Chapter 61: Monastic pilgrims from far away (paragraphs 2-3)
But if no such negative signs are apparent it may be right to go further and not wait for a request to be accepted in the community. It may even be right to persuade such a one to stay so that others may benefit and learn from such example.
(From para. 2 of Ch. 61 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)
Where is my attention when I partake in or perceive gossip, sarcasm, self-dramatization, projection? Fidelity to meditation helps me, little by little, to prefer the example of selflessness.
My immediate reaction to criticism is to deny and escape. But Benedict says we must look deeply into criticism and welcome it. My only hope of accomplishing this is through meditation and the slow (oh so slow) reduction of ego.
ReplyDelete