Monk See Monk Do

Apparently the rules which apply to city monks are more loosely interpreted than most preconceived notions of monastic life. A reporter and photographer from Monk Mode magazine caught up with Gregor Ian Chance at Madison Square Garden last night and they were able to ask him a few questions about a variety of topics. Here are excerpts from that brief encounter.

Q: Hi Gregor. I understand that you've been seen at Knick's games before. Do you consider going to NBA games... surrounded by celebrities... is in-line with your vows of simplicity and deprivation?

A: Wouldn't you want to get out from time to time if all you had to call your own was a bowl, a belt, a razor, a staff, a toothpick and a robe? Besides... deprivation is a state of mind.

Q: How did you become friends with Spike Lee and Chris Rock?

A: Back in 1990 I pitched an idea to him for a movie which was going to be called MO' BETTER BREAD. As it turned out he used my idea but 'changed venues' regarding the bread-making angle and went with more of a jazz thing. He thought it would appeal to a more urban demographic. He ended up releasing it as MO' BETTER BLUES. As far as Chris goes... we met at a Hot Yoga class last year.

Q: It seems as though you leave the Abbey quite a bit. Have you considered spending time in complete solitude... perhaps alone in the forest... far away from city life? Don't you think you'd be able to find your inner peace more easily in that way?

A: I tried the hermit thing for a while but when there's a kind of a hush for too long it really creeps me out. Lately, my daily quest for inner peace begins at Starbucks [tomorrow I'll order a 'Carmelo' Macchiato]... and often ends at MSG.

Q: We also saw you with Alicia Keys tonight. What is your relationship?

A: She's wonderful. A few years ago I was giving her some bread making lessons and we had 'an incident'. As she was putting a Multi-Grain Sourdough Boule in the oven... her chiffon sleeve brushed against an open flame on the stoves front-right burner. Poof! Her sleeve went up like an olympic torch. I ran to the window and half-shouted and half-bellowed "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE". I then turned around and doused her sleeve with a bowl of proofing yeast. Crisis averted. Alicia did use my bellowed plea as the hook for one of her biggest hits. We've been fast friends ever since

In the next post, Part II of the Gregor Ian Chance interview at Starbucks will be revealed.