Encyclopedia of Spiritual Knowledge

Monasticism implies that the spiritual seeker’s consciousness is focused on only one Goal — full cognition of God and merging with Him in His Abode, and also on helping all deserving ones who walk this Path.

Monk is a word of Greek origin. It denotes a person who came to the state of solitude in respect to all the “earthly”, including his or her own body, the state of being turned with the “face” of the consciousness to God.

The tasks of a true monk cannot be accomplished by mere wearing special clothes, accepting new names, kowtowing, and repeating standard prayers. All these have nothing to do with the true monasticism.

Leading a parasitic way of life, which is extolled sometimes as a virtue by adepts of some degenerated religious schools, is in fact a vicious practice that has a detrimental effect on the destinies of the followers of such distortion.

Monasticism is incompatible with drinking alcohol, smoking, using other drugs, as well as with eating “killed” food (i.e. meat and fish).

True monasticism does not imply celibate (abstaining from sexual contacts). Sex should be neither prohibited nor suppressed; there should be another solution: sex must not hinder one’s spiritual work; it must not distract one’s attention from it. The attention of monks should be totally focused on God as their Purpose and on serving Him by helping other people in their evolution.

True monasticism also does not imply retiring from the society, living in a monastery or in seclusion, as well as abandonment of the basic social duties.

True monasticism implies dedication of oneself to the work for the Evolution of Universal Consciousness. The most important part of the work of every monk is continuous efforts on transforming oneself (as a consciousness) according to the Plan of God for His children, and also helping other people in this.

On the true spiritual Path, there can be no such perversions as "mortification of the flesh" through renouncing elementary hygiene and medicine, exhaustive fasting, wearing chains, or self-mutilation.

The monastic status is incompatible with craving to accumulate material wealth, with all kinds of selfishness, violence, aggressiveness, falsehood, feeling of self-importance, egoistic sexuality, or the ability to be angry, envious, jealous, or gloomy.

The life of true monks is a life of spiritual warriors, who constantly struggle with their imperfections and help others. This life of service passes in happiness and joy, which grows each day as the monk moves to the Creator.