THE MONASTIC LIFESTYLE

Dr. Lawrence Wilson

I. INTRODUCTION

THE HOUSEHOLDER VERSUS THE MONK OR NUN

In many ancient religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, people lived in one of two conditions or states. These were called 1) the householder or 2) the monk or nun. Sometimes the latter were called temple dwellers.

THE HOUSEHOLDER

This type of life meant living with others in a house or apartment type of dwelling. Usually one was married, and usually one lived with or was in touch with children, and perhaps grandchildren.

The householder also earned money, which meant having a job or a career. This life also often involved some travel to visit friends and family, vacations or just tourism.

The householder lived what might be called a more scattered, distracting and somewhat chaotic life.

THE MONK OR NUN

In contrast, the monk or nun lived a much more rigid, disciplined life. It was a much more regimented life with much prayer and often religious ritual.

The lifestyle was more austere and focused, with simple nourishing meals, simple clothing and few, if any material possessions. One's social life was also more rigid, with little travel, perhaps without marriage, and with only limited contact with others. Often one’s entire social life was with the others in the monastery or convent.

It was sometimes a life without common pleasures such as a lot of sex, drinking alcohol, and going to concerts and other events. It often did not include sports, vacations, and other things that are common in the outside world.

These activities were considered distractions that at best, waste time, and at worst, destroy the mind and the body. It was a life in which one separated oneself purposely from the mainstream of society in order to move in a different direction.

THE SEQUENCE

In some older traditions, a man or woman would first live the life of a householder. At a certain age, when the children were grown and independent, the person would then switch and live in a monastery or convent to move closer to God.

II. THE MONASTIC LIFESTYLE TODAY

THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Following the development program is somewhat like living in a monastery, but without the monastery. It a hybrid state between the householder and the monk or nun. This is interesting to contemplate.

It is a 21^st century version of the monastic life in a time when most people do not and really cannot live in monasteries or convents. This is the theme of this article, and an interesting thought to ponder.

This type of “monastic life”, means:

- A fairly quiet life, with not a lot of travel or television or other distractions.

- A more prayerful life where one does one's best to tune in to the highest level of guidance possible.

- Positive attention given to the body for the purpose of healing, strengthening and balancing it. This is not a morbid preoccupation with the body or with disease.

It is a gentle recognition that the body is the temple of the living God, and that all the bodies today are toxic and nutritionally depleted.

- A life with discipline and routines.

- Preparing and eating three nutritious meals each day.

- Getting lots of rest each day because this is necessary for healing. Exercise is important, but must be gentle, safe, and not exhausting.

- Safety is very important in everyone one does, such as driving a car, where one goes, who one visits or even speaks with, and all activities.

- Taking only carefully targeted nutritional supplements the body needs.

- Each day doing healing procedures designed to heal, but also to change the body in a special way that is called development. This is a long-term process in which more and more of the DNA is made available. As this occurs, the body can make new chemicals that strengthen the body, heal the body, give it new abilities and extend its life. For details, read Introduction To Development.

- Taking time for study and learning about the above, rather than just distracting yourself.

- Understanding the importance of service, no matter what you do. One may be a mother, or a business person, or a friend. These must come to be used for service to the Creator and to others.

- A certain nonconformity to the prevailing society. I am reminded of the famous Bible verse from the New Testament, John 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect Will of God.”

WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS NOT

The modern development program version of the monastic life does not mean:

- Enforced poverty. It is true that having extra money is often a temptation, having enough money in the outer world is helpful and usually needed in order to live comfortably and buy the food and other supplies needed for the development program

Extra money is also helpful to assist others, to feel a type of safety and to be prepared for emergencies and other unforeseen events.

- Forced celibacy. Marriage is possible, provided it helps one live properly and does not get in the way of one's monastic style of living. This might mean leaving one marriage and finding a new partner who wants to live the same way you do.

Most all sex needs to be Down Sex. This is a special procedure that is enjoyable, but does not deplete the body. Indeed, it is extremely healing for the body and for our planet, as well!

- Having very few friends or family. It is possible to have family and friends nearby, but time with others needs to be limited. The monastic lifestyle require limiting one's social life so that there is time for preparing and eating proper meals, enough rest, and time for the healing procedures.

- No job or work. Having a job may be needed for financial reasons. Also, service is a very important part of the monastic life.

Healing and development of oneself is a form of service, but many other forms of work are also possible.

The key is that the job or work must not take up all of one's time or get in the way of resting, eating properly, or doing the procedures needed for healing and development.

- Rejection of the material world and material possessions. This is not necessary. However, material possessions such as houses, cars, computers and more must not take up a lot of time and must not act mostly as distractions that gets in the way of one's healing program and service life.

SETTING IT UP AND MAINTENANCE

Setting up and maintaining this kind of lifestyle requires some skill and practice. It usually will not occur that easily, especially at first. At times, it will seem harsh, confining, and perhaps anti-social or just strange.

Another problem is that others may view your life as odd or strange. Explaining it to them may be difficult or even impossible.

Another problem is that the alien invading group on earth that some call the thugs, crap, Rogues or satan in the Bible don't like people living this life. They will try to talk you out of it, threaten you, and perhaps make trouble in other ways.

I find I need to keep tuning in to Radiant One, God, Highest Level or Absolute Truth in order to check the lifestyle and stay on track.

Courses | About Dr. Wilson | The Free Basic Program