Monk

Monk is a religious title given to a person who has dedicated their life to serving all other living beings, or to be a monk, one must take the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Monks often live in monasteries to stay away from the society which is not conducive to their way of life.

History

The concept of monk started in the 3rd century, inspired by the life of Anthony the Great in the deserts of Egypt. This is known as the beginning of Christian monasticism. The tradition of monasticism spread to the west through the work of John Cassian and Benedict of Nursia.

Types of Monks

There are two types of monks in Christianity: eremitic monks, who live in solitude, and cenobitic monks, who live in communities, usually in a monastery, under a common rule.

Monastic Life

Monastic life varies greatly depending on the order and the specific rules it follows. The day is usually divided into periods of liturgical prayer, work, spiritual reading, and rest. The goal of monastic life is to seek God in a radical way. In this sense, monastic life is a symbolic reference to the Desert Fathers of early Christianity.

Monks in Other Religions

Monasticism is not exclusive to Christianity. In Buddhism, monks, also known as bhikkhu in Pali and bhikshu in Sanskrit, are the bearers of the teachings of the Buddha. They live in communities and follow the Vinaya Pitaka, the code of monastic discipline.

In Jainism, monks and nuns are required to observe the five great vows: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment).

See Also

• Nun
• Hermit
• Asceticism
• Religious Vows

References

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