Sharing the sweet things of life
You may have noticed in my last couple of posts I have been developing a bit of a theme. “It is not what is going on but how we look at what is going on.” It is how we think and look at the world around us which determines our future and our attitudes. In some sense it is fair to say that if we want peace in the world we must begin by finding peace in our own hearts.
The big question is how do we find inner peace? The Monastic way has a lot to teach us in this respect. This may shock some of you, but the Monastic way is not a path of suffering and deprivation. True Monasticism is the path of balance. The tools we use to achieve that balance is the Horarium and the Rule of life.
We do not subject ourselves to these tools so we can feel special or superior. We use these tools to help us manage our time and structure our living. Sticking to an horarium prevents excess, whether that is an excess of prayer and meditation or more commonly an excess of laziness or in my case watching the tv. We need to be balanced and to walk a middle way.
The rule of life gives us little staging posts to help us on this very long journey of life. For me it has been helpful to think of the rule of life as stepping stones in the river of changes. Little words of advice which help us manage the normal changes of life.
It is important that we seek the way of balance and harmony. It is important that we take care of ourselves. This is not being selfish and self centred. This is being wise.
If we wish to live in a world of harmony then we must find harmony inside. To change the whole we must change the parts. If we change our self then we can change society. Put it another way , a rule we should all remember, “You can’t give away or share what you don’t have.”
The big question is how do we find inner peace? The Monastic way has a lot to teach us in this respect. This may shock some of you, but the Monastic way is not a path of suffering and deprivation. True Monasticism is the path of balance. The tools we use to achieve that balance is the Horarium and the Rule of life.
We do not subject ourselves to these tools so we can feel special or superior. We use these tools to help us manage our time and structure our living. Sticking to an horarium prevents excess, whether that is an excess of prayer and meditation or more commonly an excess of laziness or in my case watching the tv. We need to be balanced and to walk a middle way.
The rule of life gives us little staging posts to help us on this very long journey of life. For me it has been helpful to think of the rule of life as stepping stones in the river of changes. Little words of advice which help us manage the normal changes of life.
It is important that we seek the way of balance and harmony. It is important that we take care of ourselves. This is not being selfish and self centred. This is being wise.
If we wish to live in a world of harmony then we must find harmony inside. To change the whole we must change the parts. If we change our self then we can change society. Put it another way , a rule we should all remember, “You can’t give away or share what you don’t have.”
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