Description: With carnest resolve and the vague hope of a deeper spiritual life, Paul Wilkes began his monthly visits to a Trappist monastery. His plan was to spend time each month with the monks and take back into his hectic world of family and profession what he had garnered from the cloistered life. But Wilkes naively misjudged how difficult it would be to achieve his seemingly simple good intentions. Monasticism turned out to be far more complex and demanding than he had imagined, calling upon him to look deeply into himself and requiring a bravery he was not sure. at first, that he possessed. A year later, he had not only discovered the simple path of monastic spirituality, but had journeyed to the depths of his soul and realized that the influences on his daily life were truly immense.

Paul Wilkes found that once truly encountered, monasticism cannot be held at a distance. It demands -- if the soul is willing -- not just to be admired, but to have its lessons applied to the outside world. With the ever-increasing call for access to authentic spiritual traditions, "Beyond the Walls" breaks new ground. This is a book that points a way for "new monks" to live a rich, challenging life filled with grace and faith.

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