Rooms of the Monastery
Tonight we have a significant new addition to the monastery. There is a new sidebar box titled Rooms of the Monastery. Here you will find easy access to all the rooms of the monastery:
The Oratory, The Academy, The Scriptorium, The Reading Loggia, Trapped Monk, The Grotto, The Snuggery, The Poets Corner, The Scream-O-Torium (Home of the Big-Deal-O-Meter), Paulo and the Magician, The Prayer Chapel, The Infirmary, The Sanctuary, The Vigil, and The Concert Hall.
The Sanctuary is the old Sunset Room updated.
The Vigil is the monastery’s very own candle lighting room. (For anyone wanting to visit the Monastery Vigil without lighting a candle: Simply click on the candle in the Rooms of the Monastery sidebar box then click “begin”, then “continue”, then “enter”.)
The Infirmary is a place for monklings who are struggling with illness to share their process and receive comfort.
The three rows of rooms are grouped as follows:
The first row contains my classes and writings. The second row contains the socialable rooms. The third row contains the comfort rooms.
The old sidebars containing some of these rooms have been moved into posts.
Some of the icons in the ACIM Monk sidebar box have been moved the the Rooms of the Monastery sidebar box. I have left the FAQ, Monastery Music, and Oratory icons in the ACIM Monk sidebar box for convenience.
I hope this helps everyone find their way around the monastery with more ease, enjoyment and peacefulness.
Update: 12/12/09 Five new rooms have been added: Dreamy’s Pillow, The Blur Circle, Private Sessions, The Writers’ Loft, The Cloister, The Alm’s Bowl and The Abbacy.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Ohhhhh WOW!! I knew when you were working 14 hours straight that you must have had a good idea!! :-) The ROOMS OF THE MONASTERY is amazing! The Infirmary, The Vigil… I can’t believe we have our very own candle-lighting room!
This is such an amazing place for reflection, quiet, joining! Thank you Monk!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I am floored by the beauty and content of this site. Absolutely floored. It’s like no other. Right now I am light a candle while listening to the monastery music!!! I can’t tell you how lovely it is. Thank you so much for this gift!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Well, Mr. Head Monk, Jamie. What can I say. I’m trying to find a way to tell you how much I appreciate the things you’ve created here for us without going all sappy on ya. And how much I love you. And how much I love all the friends I’ve made here. And how much I love Bonnie’s violin playing on the classes you provide. And how much I love the classes, and your gentle, wise voice, and your laughter. And I love your cat. And your fridge. And how much I love Ken for teaching us. And how much I love you for providing ‘Ken’ for those of us that can’t go to Temecula. And how much fun I have being a ‘nun gone wild’ in the Grotto. And how loved I felt on my birthday. And how loved I feel each and every day here. And how grateful I am that I have received healing through this website and will continue to accept it here.
But, since I can’t find the words, I’ll just say exactly what I feel,
I Love you,
Debbi of the Grotto
October 12th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Thank you, Debbi.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
You’re welcome.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:51 am
yahoooooo! i’m a girl that loves organization and order and so i’m smiling big time! thank you Jamie for all of your hard work! this monastery rocks!!!
Debbi, links of pics of our wedding are up under nicks abbey for you to view. :)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Hallelujah Brother Bob!!! Wedding pictures!! Wahoo!. I am SO there, sista. Thank you so much Heather!
(I’m with you on the organization thing… being the database designer for our company, I have an appreciation of the large amount of work it must have taken to make these changes. Makes it darn easy to navigate around here!)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:24 am
it is our absolute pleasure to share with you and everyone here Debbi. hope you enjoy! :) Yes, i bet it was so much work, but its going to be more more user friendly now and easier to get around and back to where you were…sometimes i get lost (very bad sense of direction over here).
I’m off to sleepy land…gotta get my rest so i don’t almost fall asleep in class tomorrow like i nearly did today during ken’s teaching!
October 13th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Two thumbs up and “I love you” from Anne
Four paws up and “Meow” from Mr Baby
October 13th, 2009 at 5:22 am
i am with you guys – organization is very high on my list, and i am in love with the layout of this website. so simple, beautiful, easy to navigate. and now with all the rooms in one place, such easy access and yet so practical and elegant. (having been behind the scenes, i know firsthand that it is not an small or quick task to make it this way…. CONSTANT tweaking, fixing, troubleshooting, examining, improving.) thank you, monk, for your endless hours of dedication and love devoted to this site to make the most incredible sanctuary and haven. we love you!
October 13th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Yes Mr. Monk you went right to work at the first whisper of a suggestion. Such love and dedication well, its like Debbi said in post #3 :) My first thought was when do you sleep? Organization and aesthetics, you’re like an interior designer: literally!
My heartfelt thanks,
Annie
October 13th, 2009 at 8:05 am
I am crying. Feelings of relief, great relief. My heart is pounding now, participating in this adventure. Thank God Debbi found all the words for me. Exactly those.Just want to hug you to bits (-in a good way, dear.)
So grateful.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Oh wow. I’m stunned(in a good way). It is so simple, yet elegant. I don’t know much about computers but I do know how much time it can take to do these kinds of things. many,many Thanks.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Dear Monk: Thank you so much. I feel overwhelming. Your love and your effort is all around the Monastery and we can´t ask for more. We are joyously together walking the path to return home. I agree with all the comments and I add my voice and love to all of them. Love and hugs for you and all the monks. Lisi
October 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Doing a quick check from La Quinta’s computer upon finishing Ken’s 3 day academy! Wow Jaime! We’re visiting our daughter and her family starting tomorrow, and I look forward upon our return home next week to the October oratory classes, and this monastery, complete with all the rooms! The love you pour out for us through this monastery Jaime, is wondrous. Thank you seems so insignificant for all that you do….but….you know…..and so I’ll keep it simple. ;-) Bonnie, I also look forward to hearing your beautiful music that compliments the oratory…thank you…
Heather and Nick, what a delight to meet both of you. What an awesome few days, complete with all the judgments…..and stuff….. that came up for me….and what a perfect ending from Ken — “Don’t believe the lie!”
With Gratitude and Love,
melody
October 13th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I am speechless…it has all been said. Thank you Jamie…and everyone here.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:02 am
I’ve found an improved idiom:
Looks like you have more than one string in your bow.
No one need shudder over that one, and it’s perfect for Bonnie’s birthday. (Still the 13th here.)
Happy Birthday, Bonnie, even as you sleep. May you always have a plethora of strings in your bow!
Thank you, Monk, and congrats on a major delivery of kindness and love and intense working! – which is fun when it works. I am so glad i did not doubledip the relaxed comfiness of the Snuggery. I have a feeling i’m about to remember a dream — as i pass from that one back into this one, and i’ll need a place for that. For the other tale, now, when the time is ripe, there will be just the right place waiting. Thanks, Debbi, for your hand.
Joyous in the gifts that abound, katrina
October 15th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
The kind lady at the candle website just wrote me this:
You might want to point out this feature to your readers: Once you have found your candle that has been lit, you will see a link below it that says “Open minicandle.” Click on that, and you can have a little version of your candle on your desktop until it burns down (if you shut down your computer, you can get it back again the same way).
October 15th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Cool! I just did that and watched as one of my candles went out! When I clicked on it, my browser opened to the “Light a candle” website so I could replace it with another. It was neat. And, I have a reminder on my desktop of my candle lighting ceremonies, and the prayer or thought behind them. Thank you, Monk.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Monk, I love the course quote you put on the entry page to the candle lighting ceremony. You have “the touch.” It is perfect for the ceremony and sets the right frame of mind.
I love what you have done for us here.
Thank you,
Grace
October 15th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I want to applaud you on the improvements to the website, they are remarkably beautiful and even sacred. I also want to thank you for making the cloister a safe place to communicate again.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Quick poll: Talking to Cody. Apparently adding smileys and emoticons to the whispers is now possible. Is this something people would want? It’s quite expensive so just want to be sure this is a universally desired addition before going forward. Thanks.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I vote “NO” to the word expensive…. I am content to use {;-) – or {Big Smiles}
(The last time you used the word expensive in regards to paying for some changes we wanted in the Monastery, all the gold fillings in my mouth got really nervous…)
D O G
October 17th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hi Debbi: It’s “only” $115, and I’m fine with that if it’s a desired addition. I’m channeling Nina in her sleep, and she’s saying “yes yes yes”. I remember her wanting the bear from Skype. If we do it, I’m going to be using the Skype emoticons, and for that price I can add in two (may try to slip in a third — Cody, you didn’t see that) Yahoo emoticons. One would be the Yahoo hug and the other would be the Yahoo big cheesy grin. Both classics. :)
And some other possibilities from Yahoo:
October 17th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I vote no cuz she voted no.
Colon D
:D
October 17th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I change my vote… I thought you said expensive, not “it will cost some money”… So.. yeah yeah… I’l sign up for a couple more of your class-months if it will help. (Please don’t read that like I wasn’t going to anyway… just makes me look altruistic) Those emoticons are kinda cute, too. (Have you seen the one Angela posted on your cheat sheet?)
So that changes Anne in TX’s vote, cause she’s goin with mine..
TWO YES’s then.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Blah! (That’s a no in ‘frog and toad’ language)
October 17th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Hi Lisa: Thanks for your ‘frog and toad’ vote. :) Can I get your thinking? We’re weighing pros and cons, and your input is welcome.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I like the idea of having emoticons especially the little rolling on the floor dude. He cracks me up :-)
October 17th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
And me, too. Fun is always good. I vote “yes”.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Oh, well I just don’t really care for them. I think they are a bit goofy. BUT, far be it from me to rock the boat. I can always elect to just not use them. And if you get them, I’ll bet that after a while I’ll grow to love them. : )
October 17th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Some say the most important thing in a Sangha (spiritual community) is the support they give one another, and emoticons communicate a body language mere words do not.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Hi Lisa, or anyone else that isn’t hip to the idea: Please don’t feel like you’re rocking the boat. I haven’t decided myself yet, so appreciate each person’s input.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I’m thinking that they might be a little distracting. I like the general feeling of quiet here.
But then again, Adam Lambert might be a little distracting and not so quiet, so….
Any other opinions?
October 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Monk – In one way, they aren’t exactly on the same level of ‘classy-looking’ as you have given to the rest of the website… I remember when you referred to having a great big red thermometer on the main page an ‘eyesore’…
But if they are hidden amongst the whispers, well… we all know some of our pictures, etc. can be pretty un-classy there… and the important thing was the fun we were having. Same here. Yeah, they’re silly, but… like, man, geez Louise.. If you change our Charter now to say “we don’t like silly”, well – then I’d have to leave…. They’re not that big, anyway. They look pretty small to me.
So my “final vote” is – “Smiley faces are neutral”.
I remember when Winnie was around a lot (she hasn’t come out from under her bed in a very long time…) she REALLY wanted the ability to do smiley faces..
Deb
October 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Talking with Bonnie, Emm, and another friend. We’re all split, which has me leaning toward no at the moment. My approach with the monastery is to only add things I feel really good about, that clearly fit and feel right. Still open to discussion though, and input (or a simple yes/no vote) from whisperers is welcome.
Here are some of our thoughts:
the Cons in Emoticons
- we like the quiet, simple feel of the cloister
- don’t want to make the cloister busy or cartoonish (i.e. do the emoticons take away from the monasterial feel of the cloister?)
- if someone wants to post a hug, or be expressive they can just do it by adding a photo
the Pros
- adds more expressiveness, warmth, fun
- would not be on the main page so would mitigate the cons
October 17th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I’m with Lisa on the distraction aspect. I don’t mind the ones that sit still but the ones that constantly move and I can’t shut them off I don’t like. With Adam Lambert video he sits still and is quiet until I `tell’ him to move and make noise. Hmmm is this an aspect of my own control freakishness coming though.:) Plus what is expensive? $115 is still expensive in my `world’ not outragously so but it has nudged a couple of bucks past inexpensive.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I can have Cody make them un-animated (just so you know that option is on the table).
Other options include limiting it to, say, 4 emoticons… such as:
October 17th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I have to say, if I stand back and ponder a bit, that on some of the pages of the Monastery we feel free to express our pain and fears. I don’t know that if a jumping icon or something similar would be appropriate under those circumstances. I can only speak for myself but it takes a lot for me to express those types of emotions and I take my brothers’ responses back to me as a gift. At first I was all for them because I was only thinking of the “let’s kick back and have fun” parts of the Monastery. I am changing my vote… to a no. I’m sure that’s final (smile).
October 17th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Thanks Donna. We all have decided on no as well, so thanks everyone who gave input.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:20 am
glad it’sa no.
and we just got back from the Sacramento Philharmonic’s opening night in which they performed Beethoven’s 9th. It was pretty awesome. i cried. and not just because the old guy in front of us passed terrible, terrible gas………seriously.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:39 am
Nick, Wow, I’m so jealous!! Sounds like a marvelous evening! I’ve heard that Beethoven’s 9th has that affect on people.. the crying, not the gas… well maybe that too. I’ll look it up, sounds too true to be good.
A little woo-woo for ya… I’ve been listening to the 5th all evening… and to answer your question, no, I didn’t do either.
Love,
Deb
October 18th, 2009 at 7:37 am
love the woo-woo, deb!
blessings,
nick
October 18th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Dear Jamie, about channeling me in my sleep,no, you just channeled the Nina part that loves the Skype-emoticons. But not here, see.
I like so much the parantheses where we express things like “big bear hugs(or small) or “she rolls on floor screaming.” Or “turns away, slightly red, feet turning inward” The inner images i get from those I really enjoy, while the emoticons to me is noisy. In Skype, I like them – but not here. Ah, the quietness in the corridors.
Thanks for your decision. Much love.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:11 am
What was even more appalling than the gas was nick’s response. when at the symphony does anyone in their right mind think it’s appropriate to say in a deep altered voice, “damn, who just busted a$$ in here??” “Not it!” it took everything in me to hold back laughter not to mention the sheer embarrassment! I don’t know maybe you had to be there! what did i get myself into with this kid? a lot of laughter thats for sure!!!
seriously though it was incredible! especially the last movement, it was just transcendent. throughout the entire performance you could so experience the struggle, it was like a dance between the ego and the HS. was thinking of you, Bonnie…pretty sure you’d be the first chair Violinist!!! Debbi, not woo-woo at all…SUPER*COOL is more like it!!
October 18th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Heather, I don’t know, you married him, I didn’t…. Well I shouldn’t be so hasty there… my DH would have probably done a similar thing, and in fact has done many things like that over the years. Embarrassing and hilarious. He has kept me laughing all these years, which is probly why I still adore him… his pranks.. He is a delightful man. Best of luck there… Hee Hee
Monk explained to me something about the person of Beethoven, and your description of the struggle in the 9th is similar.. Thank you for letting me be there a little with you at the symphony. And yes, I thought of Bonnie too; how could you not with all that beautiful violin Beethoven uses?
My experience of the 5th did not include Nick, or the guy in front, so it didn’t have the spiritual impact it could have…. but I still enjoyed it nonetheless…. my computer has a set of really rad speakers…
Love,
Deb
October 18th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
HI Deb, Yes, Good speakers are crucial! That’s so wonderful your “DH” (what does that mean by the way?) has a great sense of humor too! Nick makes me laugh all the time and even when its embarrassing I adore that about him as well! My grams has a similar sense of humor so I really get a good dose of it when I’m with the two of them together like last night. It’s too cute when my grams tells me to “lighten up” and “stop being so serious”…she has no idea how right and helpful she is when she speaks those words. I was laughing so hard when I wrote the post earlier just thinking about the situation and hoping others would laugh too! Silliness is essential, right!? Have a great evening! Love, heather
October 18th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Hi Heather – DH is a shortcut for DearHusband, or DickHead. Same. I’m glad you’re having fun, and yes, your post about the symphony was hilarious, and it’s VERY good to laugh!
Debbi
October 18th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Hi Debbi, hahaha!!! I’m so going to borrow that one from time to time. :)
October 19th, 2009 at 7:13 am
hey guys! heather, i am happy to hear you and nick went to see that performance! and a little green, to be sure. :) i saw a piano trio (violin, piano, cello) this weekend wherein they played a beethoven trio (#1 in e-flat major), and the music really spoke to me. but i would LOVE to see the ninth symphony live – i can only imagine!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Yes Heather you officially have joined the DH club.