"Happiness is the highest spiritual practice." --

Before we talk about monasteries, or monks and nuns, let's first talk about artists, and art colonies. (continue reading here)

1. Casual (occasional) reader, browser (94% of the website traffic.)

2. Regular reader (6% of the traffic)

3. Occasional Peace and Joy Practitioner, Commentator
(1%-2% of the traffic: Testing out, playing with, engaging the H.M. M way of life, including reliance on the Basic Practice, the Freedom Exercise and the Peace Practice)

4. Part time monk, nun
Consciously aligning more and more of ordinary daily life with the monk’s and nun’s daily routines of peace and joy. Occasional personal training and e-mail dialogues with Bear Abbot and/or other practicing monks and nuns; invitation to local HMM events and gatherings; password to participate in communal on-line chats and forums with other practicing monks and nuns.
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5. Full time practicing monks, nuns
One who has made self-realization and/or living in peace and joy (and simple abundance) from morning to night a primary daily discipline, even more important than gaining fame, fortune and a buff bod. Regular personal training and e-mail and phone dialogues with Bear Abbot and other practicing monks and nuns; invitation to local HMM events and gatherings.

6. Teaching monk, Teaching nun
Openly, regularly teaching others how to live in peace and joy, first through daily personal example but also through leading formal and informal trainings.

7. Local abbot, abbess
Creating and leading local communities of like-minded people who are practicing peace and joy (registered HMM monks and nuns as well as those who resonate with this way.)

This structure is quite fluid, and changes in accordance with the needs of the monks and nuns who are using it to reconnect with their own natural un-born nature. You might want to next check out, “The Basics,” to see how we roll…

H.M.M. endeavors to be a “free for all” type of institution, supporting its modest budget through sales of intriguing books, cds and dvds either that we’ve produced or that we have found very useful and want to share with others. Mostly, however, it’s a volunteer gig, both in the teaching and the learning.

Please let us know of your interest by signing up for our RSS feed or simply e-mailing bear@heartmountainmonastery.com

Peace and prosperity to you…
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