Paul Kilzer posted:

	I saw this one day while perusing "The Brothers Karamozov" by 
some dead Russian guy. I don't remember exactly, so I'll paraphrase 
horribly instead. It comes from the Abbot of some monastary speaking
to the monks.

		Do not fall into the trap of thinking yourselves
		better than those who live outside these walls.
		You are not. Living here is an admission of weakness.
		Those who live in the world outside are able to
		be close to their god without the disipline of the
		monastary. They come to church once a week, or perhaps
		just twice a year, and yet every day their god is
		with them, giving them the comfort and inspiration
		they need to go on with life. And here we are. Every
		day we must get up at 5AM for prayers. Every day we
		must say vespers. All to be reminded of what they know
		every minute of every day, that our god is with us.
		We are here because we are weak. Do not forget that.

	I think of it whenever I hear someone brag about their teacher or 
their practice or how much they study. When someone tries to put another
down because they are "less spiritualy advanced", I hear this someone 
admitting that they have fallen prey to pride and attachment to ego. In
my mind the appropriate response is something along the lines of "I'm sorry
to hear that," or "I hope you feel better soon" because I know that
their attachments to pride and ego are causing them to suffer. They have
suffered the loss of a compassionate connection between themselves and
a fellow being. And as usual, only they can end their loneliness.....