Integral Monastery

[Dawid Dahl]

Hey, everyone.

 

Me and a friend have discussed and explored an idea for a long time now, namely to create a way for modern people to live a monastic-like life. When I move to my own apartment in a couple of months, I'm going to start this new way of life, in which I will be able to focus most of my attention on what I found I love most about life, namely, life. (Or to be more exact: life from an integral perspective.)

 

So, we're trying to come up with ways in which to live like an "urban monk", and we really think this is something interesting and which we love pondering about.

 

Just a few days ago we finally moved moved from the mere talking and the thinking, to more of the doing and the tangible. So yeah, we made a blog/homepage in which we'll try to share our ideas, and our experiences as "urban monks" (or "urban-monks"-to-be), or whatever one wants to call it.

 

This is still extremely early work in progress, but it's a start. If you'd like, please "Like" our page here at Facebook and feel free to check out the blog/homepage from time to time:

 

www.integralmonastery.com

 

What do you think about this idea? Interesting, crap, pointless, awesome, stupid, funny, abysmal? :)

[Mary W.]

Sounds wonderful to me. Go for it!

Have you read Mary Lou Kownacki's A Monk in the Inner City  or Wayne Teasdale's A Monk in the World ?

Cheers,

Mary W.

[Dawid Dahl]

"Have you read Mary Lou Kownacki's A Monk in the Inner City  or Wayne Teasdale's A Monk in the World ?"

 

No, but I just put them on my books-to-buy list. Thanks, Mary!

 

---

 

Yay, now we have a Twitter page! http://twitter.com/#!/I_Monastery Toying with all these social networks makes me feel young once more! :P

[e]

It's great to be able to frame your life in terms of your values...you are fortunate...hope it bears fruit!

 

 

[Dawid Dahl]

We're currently talking to a designer/seamstress about a robe for the Integral Monastery.

 

I'd appreciate your opinions. Which one of these orders do you think has the most visually pleasing habit? :)

 

Carthusian:

 

Cistercian/Trappist: 

 

Franciscan (not their usual brown one):

 

 

Augustinian:

 

Benedictines:

 

Carmelites:

 

Zen:

 

Or with a shorter version:

 

 

Unidentified Chinese Buddhist monk:

 

I like the last two Buddhist styles in that they allow better mobility, which would symbolize quite well our commitment not to shun mundane/conventional/worldly reality. At the same time I love the Christian style with the hood because it, to me, symbolizes selflessness. Perhaps a merging of the two styles...?

 

What do you think? I'd appreciate any input. 

[Balder]

Hi, Dawid, I've been meaning to comment that I think creating a monastic environment for yourself sounds like a great idea -- and I enjoy the artful, contemplative material you've been posting on your website so far.  As far as the habit, I guess I have a soft spot for the Trappist one, being a longtime fan of Merton, but probably one of the Franciscan or Zen robes would be more comfortable (or a combination of Franciscan/Zen).

[Dawid Dahl]

Thanks a bundle, Bruce!

 

"As far as the habit, I guess I have a soft spot for the Trappist one, being a longtime fan of Merton, but probably one of the Franciscan or Zen robes would be more comfortable (or a combination of Franciscan/Zen)."

 

Yes, I've been thinking about a Franciscan/Zen variation too. I like the simplicity of the Franciscan habit, it has a bodhisattvic ready-to-spring-into-action quality to it, hehe. That's also what I like about the Chinese monk-robe. It's more suitable for motion. Kind of like this:

 

(Minus the execution-equipment, obviously.)

 

A fusion of styles would probably be a good thing, as we shouldn't just flat out copy any of these. There should be something unique about it. 

 

Thanks for the input!

 

(Btw, I added a basic Q&A section to the site yesterday. As a complete idiot on web design, the html was a pain in the arse, hehe.)

[Edward theurj Berge]

Why minus the execution equipment? This is a topic we explored in the integral horror and Black Swan threads. Recall the Shaolin monks of Wu Tang mountain, trained in the arts of war as well as of peace, full well realizing there was a context for each.

[Dawid Dahl]

Theurj: "Why minus the execution equipment?"

 

Hehe, well, I'd agree we should definitely wear some execution-equipment, but perhaps not in the literal sense. :P For example, everyone should strive to acquire a version of this absolutely murderous weapon:

 

 

Quoting the original owner of the sword as he converses with Mr. Shakyamuni:

 

"How is a Bodhisattva victorious in battle?"

"Manjushri, when analyzed, all phenomena are unobservable."

- Superior Sutra of the Sport of Manjushri.

 

 

[e]

 

Japanese yukata's are comfy and stylish.

 

[Dawid Dahl]

I agree, e. Those are awesome. I've worn one once. Though, I feel those are a bit too "eastern looking".

 

What I'd love is to make something which mixes the western and the eastern aesthetics, to symbolize how incredibly open, and loving, and tender hearted, and accepting, and politically correct, and all-embracing, and non-judgemental, and tolerant we all are. :)

 

Updated the web page with some epic poetry (not), and a Q&A section, if anyone's interested. Cheers!

[Edward theurj Berge]

Here's the typical robe of the Golden Dawn. This is not me nor representative of my rank on the sash.

[Dawid Dahl]

I think that settles it. Thanks.