monks

Monks are religious practitioners who have chosen a life of renunciation and dedicated pursuit of spiritual aims. They typically live in a monastery or hermitage and follow a regulated set of rules or vows, often including celibacy, poverty, and obedience. In many traditions, monks rely on monastic communities for support and practice, and women who pursue similar commitments are commonly known as nuns or sisters.

Christian monasticism originated in Late Antiquity, with communities forming around cenobitic (communal) or eremitic (solitary) traditions. The Rule of Saint Benedict, developed in the 6th century, organized life around prayer, work, and study, and helped spread monasteries across Western Europe. Monastic communities served as centers of worship, manuscript production, education, and charitable care, influencing religion, culture, and society. Monks attend set daily offices, labor within the community, and pursue spiritual formation under vows.

Buddhist monasticism centers on ordination in the sangha, with monastic codes known as the Vinaya. Bhikkhu (monk) and bhikkhunī (nun) strive to live by precepts that support renunciation, meditation, study, and ethical conduct. Daily life commonly includes chanting, meditation, alms rounds, study of scriptures, and shared chores. Buddhist monastic orders exist across Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, each with distinct robes, rules, and institutional structures.

Today, monasteries remain active in many regions, functioning as places of worship, education, and social service. They preserve liturgical and intellectual traditions, support lay communities, and sometimes operate schools, clinics, or charitable programs. In various cultures, monks are seen as custodians of spiritual discipline and cultural heritage.