Beyond the Robes: The Story of Monks and How They Began
Rain or shine, we see them covered with long robes while walking down the streets. They are people from different walks of life who vowed to become a follower of their master or leader’s teachings. And they often share those values and teachings to everyone who is willing to listen. These people are called monks. But who are they really? And how did they come to exist? If you’re interested, let’s get to know the people behind the robes.
Monk: Etymology
The word “monk” came from the Greek word monachos or monachus, as spelled in Latin – it means solitary and single. In Greek, the term monk can be used by both men and women. But in modern English, it is used mainly for men while the word “nun” is used as its female counterpart. Moreover, if the word “monk” is being used in the generic sense, it shouldn’t be interchanged with terms like friar, hesychast, or a hermit.
So, what is a monk?
A monk is a person who has decided to enter a sacred way of life called Monasticism or monkhood. He made a vow to follow the lifestyle of his monkhood order. He lives either alone or together with a number of his fellow monks. Moreover, he is dedicating his life to serving all other beings as he lives in meditation and prayer. The idea behind them might be ancient but it’s being practiced by many religions and in philosophy in our world today.
How did they come to be?
Before 600 BC, Hinduism was probably one of the first to get involved in a form of monasticism as it is the one of the earliest religions in the world. Hindus have voluntarily rejected worldly goods and desires, which is the main concept being of their religion. There are also evidences where hermits following Hinduism have lived in clusters and groups called ashramas. However, they seem to have no communal rule, unlike the formal community of monks we know now.
As time passed by, Jainism has formed their system of monkhood during the 6th century BC. The followers of Mahavira are organized in strict orders of monks and nuns who devote themselves to reducing the spiritual burden of karma. Moreover, during this time, Buddhists monks have also been developed. Buddha has led his followers and formed different communities, however they do not follow the extreme asceticism of the Jains as part of their divine truth.
From these traditions, different groups have formed within the Christian community. According to research, it is possible that the Essenes, as inspired by the godly hermits Elijah and Elisha, was the first order of monk that was guided by Judaism. As the 3rd century AD came, the traditional Christian monasticism begins with St. Paul of Thebes. He stayed in a cave in the Egyptian desert to avoid his persecution as ordered by Decius. This is also the same reason why St. Cyprian has stayed in hiding at the other end of the North African coast.
The Life of a Monk
It’s never easy to be a monk. Since most of them pledged to give up the riches of the world, they have to find their own means to survive. They have to focus on meditation and prayer all their life. And sometimes, some of them may never see their family or go back to their life before saying the sacred oath of being a monk.
Do you see yourself making the same vows? Can you make the ultimate sacrifice of saying no to worldly riches?
Sources:
http://www.historyworld.net/timesearch/default.asp?conid=static_timeline&timelineid=730&page=1&keywords=Monasticism+timeline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk
http://www.slideshare.net/pcuadra/monasticism-144810
Photo credit: Monks – Pixabay Image via Pixabay.com
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