Monasticism

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Monasticism (from

Anglican traditions as well as in other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.[1] In other religions, monasticism is criticized and not practiced, as in Islam and Zoroastrianism, or plays a marginal role, as in modern Judaism
.

Many monastics live in

missionary orders
.

Buddhism

Forest dwelling was a common practice in early Buddhism, and it is still followed by some Buddhist sects such as the Thai Forest Tradition.

The

eremitic or reclusive in nature. Bhikkhus and bhikkunis were expected to live with a minimum of possessions, which were to be voluntarily provided by the lay community.[3] Lay followers also provided the daily food that bhikkhus required, and provided shelter for bhikkhus when they needed it.[3]

Young Buddhist bhikkhus in Tibet

After the

Patimokkha — relate to such an existence, prescribing in great detail proper methods for living and relating in a community of bhikkhus or bhikkhunis. The number of rules observed varies with the order; Theravada bhikkhus follow around 227 rules, the Vinaya. There are a larger number of rules specified for bhikkhunis (nuns).[4]

The Buddhist monastic order consists of the male

Mahaprajapati
, asked for and received permission to live as an ordained practitioner.

Bhikkhus and bhikkhunis are expected to fulfill a variety of roles in the Buddhist community. First and foremost, they are expected to preserve the doctrine and discipline now known as Buddhism. They are also expected to provide a living example for the laity, and to serve as a "field of merit" for lay followers—providing laymen and women with the opportunity to earn merit by giving gifts and support to the bhikkhus. In return for the support of the laity, bhikkhus and bhikkhunis are expected to live an austere life focused on the study of Buddhist doctrine, the practice of meditation, and the observance of good moral character.[3]

A bhikkhu first ordains as a samanera (novice). Novices often ordain at a young age, but generally no younger than eight. Samaneras live according to the

Ten Precepts
, but are not responsible for living by the full set of monastic rules. Higher ordination, conferring the status of a full bhikkhu, is given only to men who are aged 20 or older. Bhikkhunis follow a similar progression, but are required to live as samaneras for longer periods of time, typically five years.

The disciplinary regulations for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis are intended to create a life that is simple and focused, rather than one of deprivation or severe asceticism. However, celibacy is a fundamental part of this form of monastic discipline.

Christianity

Trappist monk praying in his cell.
The Monastery of Saint Anthony in Egypt, built over the tomb of Saint Anthony
, the "Father of Christian Monasticism"

Monasticism in Christianity, which provides the origins of the words "monk" and "monastery", comprises several diverse forms of religious living. It began to develop early in the history of the Church, but is not mentioned in the scriptures. It has come to be regulated by religious rules (e.g. the Rule of St Basil, the Rule of St Benedict) and, in modern times, the Church law of the respective apostolic Christian churches that have forms of monastic living.

The Christian monk embraces the monastic life as a vocation from God. His objective is to imitate the life of Christ as far as possible in preparation for attaining eternal life after death.

Coptic monks between 1898 and 1914

Titles for monastics differ between the Christian denominations. In Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism, monks and nuns are addressed as Brother (or Father, if ordained to the priesthood) or Mother, Sister, while in Eastern Orthodoxy, they are addressed as Father or Mother. Women pursuing a monastic life are generally called nuns, religious sisters or, rarely, canonesses, while monastic men are called monks, friars or brothers.

Apparently coincidently, the formation of the first Christian monasteries in Egypt fell in the same time epoch of the Buddhist Parinirvana (the death of Buddha) when subsequently first monasteries in India were formed (2nd–3rd century).[citation needed]

During the fourth and fifth century monasticism allowed women to be removed from traditional lifestyles such as marriage and childbearing to live a life devoted to God. Guided by daily rules and lifestyle guidelines monasticism afforded women great spiritual autonomy. Monasteries served as a space for communal living for monks and nuns many operated under different ranges of severity for rules and punishment of disobedience towards practices that largely originated from the Desert Fathers, these parameters were administer by a superior (Father/Mother). While the practices of female monastic communities varied, they were united by a commitment to a life of prayer, contemplation, and service to others.

Teachings from Shenoute of Atripe, an influential figure in the development of the monastic tradition in Egypt and for his writings on monastic life were also implemented throughout monasteries. Sometimes written in the masculine gender as if exclusively applicable to the male congregations, despite the fact Shenoute commanded a federation that included both male and female congregations.

Later, during 379 CE the first monastery for women was founded in Jerusalem by Saint Melania the Elder. This was a significant moment in history: before then, female monasteries were solely adjunct to male monasteries, although the history of female ascetics predates even the earliest recognized female ascetic pioneers, such as Saint Mary of Egypt, who lived during the 5th century CE.

In fourth century Egypt, Christians felt called to a more reclusive or

Athanasius as one of the early "Hermit monks". Especially in the Middle East, eremitic monasticism continued to be common until the decline of Syriac Christianity
in the late Middle Ages.

Around 318 Saint

cenobitic or communal monastery. Soon, similar institutions were established throughout the Egyptian desert as well as the rest of the eastern half of the Roman Empire. Notable monasteries
in the East include:

In the West, the most significant development occurred when the rules for monastic communities were written down, the Rule of St Basil being credited with having been the first. The precise dating of the

mendicant orders chose to live in city convents among the people instead of being secluded in monasteries. St. Augustine's Monastery, founded in 1277 in Erfurt, Germany is regarded by many historians and theologians as the "cradle of the Reformation", as it is where Martin Luther lived as a monk from 1505 to 1511.[5]

Today new expressions of

.

Hinduism

A meeting of various Shankaracharya - heads of monasteries called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, an eighth-century CE reformer of Hinduism.[6]

In their quest to attain the

Saivite
monks let their hair and beard grow uncut.

A sādhu's vow of renunciation typically forbids him from:

  • owning personal property apart from a bowl, a cup, two sets of clothing and medical aids such as eyeglasses;
  • having any contact with, looking at, thinking of or even being in the presence of women;
  • eating for pleasure;
  • possessing or even touching money or valuables in any way, shape or form;
  • maintaining personal relationships.[citation needed]

Islam

Islam forbids the practice of monasticism.

companions of Muhammad. He was married to Khawlah bint Hakim, both being two of the earliest converts to Islam.[12] There is a Sunni narration that, out of religious devotion, Uthman bin Maz'oon decided to dedicate himself to night prayers and take a vow of chastity from his wife. His wife got upset and spoke to Muhammad about this. Muhammad reminded Uthman that he himself, as the Prophet, also had a family life, and that Uthman had a responsibility to his family and should not adopt monasticism as a form of religious practice.[13]

Muhammad told his companions to ease their burden and avoid excess. According to some Sunni hadiths, in a message to some companions who wanted to put an end to their sexual life, pray all night long or fast continuously, Muhammad said: "Do not do that! Fast on some days and eat on others. Sleep part of the night, and stand in prayer another part. For your body has rights upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, your guest has a right upon you." Muhammad once exclaimed, repeating it three times: "Woe to those who exaggerate [who are too strict]!" And, on another occasion, Muhammad said: "Moderation, moderation! For only with moderation will you succeed."[14]

Monasticism is also mentioned in the following verse of Qur'an:

Then We caused Our messengers to follow in their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave him the Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. But monasticism they invented - We ordained it not for them – only seeking Allah's pleasure, and they observed it not with right observance. So We give those of them who believe their reward, but many of them are evil-livers.

—Qur'an Verse 27, Surah Al-Hadid (chapter 57)[15]

Nevertheless, as Christian de Chergé laid out in a conference of the DIMMID in 1995, there are three significant similarities between Muslim and monastic spirituality. Firstly, the central place of obedience in the monastic tradition parallels the importance of surrender or submission in Islam. Secondly, similar to monastic communities which come together several times a day for prayer, Muslims practices ritual prayer (salāt) five times a day. Finally, the Lectio Divina, the meditative reading of Sacred Scripture interpreted as God’s word directed to the reader is echoed by the Muslim conviction that in and through the Qur’ān, God speaks to each individual.[16]

Jainism

Digambara Jain monks renounce all clothing.

In

Chaturmas. The quality of life they lead is difficult because of the many constraints placed on them. They don't use a vehicle for commuting and always commute barefoot from one place to another, irrespective of the distance. They don't possess any materialistic things and also don't use the basic services like that of a phone, electricity etc. They don't prepare food and live only on what people offer them.[17]

Judaism

Yisrael Ba'al Shem Tov
, the pursuit of permitted physical pleasures is encouraged as a means to "serve God with joy" (Deut. 28:47).

However, until the

Jews (in Hebrew: נזיר) abstained from grape products, haircuts, and contact with the dead.[18] However, they did not withdraw from general society, and they were permitted to marry and own property; moreover, in most cases a Nazirite vow was for a specified time period and not permanent.[19]
In Modern Hebrew, the term "Nazir" is most often used to refer to non-Jewish monastics.

Unique among Jewish communities is the monasticism of the Beta Israel of Ethiopia, a practice believed to date to the 15th century.

A form of asceticism was practiced by some individuals in pre–

Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Its principal expression was prishut, the practice of a married Talmud student going into self-imposed exile from his home and family to study in the kollel of a different city or town.[20][21] This practice was associated with, but not exclusive to, the Perushim
.

The

messianic, and ascetic beliefs. These groups are collectively referred to by various scholars as the "Essenes". Josephus records that Essenes existed in large numbers, and thousands lived throughout Roman Judaea
.

The

Essenes have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of an extensive group of religious documents known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be the Essenes' library—although there is no proof that the Essenes wrote them. These documents include multiple preserved copies of the Hebrew Bible which were untouched from as early as 300 years before Christ until their discovery in 1946. Some scholars, however, dispute the notion that the Essenes wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.[23] Rachel Elior, a prominent Israeli scholar, even questions the existence of the Essenes.[24][25][26][unreliable source?
]

Sikhism

While Sikhism treats lust as a sin, it at the same time points out that man must share the moral responsibility by leading the life of a householder. According to Sikhism, being God-centred while being a householder is better than being an ascetic. According to Sikhism, ascetics are not on the right path.[27] When Guru Nanak visited Gorakhmata, he discussed the true meaning of asceticism with some yogis.[28]

Asceticism doesn't lie in ascetic robes, or in walking staff, nor in the ashes. Asceticism doesn't lie in the earring, nor in the shaven head, nor blowing a conch. Asceticism lies in remaining pure amidst impurities. Asceticism doesn't lie in mere words; He is an ascetic who treats everyone alike. Asceticism doesn't lie in visiting burial places, It lies not in wandering about, nor in bathing at places of pilgrimage. Asceticism is to remain pure amidst impurities.

— Guru Nanak[28]

Taoism

Throughout the centuries,

White Cloud Monastery of Dragon Gate Taoism in Beijing, which houses a rare complete copy of the Daozang, the major Taoist Canon.[29]

Other religions or movements

China's Wudang Mountains is a center of Taoist monasticism and the practice of Tai chi.
  • Ananda Marga has both monks and nuns (i.e. celibate male and female acharyas or missionaries) as well as a smaller group of family acharyas. The monks and nuns are engaged in all kinds of direct services to society, so they have no scope for permanent retreat. They do have to follow strict celibacy, poverty and many other rules of conduct during as well as after they have completed their training.
  • Bön
    is believed to have a rich monastic history. Bön monasteries exist today, and the monks there practice Bön-Buddhism.
  • Manichaeism had two types of followers, the auditors, and the elect. The elect lived apart from the auditors to concentrate on reducing the material influences of the world. They did this through strict celibacy, poverty, teaching, and preaching. Therefore, the elect were probably at least partially monastic.
  • Scientology maintains a "fraternal order" called the Sea Organization or just Sea Org. They work only for the Church of Scientology and have signed billion year contracts. Sea Org members live communally with lodging, food, clothing, and medical care provided by the Church.
  • Sikhism and the Baháʼí Faith both specifically forbid the practice of monasticism. Hence there are no Sikh or Baháʼí monk conclaves or brotherhoods.
  • Confucianism and Shinto have no known practices of monasticism.
  • Quanzhen School of Taoism has monks and nuns[30][31]
  • Zhaijiao.[32]
  • The Transcendental Meditation movement sponsors two monastic groups: the Thousand-Headed Purusha for men and the Mother Divine for women.[33] The US residences for the groups were in Heavenly Mountain, North Carolina.[33] There is also a Purusha program at an ashram in Uttarkashi, India.[34] The Global Mother Divine Organization describes itself as the women's wing of the Global Country of World Peace.[35]

See also

References

  1. Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived
    from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. ^ Buddhist Dictionary, Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines by Nyanatiloka Mahathera.
  3. ^ a b c "What is a bhikkhu?". En.dhammadana.org. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. ^ "The Bhikkhuni question". Buddhistchannel.tv. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  5. ^ UNESCO World Heritage. Augustinian Monastery, Erfurt extension application Archived 4 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed: 29 May 2017)
  6. ^ Aditya Thakur (1 November 2014). "Just A Handful Of Hindus Know Adi Shankaracharya Revived Their Religion". Topyaps. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  7. .
  8. ^ "33. How Does Islam View Monasticism?".
  9. ^ "Hazrat Sawdah". www.inter-islam.org. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. .
  11. ^ "The Ideal Muslim". Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  12. ^ Qur'an Verse 27, Surah Al-Hadid (chapter 57)
  13. ^ Skudlarek, OSB, William (2 April 2020). "Monastic Interreligious Dialogue". Paulist Fathers. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  14. ^ Singhvi, Mrs. Sushila. "Jainism At A Glance". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  15. ^ Maimonides Mishne Torah Hilkhot Nazirut 1:1
  16. ^ Maimonides Hilkhot Nazirut 3:1
  17. ^ Eliach, Y. There Once Was a World (Back Bay Books, 1998), p. 780.
  18. Touro College
    Libraries. p. 79.
  19. ^ F. F. Bruce, Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Paternoster Press, 1956.
  20. .
  21. ^ Ilani, Ofri (13 March 2009). "Scholar: The Essenes, Dead Sea Scroll 'authors,' never existed". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  22. ^ McGirk, Tim (16 March 2009). "Scholar Claims Dead Sea Scrolls 'Authors' Never Existed". Time. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  23. ^ "Rachel Elior Responds to Her Critics". Jim West. 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  24. .
  25. ^ .
  26. ^ Schipper, Kristopher. The Taoist Body. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993 [original French version 1982]), p. 220.
  27. ^ 全真道是道教发展史上的一个革新派[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "论宋元道教的社会化存在形态". Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
  29. ^ "gaya/佛教圖書館館訊/第二十一/二十二期/關於臺灣佛教寺院調查之出版概論". www.gaya.org.tw. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  30. ^ .
  31. ^ Massing, Dana (11 August 2007). "TM quiets mind, rests body says Erie man". Erie Times-News. p. 1. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  32. ^ "The Global Mother Divine Organization: About Us". gmdousa.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011.

Further reading

External links