And many are taking the journey. Mt. Calvary Monastery and Retreat House in Santa Barbara, Calif., hosts more than 2,200 people a year. Many people who grew up during the '60s and '70s have a certain distrust of institutions. They have now reached an age where they want to get in touch with the spiritual side of life, but a large, organized church can be off-putting. A monastic setting is perfect for withdrawing from our daily lives and giving ourselves the opportunity of reflecting on where we've been, and where we might be going.
Some people spend more than that for a haircut.
It's kind of ironic that people can spend more on the outside of their heads than the inside. Finding the Monk Within Joseph Dispenza spent eight years living in a monastery studying spirituality firsthand and developing the foundation of his spiritual life. Start with some daily spiritual reading the writings of Thomas Merton, for instance, or Kathleen Norris or Thomas Moore. Then slowly incorporate a short period of silence into a daily schedule. Even 15 minutes of silent alone time every day will prepare the way for a larger spiritual experience.