Spiritual transformation emerges from Monastic Project

In case you haven't noticed, my experience as a monk has come to an end. In fact, it ended the first Sunday of Spring Break. If you missed reading the paper the month before the break, all you need to know is that I had to live the life of a monk for an entire month for one of my classes. From meditations to dietary changes, I had to experience it all.

While I never expected that month to change my life, it did in more ways than I can count. While I've certainly added back many foods that I had to avoid last month, I have actually managed to streamline what I eat on a daily basis to much healthier foods.

I don't actually want to eat junk anymore. In fact, the first time I did after the project ended, I felt extremely sick for two days. In addition, I wasn't the only one who experienced an upset in reverting to past dietary choices-many of my classmates suffered the same fate. It was as though our bodies wanted to give us a message that they were happy without all that extra junk.

What may be even more shocking, is that I've not stepped into a Starbucks since some time before Feb. 11. If you knew me, you would understand what a complete surprise that is, as before the project, I went at least once a day for tea or coffee. Needless to say, I was an addict. Now, while I miss going from to time, I'm content without the perpetual need for my daily caffeine jolt.

In a bizarre way, this process provided me some sort of therapy that I did not wish to seek in a conventional way. The entire project helped me deal with many personal issues that I've put on the backburner for the past few years. Things that I've always written off and claimed to be too busy to address, finally came into the forefront of my life, as I had no way to ignore them in my daily meditations and journaling.

Also, I was awakened spiritually for the first time in years. Don't get me wrong, I'm still confused as ever, but I actually am looking for answers again. I'm done with being complacent and I want the kind of faith that I used to have, or at least a grown up, evolved version of it.

Hands down, this project was the most difficult thing I've experienced in my college career, but I will say with absolute confidence, that it was also the most rewarding. The adage "you get out whatever you put in" surely rings true with the Monastic Project. I don't think if I did it half-heartedly, it would have been as life changing for me.

This writer can be contacted at pulse@theeeastcarolinian.com.