about nmonk.org, philosophy and logo
I created the nmonk.org site to host my thoughts and efforts towards making this world a more caring place.
In this post-industrial and post-internet world we live packed amongst our fellow humans, but barely connect with our neighbors and roommates. While our tendency to avoid mixing is good for preventing the spread of disease, I am concerned about the loss of connection, care, and comfort. As monastic groups in Europe kept science, art, and hospitality alive through the Dark Ages, the new monastic goal is to keep humanity alive through the new ages of rapidly changing technology and society.
Humanity is a word with several meanings, and nmonk is dedicated to them all:
- the state of being human, growing towards our goals
- the act of caring for others, reaching out to all
- the group of all humans, sheltering so they may grow
In keeping with our goals, nmonk is an inclusive organization. We reach out to all humans, of all species, religions, nations, inclinations, affiliations, languages, and histories. In the words of the sweetest poem my mother ever recited to me:
He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
(complete text of "Outwitted" by Edwin Markham)
The logo at the bottom of this page (clicking on it will return you to the main page, by the way) is designed in the shape of the lowercase letter "n". The "n" that starts nmonk stands for new, and the word and letter are ideally not capitilized. This is to remind us that there is not just one proper and identifiable new thing, but new things constantly appear and must be accomodated. Keeping sight of this may keep our pride from getting in the way of our goals.
The 3 colored shapes that compose this "n" represent the three goals of nmonk: to grow, reach out, and shelter humanity. They are meant to represent the tan trunk of a strong growing tree, with a large green leaf reaching out to shelter a group of tender shoots so that they may grow safely. This symbolic image is intended to be peaceful and simple, but the metaphor contains two warnings both subtle and important.
The first warning is that it is dangerously easy, when sheltering, to stifle the growth of others with our own needs, or to allow them to grow too dependant on us. A healthy forest does not rely on only one tree, which would be too easy to blow over, and too catastrophic to lose. Being part of a healthy forest means encouraging your neighbors to grow strong in their own ways, so that you can all stand together against the winds of fate, and lean on one another in need.
The second warning is that eliminating differences and diversity is dangerous. Forests are vulnerable, to fires, and axes, and disease. If a forest is made of only one type of tree, with the same strengths, weaknesses, and flavor, it may be wiped out entirely by an outside threat and turn into desert. A healthy forest encourages all kinds of growth, and good members shelter and spread seeds of all kinds as far and wide as they can, to better weather the trial of life.
- return to the main page