What’s the justification of monasteries in the modern age? What’s the function of an isolated religious institute that doesn’t seem to do any kind of welfare work or altruistic activities for the common good? Are monasteries just ancient remnants from the times when superstition had people in its grip and faith in God had to be kept in place in order to keep the common man in control? What’s the benefit of having places for spiritual elitists who live off of working people’s donations in pursuit of something that could be completely imaginary?
It’s natural that a monk is challenged with questions like this, from the outside and from the inside too. I’ve been challenged more than once with questions like, “Why can’t the monks work like everybody else, and then just live together and do all the hocus pocus in their free time?”
My personal opinion is that (real) monasteries are essential for humanity. The ideal monastic should not be motivated by escapism or laziness, but a true calling for transcending the exploitation and brutality of selfishness in her search for beauty and genuine appreciation for life. My teacher is fond of saying that proper detachment actually brings one closer to others, because it erases one’s selfish motivations in relation to others. You start to see others in a broader sense because you’re not boxed in and tyrannized by your need to try to draw enjoyment from others. A spiritual center that promotes this kind of attitude towards life and labors to teach it to others in a meaningful way is in my eyes doing a very high type of welfare work actually.
The effects of monasticism manifest more on a level that’s hard to calculate or even notice, but the influence they have on people’s values has far-reaching benefits. Not everything should or can be reduced into hard facts of benefits and losses. Monasticism is very much connected to the value of life, not the quantity.
0 Responses to “The Value of Monasticism, part 1”