As this seems to be interesting to people, I highly recommend this article about a Benedictine monastery that started a web development agency in the 90s:
St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
91–100 of 157 posts
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
Say on; first hand experience in this is rare. What did you discover you missed most on returning to "the real world"? was a year enough time?
Ironically I missed the structure that came from the vow of obedience that felt at times like I gave up all my individual freedom. I learned this gave me focus on the thing at hand, whether it was praying, meditating, cooking or cleaning. I still miss the sheer simplicity of that life.
> I still miss the sheer simplicity of that life.
Reminds me of this part of a Thomas Merton audio piece that I just listened to which you might enjoy (~22:50 to ~35:01): https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1370&v=Zr3V-BnENmA&feature=y...
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#93Some of these seem quite strange, probably because I don’t have the right background to infer the proper context. For example, chapter 69:
> Care must be taken that no monk presume on any ground to defend another monk in the monastery, or as it were to take him under his protection, even though they be united by some tie of blood-relationship. Let not the monks dare to do this in any way whatsoever, because it may give rise to most serious scandals. But if anyone breaks this rule, let him be severely punished.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#94Interesting to see this on the front page! I spent a year in a monetary mostly cloistered. While I'm glad now for the life I ultimately chose of having a family, I often draw from the experience, especially the discernment process (the Ignatius Exercises) and the meditation/contemplation practice.
I'm the poster. I've read the Rule of St. Benedict in Italian, a few years back (I'm from Italy, and specifically from Umbria, the region where St. Benedict was from [0].
Yesterday I saw this on Project Gutenberg and I felt inspired to share it here. I woke up and saw it on the front page, which is always an interesting little thing that kind of makes my day.
I would be really interested in hearing more about your experience in the monastery, if you're willing to share.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah the benedictine life is cool with me. I consider my self as non-religious and I follow some aspects of Asceticism like abstaining from eating meat and just content with simple pleasures like playing the guitar and doing arts. I also removed my self from social media. I always work and don't take holidays. I'm done with life based on consumerism
> removed my self from social media I would have said that HN is social media; in your view, is the distinction that you don't post things to a personal timeline here? (Certainly even seeing HN as social media I wouldn't mind treating it as a special case)
True. I made it an exception because I consider checking HN as part of my work. I still need to be well informed with the trends and current technology events because it's part of my job.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#96Some of these seem quite strange, probably because I don’t have the right background to infer the proper context. For example, chapter 69: > Care must be taken that no monk presume on any ground to defend another monk in the monastery, or as it were to take him under his protection, even though they be united by some tie of blood-relationship. Let not the monks dare to do this in any way whatsoever, because it may gi…
That is not so strange. I've seen it in similar forms elsewhere. It basically means you don't actually know what's in a man's mind and if it's found that you protected a deceitful person you're worse than if you let the things unfold by themselves. For example, you guarantee for a friend that you 'know' could not do something bad. You actually don't know.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#97Some of these seem quite strange, probably because I don’t have the right background to infer the proper context. For example, chapter 69: > Care must be taken that no monk presume on any ground to defend another monk in the monastery, or as it were to take him under his protection, even though they be united by some tie of blood-relationship. Let not the monks dare to do this in any way whatsoever, because it may gi…
It sounds like an attempt to discourage cliques?
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've always liked Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton's take: “Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and he…
Is this a good general rule for all drugs? Do them for happiness and only while happy; never when sad or for escape?
Yes it is. If you are self-medicating with drugs, you are going to have a bad time.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe a good basis for differentiating “drugs” vs “medicine”?
> Maybe a good basis for differentiating “drugs” vs “medicine”? Perhaps, although I don't think in the way I'd take your statement. Chesterton was quite opposed to the idea that drinking would be medicinal (although maybe he would have allowed that happiness is good medicine?). From the context[1]: > A new morality has burst upon us with some violence in connection with the problem of strong drink; and enthusiasts in…
Great quote!
I think that's right. If people use cannabis or alcohol when depressed, consistently, I think it digs a deeper hole. On the other hand, combining drugs with happy moments can create a state dependent memory that allows a "storing up" of positivity. Smoking cannabis at the top of mountains, before going to museums or at concerts -- it builds a state that -- i believe-- can come out during a neutral use. It's a key approach to "virtuous drug use", which I think is important to communicate as a possibility. For a moral society, better to associate drugs with moral behavior than immoral.
Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)
#100Strong dhamma - thank you. I frequent budhist monasteries myself - i see how all prophets are indeed one, and how budha, christ and allah and all other gods stem from that one thing which we encounter after long meditations and prayer finally takes away our anger and hurt to open that door which cannot be closed.
I have a grievance always with “it” for making it so hard for the most of us to access. But i practice.
I wish you all find the power to forgive your enemies, and discover the hidden ones within us all.