Meditations: On the Monk Who Dwells in Daily Life

by Thomas Moore

Expanding on themes from Care of the Soul and Soul Mates, the author suggests ways of finding spirituality and nurturing the soul and explains how monastic traditions can enhance our secular lives. 150,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Meditation, Christianity, Philosophy, Memoir

107 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1994

About the author

Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling book, Care of the Soul, Ageless Soul, and fifteen other books on deepening spirituality and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. He has been a monk, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, and today he lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. He lectures frequently in Ireland and has a special love of Irish culture. He has Ph.D. in religion from Syracuse University and has won several awards for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Lesley University and the Humanitarian Award from Einstein Medical School of Yeshiva University. He also has a B.A. in music from DePaul University, an M.A. in musicology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theology from the University of Windsor. He also writes fiction and music and often works with his wife, artist and yoga instructor, Hari Kirin. He writes regular columns for Resurgence and Spirituality & Health.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various essays involving reflections on monastic life, as well as observations about living a spiritual life.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a former monk who explains how we can bring the monk's life into our daily lives (other than the chastity factor, he certainly makes the life sound appealing.) A nice little guidebook for finding spirituality in every day events. My favorite passage is on page 10: monks tearing down an abbey so they can see the sun rise at dawn.

[J.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, good read. This is the third book by Thomas Moore I've read. He has solid insight into How to make secular life more soulful. Good stuff.

[Anne Kearns · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

written by a former monk on how to make secular life more “soulful.” the author used to be a monk and his experience shaped a lot of his views on life. interesting perspective on certain things.

didn’t agree with him on some things (obedience, soul centered vs God centered, celibacy, pleasure, ect)but overall he had some though provoking ideas and passages.

some main themes: contemplative life, prayer, monasticism, interior life, solitude, education/study

had funny anecdotes and jokes, as well as quotes

quotes i liked:

“At the sight of nothing, the soul rejoices”

“Education is an ‘education,’ a drawing out of one’s own genius, nature, and heart. The manifestation of one’s essence, the unfolding of one’s capacities, the revelation of one’s heretofore hidden possibilities - these are the goals of study from the point of view of the person. From the other side, study amplifies the speech and song of the world so that it’s more palpably present. Education in soul leads to the enchantment of the world and the attainment of self.”

“Tradition is often confused with institution, yet we could be guided by countless generations of ancestors without becoming oppressed by the words and structures they have left behind. We could be members of an institution without sacrificing our intelligence or our capacity to think and choose. Tradition is a pool of imagination, and not a basis for authority”

“When educators lose their compassion to principle, to ambition, and to competition, soul has once more been pulverized by a misplaced desire for success. When the individuality of the person is subjugated to general principles of the whole, the soul begins to fade. Principle, Futurity, and Totalitarianism take over. The most difficult lesson to learn about caring for the soul is that our best and most cherished ambitions are it’s worst enemy”

[Erwin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Moore’s Meditations dealt with a monk’s daily life. Moore was a monk before leaving the Servite Order founded in Italy in 1233. His book is a reflection of his experiences that he felt would be beneficial to Christians. Being a former Roman Catholic, who is married with a family, Moore’s meditations didn’t deal with his later life as an academic and father.
The author concentrated on the rules that governed his life as religious in the monastery. Being in a cloistered community he had a spiritual director, took the vow of poverty, and celibacy. There was time to read in the library, for having meals with fellow monks, a call for prayer in the chapel every morning with matins and vespers at night before bed time. Moore had an interest in music so included were meditations on music and chanting. He described his experience in the monastery as joyful, although he missed his family, and was withdrawn from the world. But he said there was a tendency towards being authoritarian by the prior. These meditations were however from his youthful experience while a monk. Readers looking for devotions about a monastic life would find this collection edifying.

[Twitchmatic · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one took me by surprise. Flipped it open in the bookstore and read one page. Seemed awesome so I bought it.

I don't know if it's the season I'm in, his style or if you have to be a Moore fan, but the rest of the book absolutely did not deliver. It wasn't sure what it was trying to be - biography? Advice? Daily meditation? Sage? Mystic? Everyman?

I'm pretty sure it's me. Did not finish the book.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore spent 12 years as a monk in a monastery, then left, married, and gradually began applying what he knew as a monk to the world outside the monastery. These meditations capture some of his reflections on spirituality, faith, silence, sexuality, community, and more. They are a beautiful connection of the monastic and the every day.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author brings together the sacred and secular in his reflections from over a decade living in monastic life.

Recommend reading a few a day over a week. Helpful to inspire the reader to dive into deeper spiritual writings and reflection.

[Pamela Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to make myself finish it

[Susan Iverson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"without a constant and intimate relationship with nature, divinity is not fully revealed"
so many contemplative gems in this compilation of meditations.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various bite-sized insights from a former monk....nice little read

[Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one that I would like to have on my bedside throughout my life. These concepts that I love and bring me back to centered are made simple in these meditations.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that gave me a lot to think about. Everyone should read this book, it's short, sweet, and simple. Moore conveys information with elegance and made this a very enjoyable read!

[Maryjane Nordgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating perspective

[JW van der Merwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! So much things to consider afresh! Absolutely great meditations with humour but also some serious truth to consider and actually to apply in your life. I do have a respect for the life of a monk through reading this book and one can clearly see the benefits of these people in a society by reading this book. The most valuable benefit for me is the spirituality that it gives through the publication of this kind of books. Thank you for writing this. I thought a lot of Thomas Merton in The seven storey mountain when I read it.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short collection of meditations from the time Moore lived as a monk. I find his books very congenial to my way of thinking, and though I am not of the Christian faith, I find his spiritual thinking dovetails nicely with my own beliefs. He is insightful and always looking behind the surface of things, and has great empathy, which I admire. This is a short work, but I found much in it of value.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meditations: On the Monk Who Dwells in Daily Life
Thomas Moore

Audiobook read by the author, obviously not THE Thomas Moore who died in 1852. Got over that one.

A cloistered life of meditation and even a vow of silence is no longer in vogue as evidenced by the mean age of those in Convents that are rapidly closing. Despite Benedict’s reactionary attempt to close the doors monks today live out Christ’s command to feed my sheep and do it unto the least of my brethren. This monk would seem to have abandoned his cell.

[Willie Greasham · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading a few spritual classics, I can see why some reviewers are counting Moore's work among them. His influence is the most subltest, but far reaching, all the while maintaining a unique,and refreshing point of view. A point of view, which,surprisingly, I can hear some of the greatest of poets- although his work are mainly in this and the another rich field of religion.

[Victoria Tishman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an agnostic I found myself surprisingly moved after reading about this former monks encounters with a world unknown. Highly recommend for anyone looking at intelligent self-help books and the secular upsides of meditation...

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this work. Particularly enjoyed listening to the audio format while driving to and from pastoral calls at the hospital in Idaho Falls.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it. I would like to own it one day.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I think it was all over the map and I like books that have more structure.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright; some good little snacks for thought for you to take home.