Essence of Trappist Monasticism

The Chinese have a traditional form of seasonal decoration called a Dui Lian (对联). They are red strips of paper that go on the outside of your door at the top and on the sides. Sort of like putting the passover blood on the lintel and two side posts. Then on the strips of paper are written seasonally relevant poetry in calligraphy. A monk at the monastery taught me a Dui Lian to capture the essence of Trappist Monasticism. He wrote it down for me, and I reproduce it here without explanation. Try just to feel the gestalt sensation of an ancient monk trying to teach his understudy the essence of his art in a concise way using Latin verse (since this was also conducted in my 2nd language).

　坚弥爱信

恒　　　　读

徒　　　　祷

忠　　　　工

贫　　　　谦

贞　　　　隐

简　　　　融

严　　　　静