“to encourage one another to journey towards a life more in tune with the earth.”

I think that having a rule of life is definitely a good thing and a most excellent spiritual discipline. It is certainly worthwhile. Do you have a rule of life, whether it is written or unwritten? I have found myself drawn to the Franciscan way because of his positive celebration of creation and brotherhood with God’s natural world. The Franciscan’s rule is ‘to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, living in obedience, in poverty and in chastity.’

Thanks for this Brother Bliss.  It connects interestingly with the e-mail which came around from Earth Abbey desbribing the importance of rules, but hestitation to set them for the community lest the become oppresive.  There is a brilliant piece by Barry Shwartz on TED which suggests that rules are the opposite of wisdom and wisdon is what we need.  Check it out - http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html

Thank you for that link Monkey. I do like Schwartz’s appeal to ‘practical wisdom’ although I don’t think he was totally advocating throwing out the rule book, because he does stress the importance of rules. I think the crux of it was that rules and incentives when enforced are opposite to, and war against, improvisation and learning, what he interestingly called the war against wisdom. I did like his quote from Aristotle,

“Practical wisdom is the combination or moral will with moral skill”

It must be said that rules actually free us, keep us safe and enable us to work within a framework, I think this is quite important to bear in mind. Developing a personal rule of life is a good discipline, I remember reading a short introduction about this in David Runcorn’s Spiritual Workbook, and a bit more in Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline that was quite helpful.

“Rules ought not be like the planks which damn a river, but the oar which paddles the canoe.”

Hi Bliss

I think you’ve summarised Schwartz’s position well.  There’s a difference between me developing self-discipline and the whole society trying to function thorugh rules and incentives.  I’m still a bit suspcious of the monatic rule stuff though because too much of my Christian experience has involved overly directive leadership (Earth Abbey people excepted!)

What rules do you find helpful and how do they work for you?

Monkey

The monastic rule is quite strict and perhaps verging on the legalistic in its aesthetic pursuit. P’haps a hurdle with a bar too high. Committing to a life long vow is another part of monasticism which seems so at odds with the contemporary world, but I think that some of the values and principles lend themselves to Christian life and living. I do not have a written rule personally, but if I were to write one it would include things like: Simplicity, Honesty, Compassion, Hospitality and Social Responsibility.

I think when coming up with a rule of life it is about being aware of aspirational values based in reality which are important to you. This will of course be different for different people.

I do like this vision for a community rule of life…

… a movement of people helping one another to live more in tune with the earth. We work to promote:
A rich relational life between human beings
A compassion toward the earth and its creatures
A sense of interconnectedness of all life
Wisdom and justice in relationships
Human fulfilment and the nurture of the inner life
A way of living that leaves the earth better than we found it
Our inspiration derives from Jesus of Nazareth whose life and mission was to bring about a peace which embraces all creation.  We pursue a life-affirming, creative spirtuality that is open to all. EarthAbbey is more than a website. It is a movement of people and you are invited to join.