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Some thoughts for the new year - "To live in the moment since all else is an extension of your imagination"

We are asked often what is the driving philosophy of the Pizzaonian Monasteries. Many would think we would have a ready answer, but we don’t. 

Here in Pizzaonia we have become wary of packaged philosophies and mission statements. They seem to become like stale bread in a very short time. 

For us the reason is simple and obvious.  Change is about us everywhere. In us, in our neighbors, in the very nature we exist in and share with all things.

The minute we have a philosophy the reason for bringing it into being has already begun to change. 

We are all standing on quicksand and the sooner we can muster the courage to accept this fact the sooner we begin to live realistic lives. 

Many challenge this notion by reminding us that our position is an invitation to chaos.  We agree with our critics, but this does not change the fact. 

We are stuck in a dynamic and changing culture, galaxy, and universe.  All life is in flux and we are like the drops of water in the river moving with the current. 

For many this is a despairing position and becomes intolerable.  At first, this can be true, but it is also liberating.  Facing a subjective reality has that virtue, and for Pizzaonians this is the defining concept of our existentialism. 

The nature of all pizzaonian existentialist thought is to face a subjective reality and let it bring its consequences.  The very uncertainty of all things is the quicksand and power of existentialism.  The Pizzaonian code for accepting life revolves around this one essential fact. 

Then what is the purpose of the Pizzaonian mission and its monasteries and sundry affiliations?  Simply this: To evolve toward a perfect union – a familiar phase borrowed and modified from the American constitution. 

However, we carry its meaning beyond its original intent. We apply its meaning to all things including our personal relationships, our everyday activity and to our national aspirations.  

We use these words as the yardstick by which we measure all that we do – always uncertain, but united always in faith, not fact, that we are all evolving toward a more perfect union.

For those who need certainty and sure proof for what they believe, Pizzaonia is not your place. But, for those who seek a community where who and what you are will be allowed to exist as you find your way through this uncertain life – we are the place for you. 

The uncertainty of reality eventually becomes the uncertainty of certainty.*

*A saying posted over the entranceway of our chapel.

 

Brother Giovanni

We also recommend -"The Pizzaonian"

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Some thoughts for the New Year - Celebrate your life! - Embrace the gift of Celebration

 
"We become what we celebrate." Matthew Kelly

 

Some quotes you read have an immediate impact on you. The above quote, a chapter title from a Matthew Kelly book, is that type of quote.

 

To be able to celebrate life is a profound gift that is given to all of us.  Unfortunately, many of us lose this insight. To celebrate life, and in particular your life, is the key to having hope, and eventually a love for living that comes by embracing the gift of celebration.

 

Easy to say, of course.  Hard to do, it goes without saying.  Nevertheless, it does not dimnish the power of celebrating your life.

 

To do so is to say yes to your being, no matter what your troubles are, no matter the despair that might exist in this often tragic life, you say yes to your life and its meaning.  This is the strongest statement you can make to bring the love and hope we all yearn for to come into being.

 

So regardless of where you find yourself when you read this: Celebrate your life.  It is never too late. Focus on the good things you have done, consider what you still can do to make things better, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.  This is your road to hope, meaning and fulfillment.

 

Celebrate your life!     Brother Giovanni

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And never forget --- life is always a matter of willingness rather than will.

 
The need to take credit for what we do is an obstacle to being whole. 

 

We are given so many gifts that make us the person we are and were meant to be; and yet it is hard to accept these gifts since we had little to do with them being there.

 

We would rather struggle against the darkness trying to be something we are not.  Then we can claim whatever result as our own.  This is why so much success is never satisfying.  No matter how much we accomplish it has no relationship to who we really are and who we were meant to be.

 

We always remain wanting and never fully understand why.  The most difficult act in life is to accept willingly with gratitude, the gift of our being, as we are, in all of its wonder and glory.

 

When we realize and embrace who we are is all we need -  then and only then are we ready to embrace life for all that it is. 

 

And never forget --- life is always a matter of willingness rather than will.

 

Brother Giovanni

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DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

 

 As our world becomes more complicated I hear the phrase. “don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.”

 

This platitude has gained in popularity as each day  becomes more demanding.  While this statement at first glance has the ring of truth, you soon realize it is wrong.

 

The simple truth:  It is a collection of small stuff that eventually gets you.  As most of us have learned small stuff unattended soon becomes big stuff, if not individually, then collectively.

 

Small stuff falls into at least three categories.  One, small stuff is the beginning of big stuff; two, the same small stuff repeating itself often is a symptom of an underlying problem that needs to be resolved; and, three, it is really small stuff.

 

So the fact it is small stuff is not the issue.  What is at issue is your judgment and how you perceive the small stuff when it first appears.  And finally, what you do about it when it appears.

 

Brother Giovanni

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We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

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PIZZAONIAN FOLKLORE, For young and old alike

 "Blue perspectives" by Pizzaonian painter, Avelino Perspectoli
 
 

“Bad day? Remember out of the mud grows the lotus.  Just focus on the lotus and see how fast things change.”  Pizzaonian cave dweller

 

"When you can welcome the absurd with a smile you have moved one step closer to accepting your humanity." Supreme Pizzaonian

  

“To see the profound and the absurd coexisting in all human activity is to see God’s sense of humor at work.” Pizzaonian Book of Wisdom

 

“If your life begins to feel like you are in a Woody Allen movie perhaps you should rethink what you are doing.” Pizzaonian folklore

 

“How exciting are your dreams? Most people don’t aim too high and miss, they aim too low and hit.” Bob Moawad

 

“The wise person knows the good life is about making trades. What you give up may be more important than what you are receiving.”  Franco

 

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

 

 

 

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Deer grazing at sunset. Meadows adjacent to Monastery

 

 

The monastery is on its holiday schedule to honor the beginning of this sacred time.  Brother Giovanni has asked that during this period, we post reflections from the "Pizzaonian Reflections and Mediations for a New Time" written for our novitiate monks.  What follows is the first reflection given to our new monks:

 

On Beginning your Journey

 

The world or its people will leave its imprint on you. We are the sum total of our experiences and they have left their psychological mark.  Make no mistake about it; it is as true as the coming of death.  The question is what to do about it? First recognize it.  To face this reality with clear and determined purpose is the first step to freedom.

 

Facing the demon will require facing some very uncomfortable truths about yourself  that are very difficult to resolve.  If you believe you are an independent person, it will be even more difficult when you discover that the yoke of this imprint is much stronger than you ever imagined.  This realization will create some self doubt since you believed that you were free from issues that you thought long ago resolved.

 

The next realization is the beginning of strong emotional feelings that begin to reveal the depths of your denial about basic elemental truths about your true feelings – feelings that you thought resolved a long time ago. For a mature person that has not had to deal with deep seated  emotions on this level for a very long time, this can be a roller coaster ride unlike any you have been on before.

 

First the good news:  To have this question and process show itself in your life at this point probably means that you are at the beginning of a new re-birthing  process that can only change you for the good.

 

The bad news is for the good to happen you are going to face some very difficult and trying moments that can bring you down into the depths of despair.  However, if they are faced with determination and courage that self discovery requires, the difficult times will be overcome and you will find yourself at the beginning of a new and exciting creative period in you life.

 

What will your choice be?  Life or death?   Let’s not confuse this death with physical death; however, that might be easier to deal with.  This death is the emotional death of yourself and your special gift that the world will never see because the courage to live it was never obtained.

 

If you live a long life and denied the calling of your gift, and you have time to reflect on this at the end, you realize that a life is defined by quality not quantity. And at the very end, unless you resolve these fundamental truths about yourself - when there is no time to do anything else but die, you will find the true meaning of despair.

 

However, if you choose truth, no explanation is necessary. You have discovered the meaning for your life. Good luck in your journey. 

 

 

Brother Franco

 

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We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

 

 

 

 

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Fact or Myth? - The relevance of being Christian

 

The most difficult concept to accept emotionally as a Christian is the need for relevance.  We live in a culture where we feel the constant need to make a difference, to be relevant and to find meaning.

 

 

As a Christian, certainly not one as often described from a modern, secular church perspective, but more from the authentic vision of the itinerant carpenter that we choose to worship, we are as heirs to the kingdom, already as relevant as we need to be.

 

 

Now this is difficult to accept emotionally, from the perspective of self, and from the perspective of how we choose to see everyone else in the world.  Because if I am relevant simply by being, so is everyone else.  And by everyone, it means everyone, from the homeless beggar to the President. Now where does that leave us?  I believe as equals, regardless of position or station.  And this is where the trouble begins.

 

 

Most of us are agreeable to the notion that we are equals in a spiritual way.  But equally relevant in this world, I think not. Judging from the state of Christianity today, I think somehow we have missed the central Christian point of equal relevance for all.

 

 

Which leads to another issue and that is the question of how important is Jesus in today’s world.  To paraphrase Andrew Greeley from his book, the Jesus Myth,  if Jesus is not relevant to society at large today it is nothing new.  After all, Jesus was not very relevant to the society he lived in.  They did crucify him as a common criminal.

 

 

So somewhere along the way the notion of relevance and meaning, as defined from the original Christian perspective, became seriously perverted.  It has been said many times, the Good News is simply too good to believed. 

 

 

The idea that to love your God and to love your neighbor as yourself takes care of everything else, including making your life immediately relevant and meaningful, is too simplistic and difficult for most of us to be real.  Then again, how would we know? Judging from the state of the world most of us have never tried it.

 

Brother Giovanni

 

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We also recommned: "The Pizzaonian."

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When you are faced with the clear and uncompromising truth that your religious convictions cannot be rationally proven you are confronted with the existential dilemma to continue to believe or not believe.

I suspect that much of the defensive, vocal fervor you hear from people of faith when confronted by the reality of what faith is derived from the fact that the irrationality of what they believe has never been consciously faced

If so, they have never experienced the wonder of what faith can be.  No one can experience the fullness of their faith until the reality of its irrationality has been resolved. This might explain why so few believers are able to create the effect on the world that their religious traditions demand from them.  In fact, the consequences of their actions are often more negative than positive.

How do you resolve this dilemma? Can you base a life directing decision on intuitive deduction? First, you have to find a rational, empirical method of deduction that will satisfy you. Moreover, you have to accept the reality that the method that may satisfy - you may not satisfy anyone else.   

Key to this process is the reasonable assumption that many things exist which cannot be proven with our current level of knowledge. We know what we accept today as scientific proof was originally theoretical assumption.   

With that as a given, we can continue to explore the basis for why we accept our faith as a belief system.

Brother Franco

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"Spirituality" - We hear this word used a lot these days

Image by Mikali - Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator - Reality - Where the ocean kisses the land

 

Today trying to figure out what people mean by the term “spirituality” is difficult

We can no longer assume what a person is when they are described as spiritual. It can mean anything from a belief in their inner self to a self-described sense of personal transcendence – none of these descriptions necessarily mean they believe in a Divinity.

As for me, since I no longer know what the term means, what do I do about it? And, do I really care?

Perhaps I should care since this description carries several implied meanings not the least of which is “integrity.” Does this mean that when I meet a spiritual person that I would be more inclined to trust them automatically? I suspect for me it does.

For me when I hear the word spirituality being used to describe someone, I assume they believe in some sort of transcendence beyond themselves. I also assume that to some degree they are less worldly and inclined to put spiritual matters first. I am aware that I am making assumptions

And that is the point of this short musing.  How many times do I base decisions on pure assumption and little else? Obviously, I do - many times.

Does this mean I should be less trusting and not be inclined to make snap judgements?  Perhaps it should.  But it does come at a cost.  For one I will be more cautious in our relationships.  Is that good?  I will leave the answer to you.

As for me I would rather be trusting.  I don’t want to be considered naïve, but I will take my chances on most people being trustworthy.  Will I get hurt from time to time? Obviously the answer is yes.  Even so, having thought it out, I will take my chances.

Till next time,

Brother  Franco

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 "Symbols of Pizzaonian justice" Pizzaonian cave drawing Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator

 Dear Pizzaonians, to all present here and in spirit......

 

Have you ever started out a day intending not to feel or act stupid?  It seems that no matter how well intended your intention may be, alas the moment of feeling or acting stupid arrives.  Feel familiar?

 

At issue here is no matter how secure or confident we may think we are, there seems always to be lurking a vague hint of insecurity ready to grab our consciousness.  I say “our consciousness” because not to occasionally feel this way is to miss a real opportunity to experience a very real, human moment. 

 

At the core of this experience is the mature and final realization that being human in our present form is to know that we are not quite complete.  I suspect this is because as long as we are in this life we are always becoming; we finally have to accept the notion that perfection will never be ours.

 

What then are we to do about it? - actually nothing, other than to fully accept and embrace our humanity.  So much of contentment is in the ability to accept what is. Unfortunately, this runs against the grain of what the modern and very individual person of today is supposed to accept. 

 

After all, are we not always supposed to be “reaching for the stars?”  We would all have been better off if someone had taught us to enjoy contemplating the stars rather than reaching for them.

 

When we think about the gifts we have been given; that is what we do naturally and usually very well, we always proceed to the next thought:   how hard we had to work to achieve what we do well. 

 

This is the great lie we have to confront:  “that we have to work hard to do well.”  In fact all we have to do to do well is to do what we do well.  The rest takes care of itself.

 

Now I am not suggesting that we do not need to educate ourselves, to study, or to try to hone our skills as well as our humanity.  What I am suggesting is that perhaps it is not necessary to sweat so much to accomplish them.

 

We could then enjoy the process of fulfilling what we are supposed to be.  This would allow so much humility to enter into our existence since we would have to accept that what we have is a gift and our prime duty is to be good stewards of our talents.

 

It has been said by many before me that life is more a matter of “willingness than will.”  In the notion of willingness we find a process that allows us to become who we are.

 

 To paraphrase a notion from Thomas Merton: a pear tree is beautiful because it is fully a pear tree.  For most humans if they discovered they were a pear tree, they would spend most of their life trying to become an apple tree.

 

It is only in the full acceptance of what and whom we are that we will find ourselves, and when we do we are both willing and ready to engage life.  And in spite of it all, we find ourselves for the most part, reasonably OK. And that is not so bad.

 

Brother Giovanni 

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian."

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