I yearn for the life of a monastic. Doing chores and studying religions and UU literature and being in community with fellow monastics, engaging in social justice work day in and day out. Leaving behind the worldly life. I don't know what to do with this yearning. It would be my dream to build the first UU Monastery but I don't know if this is an idea that would find acceptance in UU circles. I found the Unseen Monastery but that's not really a monastery, it's more an online community and that's not what I'm after. Any thoughts? Do you think a UU monastery is possible? How should I go about creating it, where to even start?

I'm an aspiring student of Buddhism and all the different sects are overwhelming. I was first exposed to Nichiren Buddhism, and then learned about Theravada, and now I'm interested in visiting a Zen temple.

What have your experiences with the different sects been?

My employer gives me 2 days off per year to do any sort of community service or volunteering. I've volunteered in hospice, but that required an actual recurring time commitment. Is there any as-needed thing I could do just for a day or two you can think of?

I'm newly spiritual after being an atheist for most of my life, and I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I want to do something that helps people. I want to be involved in community and I want to study and gain my own understanding of the divine. I'm at the time in my life where I have a well paying lay career, but it's not fulfilling for me. The only thing that worries me is if I could get burnt out in Ministerial just like I am in my current role. I suffer from mental illness but I am now well medicated and don't see why this couldn't be a fulfilling life for me, but I thought I should ask others what they think