about urban trappistry
Urban Trappists are rarer than standard Trappists. We share no communal grounds, no formal vows, not even a Wikipedia page (yet). Collectively, we don’t exist.
Except in spirit. I may be the sole brother to use the Urban Trappist moniker, but others are kindred in this alternative lifestyle (ooh, sounds deviant and hip!) Monastic visits are increasing in popularity, as many find the simple, thoughtful life a refreshing escape from metropolitan bustle. But I, as an Urban Trappist, try to fuse the seeming adversaries.
The primary life of a monastery comes in a Latin motto - ora et labora, prayer and work. This is, like my quest to live monastically in the city, a paradox whose reality is the essence of Trappist life, a mystery in the vein of the trinity - one God, yet three manifestations. At the core of ora et labora is the practice of the presence of God. The monks, through simple labors, transcend trivial thoughts so as to awaken spiritually. They use their focus on menial tasks to invite a greater awareness of God.
This is my ideal as I seek a career. Another word for it is vocation, rooted etymologically in “voice”, synonymous with “calling.” The pursuit of the young Urban Trappist is to hear his/her calling. Then, ora et labora will be achieved; the work will be prayer.
One crucial means to hearing this call is solitude. As an Introvert (yes, capital I), I naturally adore time alone. But as a Thinker (yes, capital T), I must surpass mere isolation and strive for contemplation. Simply shutting myself away is a waste of my greatest self-applied skill. Finding a refuge for contemplation is not always easy in the city, which is why I try to have roommates with real jobs so I can find quiet all day long. It’s also why I drink myself to the point of oblivion toward the rest of the world, a deep ritual among monks. (Maybe not, but they contribute to it; 6 Trappist monasteries in Europe brew to support their lives; all are considered elite beers.)
Ritual is the last crucial element to consider. Monks follow the Divine Hours, a set of meetings in which they chant Psalms and meditate on scripture. This is probably the most stereotypical image of a monk, wearing a robe and intoning something in Latin. They do use English now, sometimes. Through my monastic visits, I’ve understood the importance of ritual and have created a few. I had a certain pre-race routine, which helped transfer my mind from whatever I was musing before the warmup (probably which girls were looking good in their uniforms) into a complete focus on being a machine for a little under 2 minutes. I have certain rituals to get myself energized for a fun night out (usually assembling a ridiculous outfit - ridiculously good looking, of course) or before I sit down for one of my Tuesday night writing bazaars (dessert and beer, usually at a particular restaurant).
In sum, the Urban Trappist life is how I try to live mindfully in my current residential environment.