Germans flock to see silent monks

[PsychoDad]

Germans flock to see silent monks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4583670.stm

By Ray Furlong
BBC News, Berlin

An unlikely film has been filling cinemas in Germany in recent weeks: a three-hour documentary with hardly a single spoken word, set in a monastery.

The film Into Great Silence is an intimate portrayal of the everyday lives of Carthusian monks high in a remote corner of the French Alps.
...

At the monastery, only the candles break the darkness.

It is the middle of the night and in the icy cold of their stone cloister, the monks sit in their thick habits reciting Gregorian verse.

"I think they simply do it because they choose to... become close to God," says the film's director Philip Groening.

...

"You don't have to sort of plan, like 'What do I do in two years?... Where do I want my career to be in 15 years?' And the absence of language makes something - the moment itself becomes very, very strong."



Wow...
To give up your "life" to live in contemplation of God.
Might be an interesting film.

Peace.

[stray cat]

1. It sounds interesting

I can not comprehend that level of silence or the level of comtemplation that might develop.

[Notary Sojac]

2. Such monastic life seems selfish to me...

Are they helping anyone?

[stray cat]

3. Unlike benevolent capitalists?

I don't know about you but from what I've seen most people live their lives pretty selfishly with brief moments that are not.

Welcome to DU!

[zalinda]

4. Sorry, but I don't think you can lump moms in that

category. Moms worry and are there for you even if you are 50. I think that's pretty unselfish. In fact, a lot of moms take so little time for themselves that they can become sick with stress.

zalinda

[Silent3]

6. Hey, a lot of mothers are great people...

...but, you know, most women eventually have children, and that doesn't turn them all into saints. It just strikes me a little odd that you want to exempt mothers from the statement "most people live their lives pretty selfishly", but leave it open that you might be happy to think this sentiment applies to most men and most childless women.

[zalinda]

7. No, I just wanted to illustrate that the statement that

"most people live their lives pretty selfishly" was false. Moms were a good generalization, as usually they are the ones who do the child care. And, of course, not all moms are saints, did I say they were?

I can't believe that I am being accused of being bigoted toward "most men and most childless women", because I didn't include them in the generalization. Actually, I don't believe that most people are selfish, but I didn't want to be accused of making a statement without taking a poll first. (You do know, of course, that polls are the ONLY way to prove something is true, when talking about anything other than science. :sarcasm: In case you didn't know.)

Wonder why there is just a handful of people posting, while there are so many registered users? Any statement here can be twisted like a pretzel and used against you. Why try to jump through the hoops to try to explain what the average person understood you meant in the first place.

zalinda

[Notary Sojac]

5. Thanx for the welcome. Benevolent capitalists do exist...

I know from personal experience that not everyone who is in business is a scumbag. Some are actually high-minded and soulful.

One might argue that a businessperson who gives a person a needed job is doing more to actually improve the human condition than is an alpine monk who lights candles and chants all day.

That being said, I'm sure it's very scenic and relaxing at the monastery.