MONASTERIES are found within two main religious traditions. The word itself is derived from Greek and refers to various forms of Christian ascetic communities. It is also used to translate key Buddhist terms, especially sangha, or the community, and bhikku, or the individual disciple who followed the teachings of the Buddha.

So the word has come to refer to a tradition of community living within both Buddhism and Jainism, but has not extended to the various forms of community in Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. By examining both the Eastern and Western forms of monastic life, this study sets out to define what a monastery is, and to understand how the movement grows within such diverse forms of faith.

There are two defining characteristics. These are, first, withdrawal (and renunciation) and, second, regimentation (and routinisation). These two processes lead to the formation of distinctive communities. Then there are three sections. First, there are the forms of organisation, with forms of admission, promises made, rules of life, regulations, and discipline. Then there are the methods of spiritual and ethical formation, which come from imitating the lives and example of saints. Then there are the places where these are followed and where monks live.

The book is a reflection on what monasticism is. While it does not attempt to be a history, it gives a wide range of examples, especially from the monastic life of early Egypt and of various Buddhist schools. It draws from modern research in anthropology and other disciplines, and bibliographical notes direct the reader towards further exploration. There are also pieces of personal anecdote and experience.

The book finishes by reflecting that, while we might expect monasticism to decline in a post-secular age, there are fresh and surprising forms of monasticism springing up in Tibet, where monasteries preserve national identity; in Thailand and Myanmar, where the nationalism of the monks can lead to violence against others; and in the United States, where the “Nuns on the Bus” are activists for social justice.

Monasteries have preserved and promoted religious faith, and are continuing to do this. This lively exploration helps us to understand how they have done this.
 

The Revd Dr John Binns is Visiting Professor at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge.

Monasticism: A very short introduction
Stephen J. Davis
OUP £7.99
(978-0-19-871764-5)
Church Times Bookshop £7.20