The Case for the Solitary Life and Solitude

 

 

For too long now the time-honored concepts of strict monastic life endured in isolated and secluded monasteries have become somewhat hazy figments of a past long gone and best forgotten.  The world has seemingly changed too much for those age-old practices to be continued and acknowledged as relevant and even appropriate.  What used to be such a laudable but very selective way of living a life has been set aside on the wayside, along the road to oblivion. This is true, if we have to admit it, for the most of us including those who still consider themselves quite religious and strict practitioners of their faith. 

Oh, there are still hardy bands of ardent adherents in some cloistered enclaves belonging to a few obscure religious orders who still practice old-time and challenging asceticism.  But they are largely though unwittingly ignored together with the other abbreviated practices devoted to them and intended to remind us of them.  Take for example the extended or closed retreats which were designed to accord laymen a foretaste of that kind of a dedicated life.  These used to be quite common during our school years.

So has the way to salvation been changed, revamped to attune to changed conditions?  Christianity has survived all these years, and takes pride in having kept intact and hardly changed the standards and precepts, the morals and ethics, the philosophy and natural laws, etc., that all have set it apart from all else.

But modern man has to put his nose to the grind and determine for himself what gives.  Best then to reexamine those old, staid and steadfast teachings we learned from the faith that has survived all these years.

In the subject then of solitude and the living of a solitary life, we begin the exercise of examination.

Are these admonitions still apt and relevance for our modern days?

As we begin our life journey on this earth, the first important impression we are given is that as a daily routine, we ought to set aside time and attention to focus on the benefits of God, and pushing aside all concerns and curiosities.  Better if we do this to begin the day and another one to end it.    In school, we learned this as our daily examination of conscience. A daily routine to be adhered to with no let-up and exception. So is this as true today as before?

Then the more detailed admonitions begin.

If you must have to read as to be informed, read matters that move thee to compunction, rather than occupation.  Because when we decide to withdraw from superfluous talks and idle visits, as well as all the news and reports that occupy our day, then we allow ourselves more time to devote to meditations.  The greatest saints practiced these, avoiding as much as possible the company of men, and choosing to live in the company of God in secret.  This they did learning that it is easier to be altogether silent than not to exceed in words when we talk long.  To stay alone and retired is much easier task than to constantly be on guard with ourselves when abroad.   John the evangelist counsels that for the followers of Christ, those aiming at arriving at interior and spiritual things must go aside from the crowd as He did.

“No man is secure in appearing abroad, but he would wittingly lie hid at home.”

“No man securely speaks but he who loves to hold his peace.”

“No man securely governs but he who would willingly live in subjection.”

“No man securely commands but he who has learned well to obey.”

“No man securely rejoiceth unless he has within him the testimony of a good conscience.”

Here is another we were taught from the Psalms IV:5.” Have compunction in thy chambers.”  Thus, if you would find compunction in your heart, retire into thy cell and shut out the tumult of the world.  Thus you shall find in thy cell what you shall often lose abroad.

Further we learn that that claustrophobic cell as we visit it often becomes welcoming and grows sweet, and will not stay tedious and distasteful for long.  Thus, later it becomes a friend, a haven to retire to when travails assail us.  In silence and quiet, we learn the secrets of our faith to guide us.

“There she finds floods of tears, with which she may wash and cleanse herself every night, that she may become the more familiar with her Maker, the farther she lives from all worldly tumult.” (Psalms VI)

From this fountainhead flows the valuable knowledge and wisdom we learn from the temporal things we encounter each day.

Thus, why do we desire or see the things that we cannot have, for “the world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof”.

The very strong urges of sensuality push us abroad, but what do they bring back home when the time comes?   Only heavy weight on conscience and dissipation of heart.

As they say, “a joyful going abroad often brings forth, a sorrowful coming home; and a merry evening makes a sad morning”.

So, man, the ball is in your court.

 

 

The Case for Social Interaction

A wise man once said  "As often as I have been among men, I have returned home a lesser man."(Seneca, Epist. VII)

A little review may enlighten us more about this quoted admonition.  An admonition that has hounded my personal efforts at improvement all these years.  The reason being that indeed I have noticed that the more I go out of myself and associate with other people, especially for reasons other than for worship or to commemorate or memorialize somber events like wakes or other milestones, I return to myself feeling lesser than the man that I was.  That those occasions have instead contributed to the loss of composure and focus on the things that count.

A time of earnest introspection has then become necessary to make careful assessment or needful repair caused by those unintended lapses, and which I now regularly adhere to.  As a matter of fact, before attending to such likely events if I really have to, I have had to prepare and condition my mind, heart, and efforts, so as not to lose my focus and resolves.

Social interaction has been a deep-rooted part of human nature, and as such it has greatly advanced over the years, so keenly evolved that man now finds it almost second nature.  Many now believe that he has to continually partake of it to live a committed and fulfilled life. We are conditioned to believe that it is in the company of other people that we find our way and salvation.

But referring to our timeless design we are taught that this is not the case.  While indeed it is a critical fragment of human nature, it is supposed to be practiced only if in so doing man himself derives benefits from it.  That is its intended design.  As a tool for man to use for his own salvation and to fulfill his deliverance.  The subject of abuse or over-use then could apply.

We have to learn to navigate through them, and the ways are legion, to find which are beneficial and which would be avoidable occasions that could work against one’s own spirituality. 

Community worship clearly is on example of voluntary gathering where people come together for commendable and inspired causes.  Christ himself had declared that where two or more of his devotees gather together in prayer He will be in their midst.   Thus, even during these pandemic times this community practice ought not be curtailed and ways should be explored where the faithful can continue with their faith practices and worship.

A lot of other coming together events however partake of pleasure and entertainment, and yes, mollifying relief, for the masses, like sports events, live entertainment, or the ever popular gatherings for gustatory delights, or even leisure travel.  These are clearly voluntary social interaction events that could work to the detriment of one’s inner peace and desired solitude.  While they provide temporary relief from our everyday lives of boring routines and the attention to ubiquitous problems of modern life, they could also open up to possibilities of over-use to the point of satiation or ennui.  

This is what is addressed by that admonition about gathering together.  It targets at being discriminating about which ones could work against one’s own salvation.

One Of A Kind: Presidency of Trump

Last night prior to sleep, something I had viewed earlier triggered my still-humming mind to revisit the US 2016 presidential election which highlighted to the world the almost-impossible win of Trump against the overwhelming forces of his competitor, the latter exhibiting overpowering favorable odds in the political and financial spheres.  So compelling nobody even thought Trump could win, but win he did.

Anyway, just realized that more than what we know was stacked against Trump, we need to add the entire machinery of the vaunted US intelligence community, plus the premier law enforcement agency (the FBI), which both we are slowly and grudgingly learning, were weaponized and unleashed against Trump, not only during the hotly-contested campaign, but even through the years of his administration.

Yet he still stands.  And if we are a people of faith, we have to believe that some unknown but unrelenting force must be behind Trump to enable him to surmount all the challenges he has been through and which he continues to face.  It has to come to this for us, how else to explain this phenomenon.

But looking at him, I do see unmistakable signs of the stresses that he must be going through.  He now looks hunched and looking physically older, which not even a heavily-padded suit could hide.

So I just hope that he is able to survive these next few months until the November reelection vote, against the monstrous array, which has displayed no limits and boundaries, lined up against him, with definitely redoubled efforts and resources to guarantee the last result is not repeated.

If he has survived because he has been singularly blest by the forces of righteousness, again people of faith have to hopefully entreat that Trump does not disappoint by not making it to the finish line.  Yes, and that would be after the election and his win.  I am confident the steady and hardy VP he has chosen is sufficiently equipped to carry on with his legacy if there needs be.

But he needs to win again.  So the virtuous things wrought will not all be for naught.

In this contest we know exactly what the other side is against.  They are collectively against Trump and what he represents, and the loathing is very palpable.  But what are they for?

Based on what Trump and his administration has done and continues to do, we know exactly what he stands for.  He is pro-Life.  Pro-God. Pro-Religion. Pro-Police.  Pro-Military.  For peace and order.  For economic progress for all.  For fair trade and commerce.   Etc.  What else?

Some Thoughts on Social Media Giant Facebook

Facebook creates a world to its own.  It has its own unique citizens, its own iron-clad rules and standards, and, yes, its own indubitable chaos and confusion, just like in the real world.  And akin to it, I too regularly travel through it and observe the many happenings in it.

Like the real world, many citizens there are respectably reticent, timidly reserved, too kind to a fault, etc. while just as many are quite noisily vocal, infinitely categorical, steadfastly judgmental, godly self-righteous about their own perceived attitudes or opinions of events being played out in this burgeoning virtual world.

 

Thus we listen to the boisterous cacophony of declarations about how bad and greedy this woman is for what she had done, how corrupt or how untainted certain politicians are, how unfair certain actions or laws are, etc...   All this prior to the truths about them being unraveled and declared before the entire world.

Of course, all the citizens who passed judgment cannot all be wrong, but neither can they all be right.

I wonder then what happens next, when they are proved wrong.  I know if proved right, they could gloat and declare, yeah, I told you so.  Or simply be quiet about it, and maybe say a prayer or two in hope of some things good coming out of it.

But again, what happens when we are proved wrong?

Do we look back and make amends, or at the very least apologize? Remember we have thrown bad thoughts out there, words that will perpetually reside in that ether easily accessible to be recalled at any time.  Hurts and smears inflicted that may forever traumatize and haunt those they were directed against.

A good question to ponder.  Maybe even for any and all untoward, or maybe just a bit unkind or unflattering, statements we have directed against somebody who is more than just one listed as our “Friends” on FB.

Mea Maxima Culpa.

Law Enforcement and the Military in the US

I have long known that many of our FilAm compatriots are quite active politically, with some quite vocal about their political leanings in their new homeland.

As further information to be sifted in arriving at more-rounded political decisions, I have also long harbored the idea of suggesting to them the unusual request as hypothesized below.

Two very dominant sectors in American society are the law enforcement community and the military hierarchy and their command.  Beyond anything else, entry in both sectors is voluntary since all the members signed up on their own volition.  And the typical and primary reason for joining these organizations with very hazardous tasks has been the ardent desire to serve the country and the people, by providing and maintaining peace and security.  Everything else appears secondary.  So we can surmise that we have there a good number of hardy and patriotic citizens, with the best interests of the country in their hearts and minds 

These are big sectors, the military comprising of about 1.5 million people from active and reserve categories, and law enforcement totaling about 700K members.  All in their productive years and prime voters, so forming quite a formidable constituency.  And it will be noted many from the military cross over to law enforcement

All of them under the strict control and command of the highest executive officer of the political unit they belong to, whether the mayor of the city, the governor of the state, or the president of the country.  They are all necessary tools of the executive department of the political unit in the discharge of its duties, and as such needless to say, they have to be above politics, especially partisan politics.  They cannot be otherwise given the very sensitive relationship they possess with the corresponding city executive.

Still we are sure deep down, they do have their political ideologies and their choices of candidates that best exemplify their noblest goals.  Choices we surmise informed by their intimate contacts or interaction with their executive leaders.

One wonders then how many of our compatriots have family members, or other relatives, or simply close acquaintances who are connected or may have previously served under any of the two groups?  It would be nice to suggest to them to find out from them what and how they feel about the current politics.  They could be reticent about it given its delicate nature, but one is confident that the conversation being premised in confidence, they would be coaxed into revealing their thoughts.

It would be quite revealing to find out what the results are, and maybe quite divergent from the pictures mainstream media has been painting.

No rush.  But do try to find out.   And ask clarifying questions about their choices.