Chapter 15: Ancient Monasticism
and What Now?
Video (words & audio):
Ancient Texts:
Come Together
For Practice and Sharing
In Loving and Caring
Will Your Inner Self Bloom
*
Behind Walls do the Weak
Grow Strong Like The Sun
*
Tend to them as the Young Trees
As The Hemp Gives Guidance & Support
As The Soil Nurtures
As The Water Gives Sharing
As The Loving Light Gives Warmth and Life
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Giving is the Way of Love
The Way of the One.
The Sun Gives Light to ALL
In Harmony With the One.
But When We are Not thus In Harmony,
Giving Can Bring Harm.
Giving to the Selfish Self
Is Destructive.
Giving that Weakens
Is Destructive.
Learn to Give Like the Stars
From the Spirit, for the Spirit.
Then like the Sun, ALL Will Receive
What their Soul Really Needs.
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In Times of Darkness
The Ignorant Masses
Under Control of Dark Self
Will Turn Against
The ones of the Light
Then Befool them You Must,
Hide Your Light Behind a Veil.
The Ignorant Masses,
Seeing no Light
Know Not it Still Shines
And Go On Their Way
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As The Fruit Comes to Bear
The Blossom must Fall.
When the Fruit Falls to Ground
The Fruit Must Give Way
For the Seed to Start Life Anew
So it is With Life of One Who Grows
You Must Let Go of Your Past
To Move Into Your Future
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False Giving, is Giving to Get
True Giving, is Not Give and Take
True Giving, Does NOT need Thanks
NOTE: Keep in mind that the word "Monastery" can apply to any type of spiritual community, including ashrams, convents, spiritual communes, or even an association of like-minded friends on a spiritual path.
Monasticism has long been a tradition in many cultures. Spiritual communities are a relative of monasteries, and have been around since the beginning of recorded history. Ancient texts reveal that the Essene community, was a branch of the Children of the Law of One, and was started hundreds of years prior to Jesus' birth by a Persian Adept named Zoroaster (also founder of the Magi - of which the "3 wise men" were members.)
But times are changing...like farmland being swallowed up by expanding cities, many traditional monasteries are falling by the wayside as the modern world encroaches upon them in one way or another. Some have even been disbanded by law.
But the concept of monasticism can be carried out in a variety of ways.
Householders, "the Order of things", & Inner Circles
Householders are people that live just outside the monastery of the CLO. Jon asked his true teacher (Zain) about them & why they lived like that. Zain explained... a system evolved of degrees of involvement with a spiritual path, that allowed this freedom, and also took into account the consciousness of individuals. It is based on the Universal form of the solar system, and orbits. The central object is the head monk, the one ultimately in charge of the monastery (an Adept who was the highest consciousness Initiate). Every body, of any kind, needs a head, if there is to be coordination of the body parts rather than spastic chaos. This is so throughout the Universe.
Householders hope to someday become monks, but for now, they wish to basically lead a normal life with family & friends.
Next comes the monastery, and the furthest out from the "head"/"center" are the novice monks. Next closest in from them are the monks, then the elder monks. The students comprised of elder monks form what is called an Inner Circle. Where there are many Adepts, they are an Inner Circle of the Inner Circle, next closest in to the center. The Adept with the highest consciousness, or in lieu of that, one who the others agreed is best for the center/head position.
Everything in the CLO's order is based on consciousness.
The Value of, and Need for, Monasteries
The Monastery as a Place of Retreat
There are many reasons for monasteries to exist. The typical understanding is that it is a place for "cloistering", a place where those involved in a spiritual path, can hide away from the world. This is true in a sense, but it is not the only function of a monastery.
What a Monastery is Not
It is not a place to "run from" your life or the world, but a place to selflessly give. It is a place to learn & develop "self-sacrifice". Thus, most monasteries not only require long hours of spiritual practice & discipline, but also hard work of other kinds. For Jon, it was harder work than he had ever encountered.
Before you can live in a paradisiacal world full of no one but unselfishly loving people, you must 1st make yourself into the kind of person that belongs in such a world. The only person anyone has control over, is themselves. Those who unselfishly love you, will give you a hard time, and the discipline you need because they do love you [blogger's note: and want what is best for you].
Selfish people, even those on spiritual paths, have many "faults". Ironically, people with faults (like yourself) don't like the faults of others, and thus get "negative" & irritated with others. And other people with faults, don't like yours either, & will get negative & irritated with you. Also ironically, people get MOST irritated with other people who have faults that are most like their own faults!
Monasteries CAN be places of peace & love at times, but they are primarily places of spiritual growth. In that capacity, they are a "school" for people who are not yet always peaceful & loving. Thus the social structure is a mix of caring, love & antagonism. The important thing is, people are there to work on it, dedicated to changing & improving themselves.
Since everyone in a monastery has agreed to work on ridding themselves of selfishness & its related problems/faults, selfishness/problems/faults are actually targeted. The mechanism for attacking the target, is constructive criticism. What happens as a result, all depends on your attitude, & what you do with the criticism.
The selfish separate self, in its struggle for survival, considers ALL criticism a threat.
The very fact that someone is a novice monk/student, means they are still selfish - so the mutual criticisms between novices are between selfish people. The interactions between fellow novices can be confrontational & intense. It should also be kept in mind that it is not "poor you" having to live in the midst of a bunch of negative antagonists. {But} it is you having to live with a bunch of "yous" who are also being critical, sometimes negative, sometimes antagonistic, sometimes sensitive & caring, and most importantly - making true spiritual growth headway.
This is where the real opportunity for growth occurs & the real spiritual work takes place. Everyone is there to be criticized, and to be critical, in order to help themselves & others transcend the selfish separate self, and work towards perfection {enlightenment}.
When difficulties arise due to this situation, a "meeting" of a number of monks (elders and/or teachers) to mediate between the 2 opposing parties. A resolution is obtained through consensus of all at the meeting, or through mediation of an elder/teacher. This requires humility, in order to let go of one's own "charged" one-sided opinion, and to be open to the whole truth.
The more humility you have, the more you actually welcome criticism, and the faster & easier the spiritual growth & self-improvement goes. A HUMBLE ATTITUDE & IRON-CLAD DESIRE TO CHANGE & GROW IS THE KEY. The whole experience can seem like hell, or as a desirable "challenge" or "invigorating workout" 9like climbing a mountain).
NOTE: It is always important to end the meeting/mediation on a positive note, and have a hug. The "Golden Rule Workbook" gives specific programs for working with family & friends, as well as creating "clubs" with like-minded individuals.
The Monastery as a Repository of Knowledge
Some monasteries still maintain knowledge & practice of various methods of healing or arts; martial arts, acupuncture, yoga, herbal oils, etc.
The CLO's monastery in Tibet had an incredible library with manuscripts from religions around the world {amongst other knowledge/teachings}. BUT THE GREATEST FUNCTION OF THE MONASTERY, WAS THAT IT WAS A REPOSITORY FOR UNSELFISH LOVE, & THE WISDOM OF UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WAS PASSED LIKE A CANDLE LIGHTING A CANDLE - from an Adept Initiate true teacher to student, who became and Adept Initiate true teacher & so forth throughout time.
Thus, even though the C'LO's Tibetan monastery was destroyed in the 1990's, true teachings go on, and cannot be snuffed out. There is still the greater, Inner repository, within the surviving true teachers; as well as this book. They are there for all who would Unselfishly Love, and serve the world, and for the time when light will flourish, and all people of like-kindness, will know Oneness with the Universal Spirit/God.
The Monastery as a Place of Training & Nurturing "light" Workers
The monastery as a school for spiritual training & nurturing has perhaps always been its most important function. The world desperately needs light bearers, light houses, shining beacons in the night to guide us through the darkness. This is why the CLO have maintained monasteries & communities since the days of Atlantis.
Steps to the Light
It's best if a student's practice takes place in an environment that nurtures that process, where there are other students of like mind to practice with, and where an unenlightened students' actions can be supervised so they don't harm themselves, or others.
To Give or Not to Give?
That is Not the question (in a Monastery).
The novice student who is working towards living a life of Unselfish Love, but who has not yet achieved it, is not prepared to differentiate between what he should give, and should not give, for the good of others. The best situation is to live with others who have aspirations/ideals akin to their own; this way they can give & grow in an environment of inspiration & support, one in which they can safely "give" all the time, without concern about giving in a manner that would be harmful to someone else.
The Nestling and the Nest
For someone who has decided to become a True Teacher, and dedicate their life to helping others, a spiritual environment is important for their early developmental stages.
A novice or elder can possibly be negatively influenced & harmed by forces of darkness in various ways. Having an out-of-body experience without proper preparation & protection is just one example - it can lead to possession. Also, the uninitiated student is still learning many things, and developing powers, but doesn't yet have the wisdom to properly use those powers. It is best that students first be trained in a safe environment, with supervision, in order to grow strong in the light before they venture out to illuminate the darkness. Only when they are home, One with ALL, will they be able to safely & positively affect those they come in contact with.
Seclusion from Temptations until Willpower is Forged
The more you try to develop self-discipline, the more the separate self rebels, and fills you with temptations. So being in an environment where everyone is doing the same things for discipline, or development, helps you get through these times, while you are forging a willpower of steel.
If you are living amongst "regular" selfish people, those whose separate selves have full control, you don't just have your own temptations to deal with. Have you ever noticed how people take on certain traits of their close associates? There is an osmosis effect of influence. There is also a constant pressure to conform with your peers & not be "different". Other people's selfish separate selves would rather keep you in the hole you're in, than have you get out of yours, and start mucking things up for them.
Witch Burner Syndrome
Others will judge & condemn your "strange" manner as being immoral, blasphemous, evil, a scourge to society, or whatever.
Warning by CLO Monk, Vishnu:
When you try to hold to the truth you've found, just living your own beliefs quietly to yourself, even though you aren't hurting anyone, condemning others, or telling others how they should be, people will often still feel like you are condemning them. It is the natural reaction of their separate self. They may also twist things around, and start thinking that you think that you are "better than they are". Even if you are not condemning them, people may still become hostile as if you were, simply because you are living by your own truth that you have found. Because when you live truth you shine it, and truth is a threat to their separate selves. So their self will often create an illusion, a "smoke screen" of feeling that you are judging & condemning them, when it is actually they who are condemning you. They do this at first as a defensive reaction, but later it can be used as a weapon.
Michiel added this:
The I Ching tells us that in times of darkness, the superior man hides his light, yet still shines. A neophyte (novice) doesn't really know when it is proper to hide his light, and when he should let it shine unrestricted. Thus a monastic environment offers protection until the neophyte is fully developed.
Don't Bring Me Down
ZAIN: Like the tuning fork effect (earlier in book), just as Inner Being responds to Inner Being, the separate self responds at the same level of negative vibrations from another separate self, and if you have not transcended your own separate self, so as to be able to feel that in yourself without losing your balance, your inner composure, then you end up being "mad" or upset yourself; then you start sending out more negativity, physically, verbally, or psychically (or all 3). And it builds. And it grows.
Being around lower consciousness people holds your consciousness down unless you have become a light.
Let Go of your Baggage
Until you're Strong Enough to Carry It
ZAIN: When a seeker has thus taken responsibility for their life, and accepted their responsibility to be One with & serve God, they must then recreate their life, in a way that facilitates the change. They must leave behind their old "self-baggage", along with their past. They must leave behind & replace old selfish oriented programming & ideas. And they must let go of attachments to people from their old "selfish oriented life".
We don't mean to say you must "cut off ties" with someone, in order to let go of a selfish attachment... Although it may be far easier quicker, and better to just cut things off clean. But sometimes the easy path is not the best, and often, such selfish attachments take care of themselves anyway... You must free yourself from your attachments to those who have any measure of negative influence over you, or who impede your spiritual growth, your flowing with Universal Will, or your manifestation of God.
When you merge into your new higher level of consciousness, and find those who belong with you on the same level, it feels wonderful. It is an incredible feeling to find your new higher companions, "soulmates", or soulgroup family.
Whether you have a traditional monastery or not, it is vital for the serious spiritual seeker, and student, who wishes to grow as fast as possible, to find associates who are not part of their selfish attachments or selfish addictive past.
I'll Scratch Your separate self if You Scratch Mine
REMEMBER - UNTIL YOU TRANSCEND YOUR SEPARATE SELF, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT BEING NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THOSE AROUND YOU, YOU WILL NOT BE OF ANY REAL AID TO THEM, OR ANYONE.
One of the biggest problems the self creates to defeat growth, is the ego trait of wanting to be right all the time (or at least having the appearance of being right). A person who is set on appearing right all the time, actually creates a pattern in which they are usually wrong most of the time, and worse, they don't even learn from their mistakes. But a person who doesn't care how they appear to others, and has a humble attitude, will eventually be right all the time.
Give Only to the Spirit in Others
Eventually you will be able to give to the entire world, even to those who would selfishly take, for you will be giving what they need for their spiritual development, rather than nurturing their separate selves.
One Hand Washes the Other
Communism doesn't work well for the ordinary people of the world. Why? SELFISHNESS. When you take away the greed factor in making a lining, and put things on a level that all things are shared, people start putting out less effort. Reasons:
1. They know they will get taken care of regardless of how much they contribute.
2. They know that regardless of how much they contribute, they won't get any more than a share in everyone's prosperity.
Even the CLO's monastery must stay vigilant, and occasionally must route out & chastise the lazy who would selfishly take advantage of brotherly love, but overall, it is the greatest way of living.
There needs to be a clear sighted, well respected leader (in any spiritual group or community) in order to avoid leeches, corruption, and to "ride the stragglers". There is also the advantage of concentrated/combined power you have when people unite. Great things can be accomplished when we work as One.
The New Monasticism - Fellowship in the New World
In these times there is the danger that any small true spiritual movement in which people live together in a monastic fashion, will simply be labeled a "cult", demonized, attacked & destroyed. The great changes are coming. The prophecies are coming to pass, and more prophecies are still being fulfilled. Seeing what is really going on, and what is coming, is just a matter of opening your eyes, and looking at it all without fear. It helps if you see it as a healing crisis rather than just a horrible meaningless destruction.
The CLO is still here, but the outer form has been forcibly changed, and a new one is being born. Time is short, and we must adapt, or cease to survive entirely. We will find the means if it is in the Will of the Universal Spirit. Advances in technology are also affording new ways of reaching & helping large numbers of people (audio CD's, websites, videos, etc). If able, we also envision creating a unique "spiritual resort" where people can come & spend time in a secluded, beautiful natural setting - and spiritual environment. Guests would have many options.
If you want to network, contact a teacher/elder, etc. you can use mail, email (caring@atlantis.to) or contact us via the website: atlantis.to
Just keep in mind it may be weeks or months before you possibly get a reply.
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