From East to West: A History of Monasticism

13th century Abbot Absolute Alexandria asceticism ascetics ashrams Asia avasa became Benedictine bhikshus bishops Bodhisattva Buddha Buddhism celibacy cenobitic centre charity China Christ Christian monasticism Christian monks Church Cistercian Colu Congregations convents countries culture Desert Fathers desire devotion different schools disciples divine doctrine Dogen Eastern Egypt Egyptian eremitical existence faithful famous followed founded Gîtâ give God's groups guru heart hermits Hindu monachism Hinduism holy ideal India Infinite influence Jain Japan liturgy living Martin of Dumes meditation monasteries monastic monastic spirituality monastic tradi monks movement mystical Nirvana nuns origin Pachomius passions peace penances perfect period persecutions practices prayer Qumran refuge religions religious Rinzai rules sacred salvation Scriptures self-mastery Shiva silence solitude Soto soul spiritual masters St Antony St Benedict striving Syria teaching temple texts Thomas Merton Tibet tion tradition union Upanishads wisdom worship Zazen Zen schools