Tuesday, 2 February 2010

Too much of a bad thing...

Radio 4 on Monday there was a programme on new monastic living - people living in communes, monk-like living sort of thing. The contributors at one point had a long talk about renunciation - giving up things that could be seen as indulgent or selfish. The final word on the subject went to one scholar who remind us that too much renunciation could in fact be seen as a selfish act...It reminded me of that Monty Python sketch where four rich guys sit after dinner describing their poor beginnings 'We were so poor we ate gravel for breakfast' - trying to out do each other by exaggerating their deprived beginnings.

Maybe all the monks go about telling each other 'I've given up eating' 'Well I've given up using my eyes to see' 'Well see me I'm giving up breathing' 'How can I 'see you?! I've given up the use of my eyes...' etc etc etc

Bravely I've decided to avoid the risk of being selfish. I'm giving up nowt.

Tex

1 comment:

  1. "Had to get up in the morning at ten oclock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, have some cold poison, work twenty nine hours a day.." or something like that - Super funny :)

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