Follow the monastery

Writings

The monastery’s writing has two main functions.

First, the essays, poetry, lessons and humor we publish are intended to provide a gentle push in the direction of maintaining an open mind and an open heart and learning how to better relax. (We are still transferring 100s of essays over from Medium, where we formerly published.)
Second, we are writers. So the monastery’s purpose includes organizing and preserving our own records. In a sense, we are modern-day scribes. (If we had more resources we’d help do more of the same thing for the institutions we try to support, particularly Great River Institute.

Our Work

Consciousness

Typically discussed from an experiential perspective. Topics include consciousness, belief, certainty, quantum physics and philosophy. Go to Consciousness.

Class Warfare

Class warfare has been going on for a long time. But the current concentration of wealth and power is endangering both the planet and the majority of her people. We speak to these issues in our Class Warfare collection, and try to do what we can to find solutions.

Nothingness

We are the monks, nuns and mystics of everyday life. And somewhere along the way, the inner space traveler is going to come up against an emptiness. It's a vast world out there - and ‘in here’ too. The ‘nothingness’ is not nothing. Find out more about the Nothingness.

Field Reports

Some of us have had personal experiences that directly or indirectly occurred because of our training, studies or meditations. We are just beginning to compile these types of Reports.

Jui Jitsu

Our Jiu Jitsu essays are based on basic self-defense principles and on Essential Rules of Self Defense. The essays are generally designed for use in everyday life situations, challenges and relationships. This is the monastery’s dojo.

Dude-Jitsu

We are Dudeism’s first monastery and also home to the Dude-Jitsu School of Self Defense. Dudeism is a new spin on Taoism. It includes employing humor and self-deprecation to help make Taoism more practical and relatable.

River Mushin

Poetry, Koans and Fables - written or contributed by our monks, nuns, mystics and wandering komusō. Relax in River Mushin.

Teachings & Practices

Collected Teachings and Practices from the monastery and various teachers down through the centuries. Some of our most vital work is found in Principles.

Mystics & Monastics

These essays get a little more into the grit of what it's like to be a regular everyday person who wants to explore being a casual, laid-back monastic in normal life circumstances. Check out Mystics and Monastics.

Institutions the Monastery Supports

the center for eternal awareness

Our Center informally supports the work of Great River Institute, located in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. We also promote stories and wisdom handed down over the centuries. Explore teachings and our Center for Eternal Awareness.

the web-based religion of dudeism

The monastery informally supports the newly-founded, Taoist-based religion Dudeism, and is a resource for 600,000 priests worldwide. We have a small collection of supportive essays, featuring Dude-Li and Retlaw Kram. Explore Dude-Jitsu.

WHY A MONASTERY?

Whether you're religious or not, whether you're an agnostic or an atheist... the thing is, there are things in life that are sacred. This includes what we call the quiet, still or empty place inside each of us.

The monastery is in each of us.

Everyday people need a way to express and honor this value, and our monastery helps preserve that for each of us.

Our backgrounds

Our writers and members have varied backgrounds including Sufism, Native American, Christianity, Judaism, Dudeism, Taoism, Buddhism, Stoicism and more. Our senior members have undertaken decades of study and training.

Our founder is a sensei in the martial arts of Jiu Jitsu and an Instructor in Consciousness Studies.

Collectively, we believe that aspirations to elevate consciousness within ourselves and within our world is a goal that should be highly inclusive.

Monastery

Find out about the monastery, its Orders, vows and more.

The Congregation

In traditional monasteries, Congregation members were not required to take vows.

In The Little Creek monastery, anyone who supports or associates with us is a member of the Congregation. If you prefer, you can remain completely anonymous.

Lineage and Practices

Learn about our lineage and practices.

VOWs & Orders

We have vows, if you are so inclined.

The Casual Vows
The Order of Nothingness
The Order of Awareness

Our monks have contributed some practices and prayers.

Titles

You don’t really need any term of address in the monastery… just be you.

But if you’re into it, we have optional terms of address — which can be fun or serious, depending on which direction your smile is facing.

In a sense, ‘titles’ in the monastery are about what feels right to you, and mostly about saying, “This is something I enjoy.”

While you're here, check out our Monastic Rule.