Because we are hermits, each person in the community follows a personal rule of life as well as the community rule. We recommend that anyone who aspires to live a contemplative life create their own personal rule. This will be different for each person, but here are some suggestions for elements that it could include:
- A commitment to a period of silent prayer every day
- A simplification of lifestyle
- A commitment to live life deliberately, creatively, passionately and as naturally as possible
- A period of solitude on a daily basis, and longer periods on a weekly and monthly basis
- Regular physical exercise
One’s overall lifestyle could include:
- a spirit of celebration, especially on the Sabbath and special days
- conscious choices around eating simply, in particular during seasons like Lent or before major decisions
- a spirit of wonder and receptive gratitude for everything
- resistance to grasping at reality, controlling or competing with others, or defending oneself
- regular retreats
- taking responsibility for the future of the planet in concrete, active ways, thinking globally and acting locally
- engaging with society, taking personal responsibility to uplift the world, help the marginalized, and to care for and encourage
- A sturdy intellectual life: thinking deeply and clearly, using stretching the mind and humbly giving way to truth
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