Being A Monk in the World
(Courtesy: Amazon.com)
I rarely pick up and read a book from cover to cover. I lose interest, I get sleepy when I read for more than five minutes… it just never works out. So it only makes sense that when I begin and finish a book, I feel like sharing it with everyone!
Yesterday I finished A Monk in the World: Cultivating a Spiritual Life by Wayne Teasdale. I was drawn to the book after NBA legend Phil Jackson recommended it as a book every spiritual person should read:
“To tap into the sacred in work as well as in life, it’s essential to create order out of chaos…And that takes discipline, a healthy balance between work and play, and nourishment of mind, body, and spirit within the context of community.”
As you know, Justin’s Jobs is about finding meaningful work that makes you happy and feeds your soul. In looking for wisdom about this mission, A Monk in the World proved to be a great resource.
“Work is holy, sacred, and uplifting when it springs from who we are, when it bears a relationship to our unfolding journey.” — Wayne Teasdale
The book touches on a lot of different subjects, but I was most drawn to his experience as a Catholic monk and his practice of bringing compassion and happiness to the world, no matter where you are.
We all have hectic lives… work, children, meetings, commitments. It’s tough to make time for ourselves, let alone relax and rest. Even when things are going well, we still need to take time to reflect and renew our mission to helping others and helping ourselves.
If you read A Monk in the World, then please share your thoughts about it… I’d like to know what you think!
(h/t Oprah.com)
JUSTIN BURTON, MBA 