I was blessed to visit a travelling monastic who was staying at a friend's house. The interesting part is how slowly and calmly he did his activities, like it didn't matter if it took a minute or an hour. Even with this mindset, I was shocked how much he was able to accomplish. Monasteries became enormously rich because, paradoxically, the slow and methodical ways of the monks without distraction could create a massive amount of output, even as their focus wasn't on the output at all.
It's why the religious tell people who fret people praying too much instead of saving the world to double their own prayer time.
Beautifully written! I was particularly struck by "Poetry and monasticism pursue a mystical or transcendent knowledge that Leclercq explains is better termed ‘love,’ which like the poppy, only blossoms in the direct sunlight of reflection." I was just rereading "The Benedict Option" yesterday evening and your piece adds a surprising poetic dimension.
I was blessed to visit a travelling monastic who was staying at a friend's house. The interesting part is how slowly and calmly he did his activities, like it didn't matter if it took a minute or an hour. Even with this mindset, I was shocked how much he was able to accomplish. Monasteries became enormously rich because, paradoxically, the slow and methodical ways of the monks without distraction could create a massive amount of output, even as their focus wasn't on the output at all.
It's why the religious tell people who fret people praying too much instead of saving the world to double their own prayer time.
Beautifully written! I was particularly struck by "Poetry and monasticism pursue a mystical or transcendent knowledge that Leclercq explains is better termed ‘love,’ which like the poppy, only blossoms in the direct sunlight of reflection." I was just rereading "The Benedict Option" yesterday evening and your piece adds a surprising poetic dimension.
Thank you Ruth! If you've not read it yet, I bet you'll love Leclercq's book. https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823204076/the-love-of-learning-and-the-desire-god/
What an excellent piece!
Excellent piece! I was coming to express very similar thoughts that @RuthGaskovski expressed! I was very inspired with this piece. Thank you!