Climbing Jacob's Ladder

"... every rung goes higher, higher..."
Often the west is described as an "instant sense gratification" culture and being born in the west, a monk's life poses some interesting challenges. Monastic life is usually meant to be practiced in peaceful settings like cloistered walls as seen in European countries, Temples as seen in Asia or other gatherings of ascetics in different cultures. In each system the monk's goal is to go deeper into understanding his lifestyle as well as presenting it to the general masses. Each monk is encouraged to study, learn and digest the lessons learned, and then present it according to his capacity.
For me, the gift of easily making friends with others has been a great strength, and for those inclined to asceticism, I serve as an ice breaker, a person who tries to show the lifestyle in practice. To accomplish this means to be where people are but my true goal isn't to recruit monks; rather I want to develop deep friendships with others who are truly loving their life choices. If during that course of human interaction I meet persons interested in my lifestyle I serve as a small guide toward this lifelong decision into monasticism. Yet I am awed by some friends I know who spend a lot of time in nature hiking and exploring all she has to display from God's unfathomable art room. The level of friendship I want to develop with people is one of genuine respect for each person's calling as well as the humility to learn for such persons principles they live by.
The world in itself requires deeper and higher journeys in whatever one may do. To be a successful anybody means to act with deeper love and enthusiasm in that field. For monks, or devotees of Krishna in general, our goal is to develop unalloyed love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At first one may have the needed faith to "begin" the bhakti yoga process which leads to association of others who have similar interests, some on the same level, some newer in understanding and others advanced on the path. From association one begins to act more seriously which then causes unwanted desires in the heart to weaken and ultimately disappear, leaving one fixed in his determination and develop a deeper taste attachment and ultimately pure unalloyed devotion.
I am traveling at the moment with four other students and the task of presenting this philosophy purely that I am not only speaking, but more importantly acting properly as shown by my predecessors. More specific details will come as our journey to learn and share Krishna Consciousness with all.