Skip to main content

Monk Manifesto

Image
By


The Abbey of the Arts, a website focused on transformative living through contemplative and expressive arts, is a constant source of support and nourishment to us. Its Monk Manifesto provides such sound advice on the spiritual journey that we want to post it here as well. We can totally identify with it and can only hope that our writing and living bear witness to its underlying truths. 

Monk: from the Greek monachos meaning single or solitary, a monk in the world does not live apart but immersed in the everyday with a single-hearted and undivided presence, always striving for greater wholeness and integrity
Manifesto: from the Latin for clear, means a public declaration of principles and intentions.
Monk Manifesto: A public expression of your commitment to live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life.
  1. I commit to finding moments each day for silence and solitude, to make space for another voice to be heard, and to resist a culture of noise and constant stimulation.
  2. I commit to radical acts of hospitality by welcoming the stranger both without and within. I recognize that when I make space inside my heart for the unclaimed parts of myself, I cultivate compassion and the ability to accept those places in others.
  3. I commit to cultivating community by finding kindred spirits along the path, soul friends with whom I can share my deepest longings, and mentors who can offer guidance and wisdom for the journey.
  4. I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish.
  5. I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways.
  6. I commit to rhythms of rest and renewal through the regular practice of Sabbath and resist a culture of busyness that measures my worth by what I do.
  7. I commit to a lifetime of ongoing conversion and transformation, recognizing that I am always on a journey with both gifts and limitations.
  8. I commit to being a dancing monk, cultivating creative joy and letting my body and "heart overflow with the inexpressible delights of love."*
*quote is from the Prologue of the Rule of Benedict

George




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vanuit Die Restory - Gesprekke Tussen Reisgenote (154)

By
Wakkerstroom Klassieke Musiekfees 2025 20 - 23 Maart 2025 “God sprei die hemel uit oor die leë ruimte,  Hy laat die aarde hang waar niks is nie.  Hy versamel die water in die wolke, en hulle skeur nie onder die las nie.  Hy plaas die horison op die see,  'n grens tussen lig en donker.  Dit is maar die begin van sy dade,  ons hoor net die gefluister van sy woorde.  Maar die volle krag van sy dade, wie kan dit verstaan?” ‭‭Job ‭26‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭10‬, ‭14‬ ‭AFR83‬‬                           Dit is weer daardie tyd van die jaar! Herfs is oral sigbaar en voelbaar en daar is die geur van kreatiwiteit en voorbereidings in die lug wanneer jy ons klein dorpie binnekom. Hierdie naweek bied ons ons jaarlikse Wakkerstroom Klassieke Musiekfees aan. Wonderlike, talentvolle musikante van oral, tegniese spanne en die mense wat hulle optredes sal bywoon, stroom na Wakkerstroom. Musiek is nie die enigste item ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vanuit Die Restory - Gesprekke Tussen Reisgenote (150)

By
Wat Die Mistici Weet   2) Ons Hoef Nie Perfek Te wees Nie “Kom na My toe,  almal wat vermoeid en swaar belas is,  en Ek sal julle rus gee.  Neem my juk op julle, en leer van My,  omdat Ek sagmoedig en nederig van hart is,  en julle sal rus vind vir julle gemoed.  Want my juk is draaglik en my las is lig.” ‭‭Matteus‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭AFR20‬ ‬                               Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ Question of the Day: How does one incorporate imperfection? In a Navajo rug there is always one clear imperfection woven into the pattern. And interestingly enough, this is precisely where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug! The Semitic mind, the Eastern mind (which, by the way, Jesus would have been much closer to) understands perfection in precisely that way. The East is much more comfortable with paradox, mystery, and non-dual thinking than the Western mind which ...
2 comments
Read more

Lessons in Sunbirdish (1)

By
I have no way of proving that God exists. For a long, long time I believed because I didn't think I had a choice. If it is a choice between heaven and hell, you do what it takes to secure your celestial seat. Somehow I never stopped to consider why I so strongly believed in a heaven and hell, but wasn't nearly as sure that there's a God holding the keys to them. Then the sunbirds came. Slowly but surely I am being taught the dialect I need to converse with God. Or rather, to follow on what seems to be a trail that God leaves me. Being just up ahead and beckoning me all the while, it's not a chase after or a search for God, but rather a joint venture with God scouting and reporting back when my spirit runs low on this journey through life. In  A Rare Find  and  Bird on my window sill  I touched on synchronicity. I have come to believe that consciously living our moments, awakens us to the fact that there are more things in this life than meet the eyeball. Things t...
1 comment
Read more