A martial arts monastery
Little Creek Monastery
the monastery is in you
the monastery is in YOU
Little Creek Monastery is open to anyone — including whether you are religious, scientific, agnostic or atheist. The monastery was founded based on martial arts and related studies. This is a non-religious monastery that practices an inclusiveness exemplified by universal truths and principles.
“When I forget my ways, I am in The Way” - founder
Our Mission
Little Creek Monastery is Jiu Jitsu’s only known monastery.
The monastery provides hundreds of free essays about martial arts principles, staying calm in the face of adversity, consciousness, belief, so-called mystical experiences, and much more.
You definitely don’t have to be a martial artist to participate with us. In that sense, the monastery represents the many informal monks and nuns who are often quietly submerged and hidden in our everyday lives.
Traditional monasteries generally require their practitioners to live on site and follow the Order’s disciplines. But most of us can’t do that. This is one reason why Little Creek Monastery focuses on essays and videos, contributed to hopefully make our monastery’s insights, experiences and practices accessible.
As you read our essays and articles, you may glimpse - emerging between the lines - the basic foundational premises of our slowly developing Field Guide, discussed in an overview here.
We'd love for you to join us. It’s free.
A Modest Impact
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Monks, nuns & Mystics
We are a very small international community. We tend to be quiet, simple people. We are characteristically behind-the-scenes learners, artists, writers, workers, hermits and mystics - learning each day how to better apply our studies in our everyday lives.
11
Years since our founding
A seeker in The Little Creek Monastery aspires to live and express the spirit of mushin, and is willing to stand up for the place inside themselves that is calm and still.
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Institutions we support
We informally support both a consciousness research institution and a newly founded and inclusive religion. We claim no credit for the programs or successes of these independent organizations.
Our Perspectives
It’s pretty easy to change the world, but it gets harder when you try to improve it.
We’re not out to change the world, except by first improving ourselves.
The hardest part of learning to become a warrior is learning to face the truth within ourself.
Overcoming the struggles within can teach us how to overcome struggles in any situation.
The martial artist discovers within his or her self the calm, still spot within - the calmness that can change their world.
Our Disciplines
writings
Our writings focus on practical philosophical and experiential essays, and personal practices, including insights from the martial arts, consciousness research, and science.
basic human rights & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our main social involvement is speaking out against Class Warfare, including providing the perspective of the martial arts as well as championing The Six Human Rights of Fairness.
practices
Our daily focus is on developing mindful, intentional balance and harmonious behavior in our daily life, both in the issues we encounter and in the relationships in which we find ourselves. Practices.
monastic orders
For anyone who wants to be more active with us, we have two Orders: The Order of Nothingness and The Order of Awareness. We also have Vows.
A Insider’s view of Everyday Life Monks & Nuns
Travelers, vagabonds, misfits, wanderers, poets, outdoors, campfires, philosophers, naps, home-cooking, soup, quiet chants, silent-types, thinkers, writers, artists, musicians, trades people, professionals, smiles, grimaces, van living, cabins, sleeping mats, solitude, mountains, forests, the smell of pine trees, books, study, nature, moving water, smooth stones, porches, tin roofs, old teapots, aprons, peace ‘n quiet, reflection, humor, worn walking sticks, sore backs, bad knees, old clothes, soft clothes, comfortable chairs, nice mattresses, fresh outside air, a good rain, another nap, small living, good shoes, nice socks, deep sighs, sweaters, hoodies, character, insight, modesty.
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"Thich Nhat Hanh proposes that the “next Buddha” or guiding spirit of the coming times will be composed of the members of the spiritual community. The members being the cells in the larger body of consciousness (the Buddha). The monastery feels like a part of this."
Paul Ellis, Founding Writer / Read His Essays
Get Involved
You don’t have to sign up or send us money. If you want to be a part of the Little Creek Monastery - then you are.
