become a monk

can a black person go to a monastry and do monks belive IS HIS NAME">YAHWEH is the father of jacob

From a variety of sources I’ve come to realize that to some extent monasticism is more of a matter of the heart than officially joining an order where one could simply go through the motions devoid of true religion. Or as I read on the Prayer Foundation Knights of Prayer site which is a bit of an online monastary is that “the idea of monks is a historical Christian symbol and metaphor for both a life of prayer, and a life of dedication to the Lord.” The Knights of Prayer, a monastic order of lay monks is also describes itself as giving formal recognition to people who are already monks in their hearts. Yet the funny thing is that my friend Todd Schoonover actually came to this conclusion over a month ago in his birthday blessing to me which included the line “May the borders between secular and sacred be non-existent in your life, so that you realize you are a monk already.” As I now believe that this goal falls into my broader goal of live with no boundaries between the sacred and the secular as striving to live a complete Christian life is the true mark of a monk of the heart.

I’ve loved the idea of becomeing a monk since i was a small boy and i still do now. But lately im thinking if they will just accept anyone or what requirements to become a monk.

I am thinking of becoming a monk. Have lost all interest in life and just wanna go somewhere where I am not known by anyone and just live in like a tiny room, praying to God that I never live again, not even eternal life or anything like that. But like I know, you still have to be active in community even as a monk and I don’t really like it. Is there some possibility I can become a monk, like a hermit or something like that, with no social contact whatsoever?

Spent a year in the mountains of N.C. on 1500 acres of forest. Did nothing but meditate, eat, and walk in the fresh mountain/forest air. Absolutely incredible experiences of life.

The thought of leaving all of the material, superficial, irrelevant tasks and events I participate in is very liberating to me. If I could have a life where there are no NY straphangers climbing over my head and breathing and sneezing all over my neck just to grasp a germ infested pole, no 9-5, no college classes and no routines. Maybe the last part about routines would still exist if I was a monk but I would be ok with it. I mean as long as I get to meditate daily, study metaphysics and secret teachings, while defying all of the doubts that my current world is built around (like the rule that I am committing a run on sentence right now) and hear no reporters repeating nonsense about corny celebrities, with their corny extravagant lifestyles or lies about a war and fatalities in numbers that sounds like a score board. A life where I can do nothing but focus on the universe, learn to travel through infinite space and different dimensions, learn to focus on consciousness and immortality (death is only a transformation). Maybe IF I could just get a second of peace I can perhaps become a beacon of light to the world. Help people to wake up and stop fearing death, people and rejection. I just want to be surrounded by free thinkers, beings who know infinite love is the only truth and everything else is an illusion, I am only 21 (human years) but I see it and its right here, now and around us. We can stop waiting and running around in circles and just be…just be what we want to be…peaceful…happy…responsible….oh and vegetarian.

Peace n Luv

Everything I read about monasticism speaks to me, everything about the life appeals to me. I think it’s the only dream I have that I really feel good and right about putting my faith and hope in. I think the oddest thing about this goal is that it’s something that few people understand. Most of my friends and aquaintences at work don’t understand, old friends think it’s funny, people seem to be more inclined to be skeptical or warn against it rather than understand and support the decision. It’s almost become a secret; I might mention it to people at Church but I’m socializing less at Church which has really been the only place where I ever find anyone who understands the goal; even people at Church are full of warnings and raised eyebrows. Seems to me that people are so quick to shoot down the idea; I don’t know why – so I keep it to myself, sharing it only in my prayers.

God help me; I want to be a monk more than anything else in the whole world.

Now I don’t want to give the impression that I just pulled this idea out of my hat because I didn’t. I actually served a novitiate already at a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church, which lasted for over two years. I’ve also traveled throughout Egypt visiting all the monasteries, also have gone to Mount Sinai to the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherines, as well as made a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem living in monasteries the whole time. I’ve been intigued with monasticism and ascescis since I was a child, and for a person who otherwise has very little self control or discipline, it’s odd to say that I do quite well in a minimilist environ. The only catch is that I can’t seem to create it on my own. If that’s the environment I’m in then I soar like a bird; try to recreate it for myself on the outside? Forget it. I have come to believe that I’m one of these people that need monasticism; I miss it, and when I think about what I want to accomplish before I die, when I consider it all – all the possibilities – I keep coming back to the same thing. I want to be a monk. I want to live as a monk, and I want to be a monk when I die. God help me.

I was half-kidding when I first wrote this. I think I selected “join a monastery” the same day I selected “commit suicide” – which I later deleted because I decided on second thought it wasn’t so funny. Well on second thought joining a monastery isn’t so funny either, except I think I may do it. Joining a monastery is something I really really want to do. If things go like I hope I’ll be in a monastery in five years. I’ll post as soon as I make some progress. Right now it’s transportation first, then I can work on this.

most people don’t believe me when i tell them i want to become a monk because i’m 15 but that only makes me want to do it more