The Monk Manifesto

Seven Principles for Living with Deep Intention

I came across these seven principles by Christine Valters Painter at On Being Studios. They really resonated with me, and inspired these little cartoons.

She writes:

“Monk: from the Greek monachos meaning single or solitary. A monk in the world does not live apart but immersed in the everyday with a single-hearted and undivided presence, always striving for greater wholeness and integrity.

Manifesto: from the Latin for clear, means a public declaration of principles and intentions.

Monk Manifesto: A public expression of your commitment to live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life.

I believe deeply that we need both a sacred yes and a sacred no in our lives — things which we wholeheartedly embrace and those which we create boundaries around of what is not life-giving. For me, naming both is a practice of balance and awareness.

The Monk Manifesto is not meant to be exhaustive, but there is fruitfulness in claiming what is important in a given moment of time. There are many things that could be added, but part of its power is its conciseness. I hope reading it prompts your own reflection on how you would articulate your declaration of integrated living.”