Waging a War against Oneself

I write this article as a Christian theologian working in higher education who has become fascinated with how the teachings and spiritual guidance contained in the writings of members of early monastic communities (both Christian and Buddhist) have much to offer contemporary culture. What such communities sought above all else was a balance between work, leisure and contemplation. Their creative integration of the active and contemplative modalities of being ensured that they were able to live a life of watchfulness and alertness towards those thoughts and ‘passions’ which invaded the stillness and equilibrium of the heart and mind.1 Their disciplined lifestyle was able to ensure that the heart was protected, as far as possible, from unhelpful disturbances and thus they were able to live a life of relative freedom. In other words, their inner life as spiritual beings was looked after and given due regard. This, of course, was associated with their religious understanding of the meaning and purpose of human life, rooted in a metaphysical conception of the universe and a belief that human flourishing was to be found in a relationship with the divine, but their concerns seem uncannily parallel to many modern ones with their continued emphasis on ensuring health and well-being, even if they are stripped of any traces of religious language and significance.