There's a monastery in every mind, a place to which one retreats for solitude and contemplation. Driving a familiar road or a passenger staring out the window, or pulling weeds or washing dishes, your monastery welcomes you and mirrors your mind.
-Charlotte Harris
History of the Unseen Monastery
The concept of the Unseen Monastery grew out of a discussion on UU Growth Lab Facebook group, created by Peter Bowden. It all began with a question posted by Lincoln William Statler, "What would a UU monastery look like?" Several replied about their vision of a "brick and mortar", "robes and vows" monastery. One included a link to "Abbey of the Arts" where I was introduced to the concept of a Monk in the World. Another included a link to the Virtual Monastery - a project of the UU Christian Network.
I had recently been to a Faith Formation 2020 workshop and was inspired by the value social media can play in helping people integrate spirituality in their daily lives. An idea began to form of an online community where people could explore and share these experiences, enrich their spiritual lives and still have a family, a job and the rest of their secular lives. It would, or course, be based on Unitarian Universalist theology.
Unitarian Universalism has, at its heart, a powerful, transformative message of love and acceptance drawn from the rich tapestry of religious expression. We embrace the spiritual experience as a partner to our critical mind in our search for sacred truths and nurturing community.
I had recently been to a Faith Formation 2020 workshop and was inspired by the value social media can play in helping people integrate spirituality in their daily lives. An idea began to form of an online community where people could explore and share these experiences, enrich their spiritual lives and still have a family, a job and the rest of their secular lives. It would, or course, be based on Unitarian Universalist theology.
Unitarian Universalism has, at its heart, a powerful, transformative message of love and acceptance drawn from the rich tapestry of religious expression. We embrace the spiritual experience as a partner to our critical mind in our search for sacred truths and nurturing community.