i agree with mike...there is a confusion here...feeding the needy and those who seek enlightenment...merle
Merle, I don't know what you disagree with, Merle. I think you simply do not understand the history, because the history of those monasteries is not your history. It's OK not to understand the mission of the old monasteries. But they *had* a Mission. Trust me, that they were NOT feeding-stations or soup kitchens: their mission was to save people by enlightening them, and then sending them out afterwards to enlighten others. Residency might take 20 or 30 years, so it was a BIG commitment to take any guy or gal in. Resources were always extremely tight, like a starvation-diet for each monk or nun, even at places that did their own farming. They were located mostly on high mountains, and growing seasons were SHORT! Postulants who did not cut the mustard were sent home to their families, out of all Compassion. A win-win! --Joe > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > joe..disagree..goes against the grain of what i believe..everyone is welcomed > says my doormat... > although saying that i have a locked gate here..with beware of the savage dog > sign... > christ would not approve of turning folk away either.. merle
