Dear classmates, Here is my project presentation outline with web links.  Let me know if you have ideas or want to network about this. 

                                                                                                                Much Peace,

                                                                                                                Steve Lee      

I am in my late 50’s and for the last couple of years I have been thinking about how I should spend these next few decades of my life.  I was inspired by Jane Fonda’s Ted talk on the Third Act. 

Here is an excerpt from the transcript of her talk: “The entire world operates on a universal law of entropy.  Entropy means that everything in the world is in a state of decline and decay. There's only one exception to this universal law, and that is the human spirit, which continues to evolve upwards.  Therefore, our third act is a time for coming into [an evolved human spirit embodied with] wholeness, authenticity and wisdom.”  This quote is paraphrased from the following web link:    http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_fonda_life_s_third_act/transcript

With those encouraging words, I decided to move into a sabbatical year to prepare for my third Act

Like many people on sabbatical, I have a ton of goals, but in the forefront trying to hold a spirit of discernment.  Trying to BE in the world… Letting the earth speak… Letting my neighbors share...  Listening without expectation or judgment...  Being fully present to life… Allowing my “next big thing” to unfold naturally. 

That said, I am now starting to hear the possibilities of a new vocation.  The inspiration for this comes from the New Monastic Movement as well as our class that emphasizes spirituality and the environment.

This new vocation would include developing a small interspiritual community of 4 to 6 members, living sustainably and simply, in a diverse Twin Cities neighborhood, with permaculture principles, a tiny urban farm, common meals. Two primary practices at the center of life would be 1) Regular meditation and 2) Sacred Activism – Working for social and environmental justice with a spiritual heart.

A quote from Rory McEntee and Adam Bucko who wrote the book “New Monasticism- An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Life in the 21st Century”   http://www.kosmosjournal.org/article/new-monasticism-an-interspiritual-manifesto-for-contemplative-life-in-the-21st-century/  this is a short version of the Manifesto.  You can buy the paperback at http://www.orbisbooks.com/the-new-monasticism.html or from Amazon.

“We assert that new monasticism names an impulse that is trying to incarnate itself. It is beyond the borders of any particular religious institution, yet drinks deeply from the wells of our wisdom traditions.  It is an urge which speaks to a profoundly contemplative life, to the formation of small communities of friends, to sacred activism and to discovering together the unique calling of every person and every community.”

While the new monastic movement tends to be a millennial movement, in many ways it has been around for years.  There is a book call “Occupy Spirituality” which is a dialog between Mathew Fox (who is in his 70’s) and Adam Bucko which lifts-up the intergenerational nature of this movement. Here is a review of this book: http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/reviews/view/25493

I will leave you with a quote from Andrew Harvey describing sacred activism. Andrew Harvey is an author and founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism. http://www.andrewharvey.net/sacred-activism

When, the deepest and most grounded spiritual vision is married to a practical and pragmatic drive to transform existing political, economic, and social institutions, a holy force – the power of wisdom and love in action – is born.”

                                                                                Thank you everyone for a great class!!