Prologue to The Rule (paragraph 4)

It is to find workers in his cause that God calls out like that to all peoples. He calls to us in another way in the psalm when he says: Who is there with a love of true life and a longing for days of real fulfilment? (From para. 4 of the Prologue to The Rule of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

My love of true life is the Spirit calling to me in silence, to be faithful to my meditation practice. What can flow, then, are days of balance, days of real fulfillment in mind, body, spirit.

Prologue to The Rule (paragraph 3)

Let us open our eyes to the light that can change us into the likeness of God. (From para. 3 of The Prologue to The Rule from Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

St Benedict is telling me nothing less than that there is a light that can change me, change us, into the likeness of God! For me, this light is the mantra, a sound so silent that it is a focussed beam of attention leading me away from self-centeredness to the Other. In this way I can find the clarity to see reality beyond my ideas about reality.

Prologue to The Rule (paragraphs 1-2)

Listen, child of God, to the guidance of your teacher. Attend to the message you hear and make sure that it pierces to your heart, so that you may accept with willing freedom and fulfil by the way you live the directions that come from your loving Father. (From para. 1 of Prologue to The Rule of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1973.)

St Benedict guides me to discover my Inner Teacher, to listen to her wisdom, and to absorb the paradox of heart-piercing liberty.  

Chapter 73: This Rule is only a beginning

The purpose for which we have written this rule is to make it clear that by observing it in our monasteries we can at least achieve the first steps in virtue and good monastic practice. (From para. 1 of Ch. 73 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

These are welcome words to me today, as consoling as John Main's assurance that, "in meditation, we are all beginners".  St. Benedict accepts me as I am, offers me both compassion and challenge, and encourages me to trust the Lord.

Chapter 72: The good spirit which should inspire monastic life

It is easy to recognize the bitter spirit of wickedness which creates a barrier to God's grace and opens the way to the evil of hell. But equally there is a good spirit which frees us from evil ways and brings us closer to God and eternal life. (From Ch. 72 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I know that I have both good in the evil in myself, both love and alienation. And yet, I wish not to be judgmental, even about these matters, if my judgment comes from my ego. Meditation teaches me an openness, tolerance and compassion that seeks out the redemptive qualities of experience.

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.

Chapter 70: The offence of striking another

Every occasion for presumptuous behaviour in a monastery must be avoided, so we insist that no one in the community may excommunicate or strike another unless given the power to do so by the superior. (From Ch. 70 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

When I "presume" to act, I'm driven by my ego, instead of the authority of unself-conscious love. Meditation helps me to be more aware of my presumptuous ego.