Monastic Activism

Seemingly the greatest, and certainly the most common, objection raised against monks, is that the monastic life represents a retreat from worldly duties, and an abdication of social responsibility. In fact, this could not be further from the truth. On the contrary, while the monk does retreat to some extent from the mundane affairs of humanity, he or she does so only in order to wage a confrontation of far greater magnitude and importance.

By natural methods, worldly science has revealed knowledge concerning operations in nature which remain hidden from the naked eye and inaccessible to less sophisticated observation. In the same way, yet through supernatural methods, spiritual science has revealed wisdom concerning operations in supernature which remain hidden from the naked eye (as well as from the biologist's microscope) and inaccessible to less sophisticated observation.

For example:

The experiments of worldly science have shown how trees absorb carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the biological life of humanity, and, by a process of chemical transmutation, exude oxygen, which is healthful to it. In like manner, the experiments of spiritual science have shown how monks absorb demonic energies, which are harmful to the theological life of humanity, and, by a process of alchemical transmutation, exude angelic energies, which are healthful to it. By the testimony of worldly science, we know that trees are responsible for preserving the quality of the air upon which our bodies subsist. Likewise, by the testimony of spiritual science, we know that monks are responsible for preserving the quality of the spirit upon which our souls subsist.

A monk, sincerely and diligently active in the realms of spirit, transmuting, by his presence and effort there, all manner of foul energies, acts simultaneously like a great sponge, or vacuum, sucking up all that clouds and dirties the spiritual atmosphere of humankind, and like a great generator of spiritual warmth and light.

Although many activists in society believe they alone are confronting social ills directly, the fact is that they are merely chopping at the branches, and pruning the leaves, of evil in the world. The monks, engaged in spiritual warfare, are busy digging up the very roots.

Those with little or no comprehension of subtle (i.e. spiritual) energies must find this difficult to understand. Nonetheless, it is the case, and they would do well to consider it.