Learning to discover the treasure within you is the most worthwhile thing in the world. If you can put this into practice, you can live freshly, with a mind open like sky, always overflowing with compassion. What could be better than this?
*Daehaeng Sunim. No River to Cross: Trusting the Enlightenment That's Always Right Here.
Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them."
*Gospel of Luke 15.1-2 (CEV)
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The aged Abbot welcomed to the monastery those the church esteemed to be among the irreligious. He would often welcome such a person to sit with in the garden or lead such into his little cell for tea and conservation. He would spend hours talking with such men, sometimes even missing the set hours of community prayer. Even worse, said many, he would entertain women, including ill-reputed ones. He did give equal hospitality to men and women alike.
His reputation for doing this grew outside the monastery walls. This brought more such visitors. Also, his actions brought more concern from church leadership, who considered his openness to violate the sanctity of monastic life.
One of the young monks risked asking the Abbot about this. The risk was because the Abbot, usually a kind man, could be stern and impatient with some matters.
"Father," the monk spoke, "forgive me, but may I ask you a question?" After consent, the monk asked, "Father, why do you risk the reputation of our monastery and censure of the church by entertaining outsiders considered irreligious?"
The Abbot replied bluntly, "Son, a much greater risk than what you speak of is my not entertaining Christ when He comes to receive hospitality at this monastery."
"But," said the befuddled monk, "I've not seen Christ come to this monastery for hospitality."
"Then, my son," the Abbot spoke, "I pray that you will be able to see one day."
*Use of photography is allowed accompanied by credit given to Brian K. Wilcox and title and place of photograph.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
