Chapter 66: The porter or portress of the monastery
At the entrance to the monastery there should be a wise senior who is too mature in stability to think of wandering about and who can deal with enquiries and give whatever help is required. (From para. 1 of Ch. 66 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
That wise, mature and stable senior at the door of my heart is the mantra. I wander far more than is good for me, especially when circumstances are disorienting and my practice flounders. But that good old monk is always at the door, reminding me how to live.
The enclosure of my heart also needs a gatekeeper. The mantra serves that purpose, as imperfectly as I use it, Abba. My monkey mind is alive and well with all its million distractions. Like Martha, my mind is busy about so many things, but only one thing is necessary, my being with you, my loving you, Abba, and letting you love me.
ReplyDeleteThe wise and stable monk in me must be the one to deal with my worldly concerns. This monk will allow me to be in the world by not of the world. But oftentimes, oh Lord, the childish monk dominates my being. This monk that likes to wander. I pray Lord, for the oneness, unity of the monk in me that I may live in the world without being of it.
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