A WORD ABOUT HOPE

At the core of our being,rooted deep within our soul,there is the knowing that we are indestructible.We have the hope of immortality,of life after death,which is an incentive for moral perfection.This inner knowing is hope and it is a stepping stone to the awakening of the soul.It is that still but restless voice inside you that beckons you to a higher/faster energy.In a sense,hope is the restoration of the appetite for life itself and all the bliss that accompanies a renunciation o the search for meaning and power in the material world.
_This is an excerpt from Wayne Dyer's book titled THERE 'S A SPIRITUAL SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM.

CALDOLESE BENEDICTINE MONASTERY IN BIG SUR

A few years ago, I visited Caldolese Benedictine Monastery in the high mountains of Big Sur,CA.The monastery is very remotely secluded and the drive up there is not for the faint hearted even with a seasoned driver.The skinny two way lane paved road and the steep ravines are dangerously winding which renders the drive challenging and scary.Once up there,you feel you have arrived in Heaven's Gate.The 360 view of the Pacific Ocean greets you with open arms .Everything is quiet ,you can almost hear a pin drop.There is not a sound you can hear except for the chirping of the birds.Silence,solitude and communing with nature is the order of the day.

Silence and Tranquility in Monasteries and Abbey Stays

There is a special experience staying in monasteries or an abbey.Most monasteries and abbeys are situated in secluded places sorrounded by nature which makes it conducive to reflections ,silence and oneness with your thoughts and with God.Very often,our lives are dictated by schedules ,things to do ,work and family that we forget how to stop and take time out.Life is not about chasing and meeting deadlines.There is a time for rest and quietness.Staying in monasteries and abbeys is a perfect antidote to our perfectly hurried and busy lives .In here, within the confines of monastery and abbey walls and the quietness of our souls ,we can find what life is all about.

ACCOMODATIONS IN AN ABBEY AND MONASTERIES IN FRANCE

There are several monasteries and abbeys in France that offers accomodations. An abbey can be small or castle like .Monasteries and abbeys are a great way to experience the local way of life and religious life.I stayed in Ganagobie Abbey in the South of France last summer.The abbey is about 60 kilometers north of Marseille.I stumbled on this awesome gem of an accomodation especially for a budget traveller like I am. My room had an awesome view of the Durance Valley.All Meals are served -breakfast ,lunch and dinner.Meals are home cooked and eaten in the dining hall in silence.Through the intercom in the dining hall, there is a live monk saying a lengthy prayer while the meals are eaten.Every guest is required to eat in silence.The monastery is perched on a hill overlooking the Durance Valley.The monastery is very peaceful and quiet.There are 14 monks living in the monastery.Frere Francois is the frere hotelier .Each guest have their own rooms .Even couples have separate rooms.The bathrooms are communal.