Temporary vocations.
Could it be?
From what I understand about Buddhism, men may enter monasteries for a period of time, only to leave, marry and raise a family, almost as if they are performing a tour of duty in military service. No one in their culture seems to look down upon those who do not stay. The monks who remain in the monastery, become priests and live as celibates for life; obviously the ones who leave do not. (As I said, I don’t know very much about Buddhist monastic life.)
However, it seems to me, in Roman Catholicism, the unofficial concept of a ‘temporary vocation’ may be similar to what Buddhists practice. I for one, entered monastic life, only to return to the lay state, as have many others I know. Each of us have a great reverence for monastic-contemplative life, and consider the months and years spent in the monastery the furthest thing from a waste of time, rather we view it as a period of tremendous grace, a time of formation for the rest of our lives.
I was reminded of these things today after receiving an email from my friend David with an attachment, an article from Commonweal written by a former Carthusian. I found it very interesting, and perhaps you will too. It can be found here.
I am intrigued and edified how some people remain monks, and others do not. For many years I felt guilty for leaving monastic life and yet I knew it wasn’t my call. It also amazes me that someone may stay for two decades and then leave… I once termed that as ‘abandoning one’s vocation’… however, I think it is an unfair judgment in most cases and I now doubt it can be considered in such a way. Having said that, what never changes for me is my belief that those who do persevere until death are very blessed indeed.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I haven’t read the article yet, but I like the name: Out of Great Silence (instead of Into Great Silence, the documentary).
Terry- I, too, felt guilty when I withdrew from my pursuit of religious life. I had so many people supporting me and enthused over entrance into the seminary that I had difficulty facing many of them after my change of heart. Nonetheless, I did the right thing. FORCING yourself into a life with standards that you are not ready for is setting yourself up for a scandal. I owed it to those who supported me, but above all to myself, to be honest with how I felt and disengage that undertaking.
It did, however, expose me to the process of discernment. How many people in life can say they’ve thought about, meditated, and prayed with great profundity, over an extened period of time, any one thing?
In this day and age, the question to some is laughable.
Even after my departure, however, I have gained an even greater appreciation for monks and their silentious saintliness. I respect those who left but tried, and a special place in my heart for those who tried and remain.
Good post.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I must admit that for a few minutes I was once intrigued by an Islamic practice, possibly restricted to Shiites only, whereby “temporary marriages” are possible, by the minute, by the hour, by the week, etc.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I really respect anyone who has the humility to admit something like that. It’s never fun achieving that virtue.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I, too, have enormous respect for the contemplative life and have spent nearly half of my life researching and writing about it; it is, however, a state to which one must be called. I have just as great respect for those who, like Terry, exhibit an honesty of soul which compels them to leave such a life upon discovering it is not their calling. In other words, those who seek God’s will and calling for their lives are to be commended, no matter where that calling leads.