What is a Monk?

Question

What is a Monk, my vision of a Monk is a short, fat, bald top of head with hair all around the bald top, and wearing brown robes with a rope belt..............

Answer 1

A person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit

It denotes a condition of Being devoid of passions such as lust, anger or craving and is thus a state of great inner peace and contentment.

his clothes are to wear
- but unfortunately, most wear their religion & hence stereo-types !

Answer 2

A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. The concept is very ancient and can be seen in many religions.

The term monk comes from the Greek monachos, commonly translated as a solitary person.

There are Eastern Orthodox Monks, who wear black robes and have long beards. They are taller than most monks. Or,
there are Buddist Monks who wear orange or bright colored robes and are bald, but wear nothing on thier head.

Answer 3

A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. The concept is very ancient and can be seen in many religions. Normally they dress up simple and lead a very simple life {closer to nature where available} Robed monks are indeed very commonly seen in the movies but in Tibet the home of monks they wear even simpler clothes {unstiched garments}

Answer 4

A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. The concept is very ancient and can be seen in many religions.

The term monk comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person. In the Greek language, the term can apply to men or women, but in English, it usually applies only to men, while nun is more commonly used to refer to female monastics. Other terms such as hesychast, solitary, hermit, anchorite, ascetic are usually interchangeable with monk. Although ascetics existed in various religions prior to Christianity, the term “monk” is of Christian invention.

My idea of a monk matches the buddhist version. I imagine a wizened old bald man with a face that either makes him look like a young with the weight of the world on his shoulders or an old man who looks rather youthful. He dresses in orange robes, and he drinks green tea with either goat milk in it or a rancid knob of butter.

Answer 5

A monk is a man that has devoted his life to Jesus Christ, They live in a monastery(place for monks only) and have little to do with the outside world. They also make and sell things to help support themselves, I.E. The monks near where I grew up made cement bricks and sold them to "outsiders"

Answer 6

The term monk comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person. In the Greek language, the term can apply to men or women, but in English, it usually applies only to men, while nun is more commonly used to refer to female monastics. Other terms such as hesychast, solitary, hermit, anchorite, ascetic are usually interchangeable with monk. Although ascetics existed in various religions prior to Christianity, the term “monk” is of Christian invention.

Answer 7

I think the monks of the orient my take offence to your description of a monk. To me you described the monks of Robin Hood's Old England times.
I think Monks are religious people that separate themselves from what ever it is that they think will get them closer to God. I think that they are deeply rooted in their religion and have a great deal of self discipline

Answer 8

A monk is somewhat of a man who is a member or a part of an ascetic religious order, like buddism and that nature.

Answer 9

in a sense a suppose you could classify a monk as a male version of a nun......one who has completely devoted their life to god and therefore has given up the social aspects of life includding never marrying, because in a way they are married to god, and a redemption of all personal belongings,generally all they own on a personal level is a few articles of clothing and obviously a bible.......everything else belongs to the group(church)........in a way i suppose you could say that their life in a monestary is similar to that of a commune everyone, works for the betterment of the group and no person is better than another

Answer 10

a monk is anyone who practices asceticism (the conditioning of the body for spiritual purity while depriving oneself of earthly/fleshly pleasures). the actualy monk wouldnt really be fat because they would deprive themselves of food in the act of fasting, showing their body that they control it rather than that it controls them. monks come from just about every religious denomination there is