Chapter 71: Mutual obedience in the monastery

Obedience is of such value that it should be shown not only to the superior but all members of the community should be obedient to each other in the sure knowledge that this way of obedience is the one that will take them straight to God. (From para. 1 of Ch. 71 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Quakers speak of "seeing that of God in each other". With this kind of vision, Benedict's teaching on mutual obedience makes sense to me. Obedience means relating -- to all of creation -- with the eye of selfless love.