What is a Monk?
A monk is a man who has chosen to dedicate his life to religious service and contemplation. Monks can be found in the Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions, among others, and there are a number of different types of monk, ranging from brothers in active service to anchorites who choose to cut themselves off from society to pursue a life of asceticism and contemplation. In order to become a monk, a man must generally first apply to a monastery, where he will be interviewed by the residents before being accepted on a trial basis. If his trial is successful, he will be admitted as a novice, meaning that while he is not yet considered to be a full monk, the opportunity to take vows will be offered at some point. After a period as a novice which can vary, depending on the rules of the community, he will be offered vows and accepted as a full monk. Monks can live in a variety of communities. Some monasteries are dedicated to active service in the surrounding region, with monks wo
Though most people probably assume that a monk’s life is entirely different from their own, the reality might surprise them. The Russian author Dostoevsky put it best when he claimed that a true monk is nothing other than what everyone ought to be. He was referring to an attitude of heart, a way of seeing life. What makes someone truly a monk is his interior attitude, not the practical externals associated with his state of life. Long hair and long beards are “monastic” in one milieu, while shaved heads are the norm in another; some monks don’t eat meat while others do, some wear habits while others don’t. Trying to determine what is more monastic on the basis of such criteria is futile; the essence of their lives goes much deeper than such banalities.
