Newest college class: How to live like a monk
At various periods during the semester, students must forego technology, coffee, physical human contact and certain foods. They’ll also have to wake up at 5 a.m. – without an alarm clock…
The discipline starts with a dress code for class: White shirts for the men, black shirts for women, and they must sit on opposite sides of the class. No makeup, jewelry or hair products. Laptops are prohibited; notes can be taken only with paper and pen. And don’t even think of checking your cellphone for texts or email…
The real test is a full month of restrictions that begins in mid-March. Students can only eat food in its natural form; nothing processed. They can’t eat when it’s dark, nor speak to anyone while they eat. They must be celibate, foregoing even hugs, handshakes and extended eye contact. No technology except for electric light. They can read for other classes, but news from the outside world is forbidden.
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Of course no prayer is required. That would send the wrath of the stormtroopers down on the prof’s head right quick.
cynccook on February 12, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Obama Civ Army 103
blatantblue on February 12, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Um, don’t they already have seminaries that teach this same subject?
But I suppose it doesn’t count if it’s not at taxpayer expense.
logis on February 12, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Apparently he knows very little about one or both of those religions.
philoquin on February 12, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Sounds like a cult, not a bunch of monks.
drewwerd on February 12, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Occupy the monastery?
Fallon on February 12, 2012 at 10:09 PM
Why not just go the distance – why allow the electric light?
The Nerve on February 12, 2012 at 10:11 PM
No coffee? Yeah that wouldn’t work out so well for me, I’d probably have massive debilitating migraines for a week straight.
jhffmn on February 12, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Not a bad idea for people to see what a monastic life is like. I wouldn’t be able to do it though.
vegconservative on February 12, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Because electric light is inevitable, pick your reasons: class held indoors, other classes held indoors, students need to study past sundown…
A lot of those restrictions are easier than you would think. If you can’t stay up past a certain hour, say, 7 PM, then you will naturally get up by 5 AM (ten hours later).
solatic on February 12, 2012 at 10:18 PM
I’d arrive for class each day alternately hungover or hopped-up from coffee.
“So Mr. Bishop, did you observe your required restrictions?”
-Uhhhh…..sure, yeah.
Bishop on February 12, 2012 at 10:19 PM
Why forgo coffee? These monks actually roast and sell coffee on line. Their own little monk E-business.
Greek Fire on February 12, 2012 at 10:23 PM
I see what you did there.
philoquin on February 12, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Heh, I’d definitely adhere to all those restrictions in the privacy of my home, where no one is watching to verify whether I follow the rules or not, all for the sake of some college class. Definitely.
thirtyandseven on February 12, 2012 at 10:27 PM
Well, this isn’t for me then. However, Rick Santorum would be wise to look for his 2016 voters from this group, if they’re allowed to vote, that is.
The Nerve on February 12, 2012 at 10:30 PM
Something tells me that Catholic Bhuddists only vote Democrat.
Tc0061 on February 12, 2012 at 10:41 PM
As a practicing Roman Catholic, this sounds very little like what monastic life is really like. He’s blending concepts from various sects including both Buddhism and Catholicism, melded them together in some sort of weird amalgam that bears no relation to either, and then removed the glue that holds the people in these communities together — God. Instead, he’s tried to turn it into some internal, self-focused exercise about self-discovery. More of the same self-centered dreck we focus on constantly.
Shump on February 12, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Beginners’ training for our unemployed, Luddite, sustainable living future. In the next phase, they’re allowed electric lights, but only from the little mercury-filled swirly things. The hardest part is giving up the Macs and the lattes; the Party leaders try to hide their private consumption from the masses.
obladioblada on February 12, 2012 at 10:58 PM
HA! I copied that line to bring over here, and you already sniped it!
cptacek on February 12, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Penn’s a private university.
Tzetzes on February 12, 2012 at 11:20 PM
“The use of Electricity for Lighting is in no way harmful to health, nor does it affect the soundness of sleep.”
Edison Electric Light Plaque, circa a long time ago
Del Dolemonte on February 12, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Obam-auster-onomics ?
viking01 on February 12, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Monks do it for an idol- either Heaven or Nirvana.
Not just curiosity, idle or otherwise.
Discipline needs to be more than one class or semester, or it is essentially frivolous, and non-lasting.
profitsbeard on February 13, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Oh…I thought this was going to be about how to live like a monk in a Jet Li movie.
Step 1: Watch all your fellow monks get brutally murdered by a rival monk clan/tyrant leader/etc. and barely escape with your life.
Step 2: Go kick the ever-living $#!& out of everyone responsible for Step 1.
Left Coast Right Mind on February 13, 2012 at 12:41 AM
What strikes me as being so strange about all of this is that – at least from what I could understand from the article – it’s basically a course that inconveniences students without any purpose. I would think that the faith that monks and nuns have gives them some insight into why they follow the rules of their respective orders … in other words, I get the feeling that the course seems to cut out the whole idea of a calling (and more importantly, who’s doing the calling).
flush_explorer on February 13, 2012 at 1:27 AM
Personally, I kind of like this idea. There are tons of people out there of all different ages, including college kids, who really do take the conveniences of modern day life for granted. Then there are those folks who can’t seem to function like normal human beings when they’re not sitting in front of a computer or talking on their iphones or playing with their ipads.
This class could be good for those students who fall into one of the aforementioned categories of people.
humili mente on February 13, 2012 at 2:26 AM
I spent a number of years in a Benedictine community. This doesn’t actually sound much like the western monastic tradition although it has a few prominent features lifted from it.
I’ve also spent (much less) but considerable time in a Buddhist Sangha. This also is poorly represented.
Perhaps they should focus heavily on one form for a period and then shift to the other rather than popping it all in a blender set to frappe.
dieudonne on February 13, 2012 at 3:33 AM
From their website–> University of Pennsylvania pioneered professional education in America and continues to set the pace today with outstanding professional programs.
Reality—> How to live like a monk: Forego technology, coffee, physical human contact, certain foods, and wake up at 5 a.m. without an alarm clock. Wear white shirts for the men, black shirts for women, no makeup, jewelry or hair products, sexes segregated. Congratulations, here is you’re piece of paper, $100,000 please?
Dollayo on February 13, 2012 at 4:28 AM
I’ve been on several retreats at a Benedictine monastery and know them well. They use lights, they drink coffee, they use the internet and have cell phones, but they don’t allow any of that to dominate their lives. They may maintain a facebook page, but they are not addicted to it. They drink coffee, but at meals – not all day long. They have times to work, times to pray, times to eat and times to have fun. It’s a very disciplined life, but they must be doing something right. The Benedictines have been around for over 1,500 years and are still going strong.
Ellen on February 13, 2012 at 5:18 AM
They must wear a red sash, learn the L’Internationale, and forgo deodorant.
Knott Buyinit on February 13, 2012 at 8:33 AM
I don’t see many from my generation being able to live like a monk. Unless monks are allowed to play Xbox all day.
smoothsailing on February 13, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Ummmm. No, he isn’t.
GWB on February 13, 2012 at 11:10 AM