-24-

...Monastic community is not a business economy but a sharing economy.  My experience in life is that the more you give, the more you'll receive.

...When there is  very systematic human organisation, it is difficult to be led by the Spirit.  A balance should be established between the two.

...Putting too much accent on the time-table runs the risk of extinguishing the inspiration of God from within us.  During our early years in the monastery, we should develop a sensitivity to this inner call to prayer. Listen to the inner voice, or it may go out.

...History shows that financial success brings a decline in spiritual standards.  So, I wish that we remain small and poor.

...It is inconvenient not to have modern gadgets.  But we must bear this inconvenience as part of our poverty.

...The reading of the Rule*  should be an occasion to renew our vocation, prayer, and community life.

...Ideally, the community should come above the Rule*  and the Abbot.  The Abbot's job is to interpret the Rule for the community.

...Monastic life is a life at par with that of the angels, prophets, apostles, the church of Jerusalem and martyrs.

...We are much too restricted in our concern for our order, our rite, our ashram.  We are not concerned enough for the mystical body of Christ.

(*Rule is of St. Benedict, the classic manual for monks in the West dating from the 6^th century in Italy. Ed)

PREVIOUS — NEXT