“Could You Be a Monk or a Nun?”

After hearing the stories of many monks over the last few years, I find it interesting that most of them never wanted to become a monk in the first place. Are you a monk or a nun deep down inside?
3 True Stories of Different People Becoming Monks

1 - The Punk Rocker - One was a punk rocker and he was doing drugs and had lost his way. But all his life he had huge questions about life and does God exist. In fact, when he was young he didn’t even believe in God. But after being in a band in London for many years he was lost… not lost in the physical sense but he felt like he was losing his way and didn’t have a purpose. And so a good friend said, “Get Married, Have Kids and You Will Find Your Way” but he knew better than to base his life on someone else.

And he was reading the paper and noticed there was an article about some monks and he decided to investigate. And 30 years later he is still a monk. At first, he did not believe in God, but as time went on and he was in silence for long periods of time he could finally hear God’s voice speaking to him. Before God’s voice was drowned out by all the loud noise and life itself. And now he would never think of being anything else… he loves being a monk.

2 - The Doctor - Another monk early in life was studying to be a doctor. And he graduated the head of his class and became a gynecologist and started his practice. But it soon became apparent that he did not have the hand-eye coordination to be a doctor so he hung up his stethoscope and white coat. But deep down inside he always had a deep longing to be a farmer and watch things grow. And when we heard that a monastery was looking for a monk who was interested in taking over their farm he signed on.

And it was easy, he only had to go to mass once a week and the rest of the time he was either chanting, working, meditating, or doing contemplation. But eventually, he started moving closer and closer to God. And 42 years later he is still a monk and now he can’t even fathom being anything else. He loves the solitude, his ability to be close to nature, and being close to God.

3 - The College Graduate - And then there is a young man who had a regular upbringing and went to high school and went to college. In college he met a young lady and they fell in love, but soon she broke up with him and he was heartbroken. Then he ended up graduating from college, but he was searching. Searching for something more, something that made him feel whole and give meaning to life. And a friend mentioned about being a monk and talked about a monastery that was not far away.

So he checked it out, and he took all the classes he needed… and when they asked him if he believed in God he said “NO”. But he still went forward and started taking care of all the books at the monastery, repairing them, photographing them and much more. And over the years of sitting in meditation, contemplation, working, singing, and chanting, he grew closer and closer to God. This was not something that happened ove
ight… it took years. But now he loves the silence and loves the connection he has with all the other monks, and most of all his growing connection with God. And 25 years later he can’t see himself doing anything else.

So What About You?

Are You Searching?

Could you be a monk or a nun?

Many Blessings to Everyone!

Dr. Paul Haider