Comments on the struggle to find a right balance

Go to DOWN UNDER THOUGHTSAdd a commentGo to the struggle to find a right balance

Thinking through options I've certainly thought of both teaching and personal carer work. I'm not sure what it's like in the states but the wage for personal carers in Australia is abysmal here (about enough for food and rent and not much left over).

posted by robdon67 on October 28, 2006 at 1:56 PM | link to this | reply

Rob,

Here's a suggestion for you.  Ever thought about becoming a personal care attendant for someone?  (No, I'm not referring to me)  I don't know what the wages in Oz would amount to, but it's a thought.  You seem a decent fellow and something tells me you'd be just the sort for this line of work.

Maybe you'll give it a bit of thought?  Best wishes to you in your search.  My fingers are crossed for you.

Regards,

Christy

posted by lovelyladymonk on October 28, 2006 at 10:30 AM | link to this | reply

in my experience talk of spiritual forces is often the problem... a distraction from the reality of the human drama and the far from simple human motivation that leads to choosing something like living in a monastary

posted by robdon67 on October 28, 2006 at 1:23 AM | link to this | reply

3:08 a.m. it's twilight time -- sleepless in Hialeah
Rob, I am not referring to the hypocritical side of the church but the spiritual force that gave you the desires to seek and serve (along the lines of John Paul II and Mother Teresa ). How about teaching???? Can you survive with the pay?    Melody

posted by CunningLinguist on October 28, 2006 at 12:09 AM | link to this | reply

right balance.......

posted by star4sky5 on October 27, 2006 at 9:11 PM | link to this | reply

If you saw monastic life with my eyes believe me it would be stripped of any romantic religious/spiritual illusions - an experience of living in a pressure cooker that combined the extremes of manipulation, psychologically questionable eccentricities and cold indifference (and all these extremes glossed over with a dubious religious justification)... maybe fascinating but in the same way that a dreadfully dysfunctional family is fascinating or a forever repeated piece of footage of a catastrophy is fascinating. The great discovery is learning that it's possible to push the off button.

posted by robdon67 on October 27, 2006 at 8:37 PM | link to this | reply

Rob
I would love to be in your head for one day to connect to what you experienced in your monastic life.  I am not equipped for more than a day of it.    How's a teacher's pay in Australia?   You have so much to offer.    Keep searching - 40 is not as bad as it seems.  Mel

posted by CunningLinguist on October 27, 2006 at 6:26 PM | link to this | reply