'Ot!

One example of experience of aloneness I can give is being in relationship with God in contemplation at all times. I was taught that every individual longs to be in a higher state, and that state is not necessarily to be an ecstatic life but having a simple joy in the heart that also gives meaning in life. Childhood stage is a “self-centered” world, followed by an adult’s “seeking-others” relationship; but more than that, there is a self, seeking for a greater realm of life: transcendence. Moreover, we were taught that longing for God alone and having an intimate relationship with God is through aloneness. Aloneness is a state of life with honesty, faithfulness, and simplicity… is already a God-seeking life without human mediation. I don’t see it as an individualistic attitude of a person who vowed to be alone in life for it is also a life that seeks transcendence through other people since aloneness is an inner structure of life. But unlike married people who share a mutual relationship with each other, and which is a very common state of life, a celibate person responds to the immediate call to be at the liminal, who lives at the edge of the society. Although everybody is called to a holy life, being a religious is linked to every community where he or she belongs. Through other people, aloneness is more appreciated for what it is rather than what it does. This is a new insight for me.

In the blogging community and circle of friends, I find hard times to explain the state of life I am engaged with since being a religious brother who vowed not to marry and possesses property is a vague idea for many who do not understand what a “religious” means. But being part of the society, aloneness is giving a contrast and let the curious people seek what it means to be alone yet happy and lesser hang ups in life. While the technology is getting complicated and makes life easier, there is also a difficulty at the same time to live a simple and joyful life. Many of the youth today according to a survey about how happy and contended the new generations, are having much questions even in terms of relationship and identity. The world is getting more noisy, in and out of every individual. Yet being in the state of life that seeks for God without human interventions, the monks, nuns and people who vowed to be religious more or less, finds consolation to their experiences with the transcendent as they constantly seek for their significance in the community in the world, not separated from the local communities where they belong. One moment of aloneness with the Lord I have at this moment is sitting in contentment in the balcony while sipping a mug of tea, contemplating the end of the day, giving thanks for all the experiences I had today.