One Love

It goes without saying that a person is quite capable of living a contemplative life outside of a contemplative community. In fact, you can live a life of considerable activity within the society in which you are and still experience God intimately. However, a considerable dimension of inner reserve and solitude will remain necessary. The direct experience of God is never a matter of withdrawal so much as is the question of the love of God and others and the identification of one's true self if we are to grow without illusions. All of these are in fact one love and are in no way an obstacle to one another.