The Life of a Monk
Joyful discipline and dedication that come from within are the foundations of the life of a monk. Their days are filled not only with solitary contemplation and prayer, but also with labor, the challenges of maintaining relationships, and the quest for knowledge. There is a unique balance that those dedicated to a life of spiritual contemplation must seek out and achieve for they, like anyone else, are subject to everyday concerns. Yet they remain true to their intensely focused mode of perception, striving for spiritual enlightenment through structure and community. It is possible to emulate the life of a monk, to find a middle point between all extremes, in order to live a more content and spiritually fulfilling.
The first step in bringing the monastic light into your own life is to cut down on distractions while recognizing the importance of fellowship. A monk's place of meditation or prayer is often far from any place that could interfere with concentration. Yet monks do not eschew community and in fact embrace it, because interpersonal relationships can be a means to growth and increased learning. Not every monk abandons all worldly pleasures. Rather, the majority choose to attain contentment through a life of extreme structure and simplicity of food, clothing, and possessions. Doing so frees the mind from overly worldly concerns but does not detract from the enjoyment of the things they do possess. Part of a monk's daily meditations focus not only on striving for goodness, but also understanding and diminishing negativity. Their practices, however, extend beyond the meditation chamber and into their daily lives. Each monk attempts to embody his or her vision of spiritual perfection. They also recognize that failures occur, but are merely obstacles to be overcome.
The discipline inherent in monastic life - the regimen of prayer, sleeping and waking, silence, and diet - is freely chosen and not necessarily experienced as hardship. The monk's life is joyful, though deliberate. When you practice your own everyday regimen of a regularly scheduled mediation, a structured diet, or simple kindness, mindfulness, and simplicity, you are tapping into the world of peace experienced by monks of all faiths.
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