Paychecks, Power, Position, and Prestige

Chapter 31 of the Rule of Benedict, an ancient rule for monastics, St. Benedict of Nursia offers guidelines for the cellarer of the monastery. The cellarer is the one appointed by the prioress or abbot to oversee and distribute neccessities to those in the monastic community. It is a position of great responsibilities and is of great importance to the monastery.

The Rule states, "...above all, let the cellarer be humble." Benedict requires them to "provide them members their allotted amount of food [and other necessities] without any pride or delay, lest they be led astray."

Benedictine monastic, Sister Joan Chittister, in her commentary on this chapter, writes, "It is not right...to tax other people's nervous systems, to try other people's virtues, to burden other people's already weary lives in order to satisfy our own need to be important.

Today, in our nation, there are many professing Christians, politicians, preachers, and others who are taxing the nervous systems of the less fortunate, trying the virtues of those experiencing prejudice and discrimination, burdening the already weary lives of  those already oppressed, and they do so out of their own need to be important.

In the context of this desire for importance, Chapter 46 of the Tao Te Ching says, "...there is no greater sin than desire, no greater curse than discontent, no greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself. Therefore, the one who knows that enough is enough will always have enough."

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism expresses this as follows:

1. The Truth of Suffering - the world is full of suffering.

2. The Truth of the Cause of Suffering - the cause of suffering is found in the thirst of the physical body and illusions of worldly passion.

3. The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering - if desire (the root of human passion) can be removed, then passion will die out and human suffering will end.

4. The Truth of the Noble Path to the Cessation of the Cause of Suffering - in order to enter a state of no desire and suffering, one must follow a certain path.

It is interesting to me that religions, philosophies, and cultures all seem to offer instructions and advice on how to find our way and how to walk that path: the Tao Te Ching (which when translated, is the Book of the Way, or Path); the indigenous tribes of North America teach of The Harmony Way; Buddhism, with it's teaching on Dharma and the Noble Eightfold Path used; Judaism and Shalom; and the teachings of Jesus where he speaks of being the Way, Truth, and Life.

As a follower of the recorded teachings and example of Jesus, understanding this foundational and universal truth and teaching of "the way" sheds new light on his claim of offering the way, the truth, and the life (which, by the way, is more than simple biological life. It's a claim of offering way and truth that leads to a whole, complete, fulfilling life).

From this perspective it makes sense that he said, "Don't worry about tomorrow...what you will eat...what you will drink...what you will wear. This is why Jesus told the self important religious leaders, "If you love God, and if you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you keep all of your laws."

Pride, and the need to be important, causes us to desire bigger paychecks, yearn for more power and influence, scrape and scramble for higher position, and compete for more prestige. Pride and desire for importance causes us to love things and use people rather than love people and use things.

As living beings created to live in community, may we learn and practice humility. May we be content. May we serve one another without pride or delay.