We all carry the monk archetype in our souls
A man came to me and asked me why the monastery was so important to him. He went on to say that when he is here staying at our retreat house, he feels at peace and more centered. However when he leaves it seems to go away and his sense of alienation returns. So he continued and said; why do I come here, I am not even a real believer? What draws me?
I have had more than one person inquire about this over the years. In some of our Chapter talks, the abbot speaks about the concept of monk “meaning “Alone before God”. It is based on a true insight into the human existential experience of being alone, cut off from others, misunderstood and separate from ones family and friends. That is perhaps one reason that monastic life is not just a Christian phenomenon, but world wide.
In the depth of our souls, we are all alone before God, as well as being connected with all. Though that connection for many can only be experienced after growing into the understanding that our aloneness and embracing it and letting go of fear, is the path that we are all called to follow. It is a true death to self.
All humans will one day have to experience this death to self. If not during life then at the time of death, or in the process of dying, when they are in the no-mans land between life and death. We will all experience death alone, yet at the same time being deeply connected to the Infinite.
Each human being has the ‘monk archetype’ branded into their souls, for we are all pursued by God. We are made for deep union with the Infinite, and our hearts longing will not be fulfilled until that is learned. When that is grasped through experience, then deep connections are experienced and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human, begins. Slowly Christ Jesus becomes the very life our bodies and souls. The seed dies and new life unfolds…..grace is the gardener poured out on all who seek and those who don’t. We will each one day have to respond one way or another. There is no way to get around it. Yet each life is unique, there are no molds for the inner journey that each of us has to make.
Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery
