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Meditations: On the Monk Who Dwells in Daily Life

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I am embarrassed to admit that when I purchased this book I thought that it dealt with the meditations of St. Thomas MORE. However, this was a fortuitous mistake since it introduced me to an author that seemed to be perfectly in tune with my own reflections. This is because I understood intuitively what he was talking about in suggesting that it was possible to live the life of the monk, the contemplative, in modern mundane life. I understood what he meant by a life of simplicity and inner quiet. We can keep our souls uncluttered by the dross and corruption of the outside world- we are the gatekeepers of our own souls. A monastery or an order are, after all, material things, stones and rules; while an actual sacred place, a temenos, is the result deep inner work. That is the natural work of the monk- soul work. It is this work that restores meaning to creation and connection to the creator. Only then can the heart clearly observe of the signs of divine Providence. Only then, as Emerson said, does "everything become a sign."

Just the fact that this book shows that there is another, legitimate way of living in the world is refreshing. After all, both the monk and the criminal reject the values of the greater society- the modern world seems to equate the two at times.

I've read this little book three times over the years and it always rejuvenates me. Of course the author draws from so many rich sources: Aurelius, Orpheus, Ficino, Bruno, Emerson, Dickinson, Basho, Rilke, Merton, the Dalai Lama and, yes, St. Thomas More.

Thomas Moore, better known for books such as `Care of the Soul' and `Soul Mates', compiled this brief collection of meditations, aptly entitled `Meditations: On the Monk Who Dwells in Daily Life'. Most of us obviously do not live in monasteries; few of us even consider monastic spirituality or practice in our daily lives.

Moore was slated early for a life of reflection, but soured on religious practice and observance early. He entered a preparatory seminary at age 13 to become a priest, but found that the tendency toward authoritarianism was a bit too much (a common trait with prophets and saints throughout much of history).

`When I finally left the order, I left most of religion behind. I lived as an agnostic of sorts for a while. In my monastery days I had studied music seriously and had written and directed a considerable amount of music, and so, once out of the order, I planned on the life of an academic musician. Unexpectedly, my love of theology and religion stayed with me.'

Having put some distance between the formal structures and his own life, over time he has come to an important realisation.

`In my life now both the priesthood and the monastic life are made of subtle stuff--not literal ways of life, but possibilities powdered so finely that they have become values, nuances, styles, and elements of character giving my life a certain tone and colour.'

Moore's meditative reflections are each less than one page long, which make them ideal both for rapid study (recommended only if you're going to come back to them later) as well as for small, bite-sized meditative morsels to slowly appreciate and inwardly digest.

`The monk lives according to the advice of Marsilio Ficino--partly in time, partly in eternity. Whatever is done is never fully of this world, and yet it's always in this world. We could all live partly out of this world, and perhaps discover the limits of worldly law and convention.'

In talking of different themes -- silence, hospitality, charity, prayer, music, God, humanity -- Moore interjects insights of his own and those he has inherited from friends, mentors, teachers, and history.

This book makes a perfect gift book; a wonderful, thoughtful book for short meditations; it is a great thing to carry around for reflective periods during the day.

Sometimes a monk, used to chanting, will suddenly strike upon a note that lingers, that stays with the soul in the ear for longer than usual. Perhaps this is the voice of God speaking. As we go about our daily lives, perhaps the common detail that assumes a new proportion -- has a little more resonance -- is God's way of trying to speak to us.

Let this book be an opening to that awareness.

In reading Soul Mates and Care of the Soul I was distinctly taken back to my time of 'Doing CPE.' In realizing the deeper values of taking care of the Soul, I have made it a practise of staying close to former Monks who teach me about contemplation and meditation. I point out 2 quotes.

"A Pilgrim was walking along a road, when he passed a monk sitting in a field...seeing men working on a stone building...he said to the monk, "Who is that working on the abbey?" Answered, "My monks. I'm the abbot."
"It's good to see a monastery going up." said the Pilgrim. "They're tearing it down," said the abbot."
"Whatever for!" asked the Pilgrim.
"So we can see the sun rise at dawn," said the abbot.

As another pointed reading appears twice I will also abbreviate: "Sometimes in their chanting, monks will land upon a note and sing it in florid fashion; a syllable of text for 50 notes of chant. Melisma, they call it. Living a melismatic life in imitation of plain-chant, we stop on an experience, a place, a person, or a memory and rhapsodize in imagination! I believe these two examples say volumes about Thomas Moore as Teacher.
Retired Chap Fred W Hood

Meditations by Thomas Moore is a collection of 100 short anecdotes and thoughts regarding the symbol of the monastic life. Moore lived as a Catholic monk for twelve years and this book represents some of his thoughts and observations concerning the simultaneous comparing/contrasting of the monastic and mundane lifestyles.

There's something about this book that is warm and inspirational -- it calls each of us to recognize and embrace the monastic spirit which is to be cultivated in daily life. It just seems to make me feel more... whole.

One of the verses that has stuck with me over the years was this comment concerning the refectory: "I wonder if the silence that sometimes descends upon people at a restaurant is due to a passing monkish spirit and not to a failure of communication." Whether or not this may be literally true, it conveys a sense of the sacred in everything; anything may be sublimated and made meaningful once the awareness of such is born.

I recommend this book for anyone and everyone to reflect upon in order to further consecrate that sense of the temenos or sacred boundary within our lives.

Thomas lives up to his namesake. He is a depth psychologist and former monk who has a deep understanding of what soul is and how it must be developed in order to live a more complex and satisfying life. His other books go deeper into that development, but the flavor of a life lived as an expression of developed soul shines through this little book of his, experiences as both monk and former monk. I was touched.

I will be honest in my oversight. I originally purchased this book thinking that it contained the writings of Thomas More not Thomas Moore. Still, I decided to give this book a chance.

While I was hoping for a collection of spiritually beneficial writings, I was disappointed to find a collection of anecdotes from inside the wall of a monastery. Even further to my disappointment, these anecdotes are too brief and fail to tell a complete story. Even when Moore is trying to give a lesson in his story, his point is often a stretch.

Some of the stories had a peculiarity about them that made them enjoyable. These stories were too scattered for me to recommend that somebody spend their money on this book. Thomas Merton has collections of spiritual writings that are far superior to this one.

This is a rather short book. It gave a few insights here and there. Perhaps I didn't understand it as deeply as I should have, but I finished reading this book feeling a bit empty handed. Perhaps I read through it too quickly. Apparently, the publishers must have seen something about it that they thought worthy. As a book loving, yet frugal consumer, I would recommend borrowing this book from the library, if possible. Then, if you think it worthy of your possession, then you can buy it later.