I am familiar with them (familiar is the wrong word: I know who they are, but not much about them may be a better way of putting it). TBH, they (and their sister monastery in Berkeley) are one of the main reasons I started this thread.
If you could expand on them a bit, I would truly appreciate it.
Well, I have not been to Incarnation in Berkeley, so I can not say anything besides what anyone can see at their website.
When I went to New Camaldoli, it was a private retreat, and silent, so the only monk I actually spoke with was in the bookstore. But I joined in the LOH and Mass which was very moving. No musical accompaniment, just the chanting and praying (in English), with many prayerful pauses throughout. At days end, they expose the Blessed Sacrament, and the guests and a few monks sit around on the floor (the chapel is like a keyhole: round at the altar and rectanglar at the choir stalls), for silent meditation or adoration. It really is up to you what you make of it, and I’m guessing some guests were more interested in the former than the latter.
Also, when I was there, meals were taken in private, each guest in his or her own room, as opposed to the Benedictine monasteries I’ve been to, where meals are taken in common with the monks. I felt like a genuine hermit (for those few wonderful days), which was part of my reason for going there.
I like the simplicity of the Rule of St. Romuald, and the place resonates the stark beauty and simplicity of the rule. There is, of course, the interfaith focus of many of the monks, with the connection to Bede Griffiths and all, but as I said, I never really spoke with any of them while I was there. Besides, a close family member of mine is Buddhist, so I’m always looking for common ground.
But you’ve got to go there at least once for even a day visit so as to take in the truly spectacular views of the mountains and the Pacific!
).
