Customer Reviews

Dance of a Fallen Monk: A Journey to Spiritual Enlightenment

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All these other reviews pretty much cover the subject matter of the book, but no one has said much about the form. Well, i just want to add that this is obviously a labor of love, done by a man with an extraordinary gift for writing; the result is just immensely enjoyable in terms of the beauty of the writing, all along. The language is rich, superbly wrought, full of delightful wit and pizzaz. This dancer has got style, lots of it!

Seldom are we treated to such richness and honesty of one seeking his own truth. His quiet courage to continually grow, question, and evolve mentors myself. He arrives at knowing and feeling the Oneness of us all. No judgment, just more and more love.

George Fowler records his entrance and exit from years of devotion to God as a monk. For anyone who has had to leave many years of devotion to God to rediscover and reform their faith, Fowler's very candid discussion of his wrestlings and decisions, including a chapter where he wrestles with his sexual identity, are a comforting companion. Here is someone who was and is devoted to God, but had to step out of his first committment to renew his faith. Powerful.

I was captivated by Fowler's openness and candor. His comments and insights into the established order of two of Christianity's denominations makes one re-assess the denomination's intended and marketed goals. "Spirit" comes from the Greek word meaning "to breathe". This is a breath of fresh air from one who learned to enjoy the intended all along, the divinity of human life itself!

Although George Fowlers' life was interesting, I would have liked to hear more about how his new way of thinking has affected his life--more about his "dance." I hope he shares more about his views on the God of us.

George Fowler tells a story that almost every intuitive-feeling or intuitive-thinking Christian or ex-Christian could relate to. The public-institutional church will at its best neglect their needs and, at its worst, drive them out. Probably the same is true of other religions. The overwhelming majority of the population is outer-directed and uninterested in (or threatened by) the perennial mystical tradition that led to their religion's founding and is usually enshrined in their scriptures. Christians who desperately go from one retreat center, workshop, or teacher to another in search of sustenance their church will not provide will relate to George's story. Seekers on the New Age circuit will also relate to the dance of this "fallen monk." Unfortunately, the personalities that thrive on the public face of institutional religion will probably be offended by his critique of their little world, learn nothing, and go on to the next committee meeting or potluck dinner. (And that assumes they would read the book at all, which they probably wouldn't.) My one criticism is that George is a bit too harsh and far-sweeping in his judgment of Protestantism. He simply may not have a very wide experience with the myriad of denominations and movements, and the varieties of inner-directedness some have to offer.

As a "recovering catholic" myself, I found this book spoke to me and its hard not to imagine someone not enjoying Fowler's openess and charm. His thoughts are in tune with my own thoughts and intuitions and it was refreshing to hear a former priest's ideas about catholicism and christianity in general.

George Fowler's courageous expose of his spiritual journey was hard to put down. His honesty about himself and his experiences along the path gives permission and encouragement to become authentic even at the risk of offending authoritiy figures, family and friends. He makes it clear we are all blessed with an inner guide, the voice of the soul, which isn't to be denied. Great job!!!

I read - and re-read - this book many years ago and found it one of the most entertaining and enlightening books I had ever read. If you are a questioning spiritual seeker - somehow not quite fulfilled by any organized, formal religion - this is the book for you - and even if you are satisfied with your religion, it will help you re-examine your beliefs. The writer's philosophy is that organized religion is great - as far as it goes - but that, ideally, it is a "school" from which one eventually graduates; that we evolve and become spiritually mature, beyond accepting any one set of dogmatic beliefs; that we come to see and appreciate the truth in all religions, while not adhering to any one particular set of beliefs. A great, heart-warming read, written from the writer's soul, and a wonderful assist to all spiritual seekers.

I love George Fowler's book 'Dance of a Fallen Monk'. His subtitle, 'A Journey to Spiritual Enlightenment', is very apt for in this book he traces the journey his life has taken from 'down on the farm' outcast to monk to priest to marriage.
Fowler begins by describing his somewhat desolate and directionless adolescence, brought to a climax by friendship with Datus, a stranger in town who took an intellectual interest in Fowler (and gave him the sort of attention he craved). This friend died rather suddenly, and through a combination of intellectual and spiritual accidents and decisions, ended up after a stint in the military with interesting experiences, in a rather strict Roman Catholic monastery.

The period of growth juxtaposed with stagnation during these years is interesting to read. Sometimes it seemed nothing was happening, when it fact it was, and sometimes the 'action' wasn't what it was thought to be.

Fowler's trek away from the monastery, and later away from the Roman Catholic church (finally finding a home in another denomination) is an interesting one. It is full of wonder and awe, heartbreak and reconciliation. I was so glad to have the chance to see a glimpse into some of the pitfalls of ministry; I was thankful that I might have a guide for when I fall into error.

Perhaps the greatest message from this book for me, is that no vocation need be the final word; that all may build upon each other; that a change in direction can be natural and rewarding even if it breaks with a life direction; and, most importantly, one never knows where God will call one to be, and responsiveness requires being willing to break with our most sacred idolised beliefs.

Fowler is writing from the standpoint of a minister who has had almost the full array of possible postings and experiences. No matter how hard or fast or far he ran, the calling to the next stage would always find him, usually when he was unsuspecting, and intending on a different direction. Life is very much like that.

'For my last few years in the cloister, I felt so guilty about early intuitions of this awareness of the mystics, which tradition calls higher consciousness, that I often found myself rushing off to confession to ask pardon for 'sins against the faith'. I would later see that those early 'unorthodox' insights, intuitions, intimations--I would almost call them suspicions at that stage--were actually first breakthroughs into higher consciousness.'

This book reflects many lives through Fowler's life. Read and see what of you is in here. Something of all of us is in each other. When we recognise it, we have found a friend. Fowler is, in many ways through this book, my friend.