, надеяться (nadezhda) in Russian, habe in Danish, hoffnung in German, speranta in Romanian, speranza in Italian, espoir in French,   希望 (zi wang) in Chinese, תִקוָה (tikvah) in Hebrew,   harapan in Indonesian,   바람 (himang) in Korean, spes in Latin, kibou in Japansese, umut in Turkish, remény in Hungarian, seehazin in Navajo,امید (omid) in Farsi (Persian), toi hy vong in Vietnamese, ความหวัง (khwam hwang) in Thai, pag asa in Tagalog (Filipino), hoop in Afraikaans, toivoa in Finnish, nadzieja in Polish, haper in Norwegien... and on it goes! 

"For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord..." Psalm 71.5

"Endurance produces character, and character produces hope...and hope does not disappoint us..."  Romans 5.4-5

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."  Romans 12.12

"May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit ". (Romans 15:13)

Thoughts on spirituality and work; Ora et Labora

Monk laboring

Having work, a good job / career is a blessing to be sure.  Especially if we enjoy our work.

In our modern society, where quantity, production and the dollar seem to reign, it is easy to forget that work is much more than money and income, jobs and the economy.
   

Certainly it can come down to income and money,  especially when we have no work...no income...or not enough.    

Yes, work and a decent income is very much a blessing indeed!

And "work" is much more than just "work". 

For many, one's very identity can be very much wrapped up in work, career, title, income, rank, prestige, degrees, etc.  If you are asked, "Who are you?"  how do you answer this?   Are you your work?

I guess it depends on who you are!

Labor and work and the work we are drawn to can be essentially a big part of our spirituality and can be part of our spiritual practice(s).

It may or may not be the actual job we do, hold, or the money we earn.  Our life's work, or calling may go beyond this.  Take for example the many who work in menial or unglamorous jobs and or those behind the scenes humbly and quietly doing what they do...the job helps pay the bills but it is not who they are.

Think of the countless volunteers, people who share their gifts, time and talent for no pay or very little, bringing light to a world that very much needs it.

Oh yes, and how about the blessing of being healthy enough to work?  This is a blessing indeed.

'Ora et Labora' is Latin for "pray and work" or "pray and labor".  It refers to the monastic practice of working and praying, and is associated with the Rule of St. Benedict.  Throughout their day, the monks work, labor and pray.   It was (is) a way for living a balanced life.

Perhaps we in the modern world can learn something from this. 

Let us reflect on and give thanks for the many blessings of work .... whatever our work may be  ...