Organized monachism furnished a more convenient outlet for the stronger masochistic impulses than Chiliasm and so superseded it.
The fact that monachism grew in proportion as Chiliasm declined is in this respect merely a case of trans-shipment.
Monachism had always been a favourite adjunct of the Brahminanical system, and respect for monastic life had taken deep root among the people.
It was a noteworthy feature in Buddhist monachism that monks were never allowed to appear in public in a state of even semi-nudity.
Such, then, was the monachism which constituted the very pith and marrow of Buddhism.
Monachism had been introduced there before the middle of the fourth century, and shortly after commenced that fearful persecution in which sixteen thousand Christians are said to have suffered.
Monachism was a characteristic part of their ecclesiastical system: their Bishops, and Maphrian or Patriarch, were always taken from the Monks, who are even said to have worn an iron shirt or breastplate as a part of their monastic habit.
Barsumas had held the See of Nisibis, Theodore was read in the schools of Persia, and the successive Catholici of Seleucia had abolished Monachism and were secularizing the clergy.
Nor would monachism be needed, while martyrdoms were in progress.
The penitential character of Monachism is not prominent in St. Antony, though it is distinctly noticed by Pliny in his description of the Essenes of the Dead Sea, who anticipated the monastic life at the rise of Christianity.
St. Basil, the founder of Monachism in Pontus, one of the most learned of the Greek Fathers, wrote his theological treatises in the intervals of agricultural labour.
Even after the regulating of monachism by Pachomius and Basil, there were still isolated hermit societies which would be bound by no rules.
In Italy and Africa from the 5th century we hear of so-called =Gyrovagi=, who under the pretence of monachism led a useless vagabond life.
The patroness of female monachism in the West was St. Paula of Rome, who was the scholar and friend of Jerome.
Monachism itself, so rich and fruitful once, now all rotted into peat.
The influence of themonachism of the east naturally spread westward.
The rule of St Benedict, on which western monachism was founded, distinguishes between four classes of religious.
At this time the chief strength of Celtic monachismwas naturally in the north, although it had penetrated southwards to such isolated outposts as Glastonbury.
The beginnings of organised monachism in Ireland may be traced to the monastery of Lerins, on an island near Cannes, where St Patrick received his training.
The influence the first form of monachismhas exercised upon the world, so far as it has been beneficial, has been chiefly through the imagination, which has been fascinated by its legends.
Most of the passages remaining on the subject of the foundation of monachism are given by Thomassin, Discipline de l'Eglise, part i.
Relation ofmonachism to these virtues, 189, et seq.
Introduction of monachism into, 106 James, the Apostle, Eusebius' account of him, ii.
The details of the rapid propagation of Western monachism have been amply treated by many historians, and the causes of its success are sufficiently manifest.
Relation ofmonachism to the abstract love of truth, ii.
St. Hilarion instituted the first monks in Palestine, and he lived to see many thousands subject to his rule, and towards the close of his life to plantmonachism in Cyprus.
But in the West, monachism assumed very different forms, and exercised far higher functions.
The picture of Studite life is the picture of normal Greek and Slavonic monachism to this day.
Basilian monachismspread from Greece to Italy and Russia.
Of much greater importance was the importation of Basilian monachism into Russia, for it thereby became the norm of monachism for all the Slavonic lands.
During the middle ages the centre of Greek monachism shifted from Constantinople to Mount Athos.
Greek monachism underwent no development or change for four centuries, except the vicissitudes inevitable in all things human, which in monasticism assume the form of alternations of relaxation and revival.
In the first place, then, monachism in art, taken in a large sense, is historically interesting, as the expression of a most important era of human culture.
Monachism recognized what feudalism did not,--the claims of man as man.
The original poverty and social insignificance of monachism passed away, and the institution became the most powerful organization in Europe.
Luther saw that monachism was in violent opposition to the doctrine of salvation by grace, and that a monastic life was founded entirely on the pretended merits of man.
There had been a struggle: at first Luther had taken the side of monachism; but truth also had gone down into the lists, and monachism had fallen before it.
Already had he trodden under foot a host of Roman abuses, and even Rome herself; but monachism still remained standing.
Monachism was now the object of his reiterated blows; if the mass was the stronghold of the Roman doctrines, the monastic orders were the support of her hierarchy.
The spirit of those days, when monachism meant all that was purely ideal and beautiful, seems to live again.
A new monastic Order is to arise which will convert the world; contemplative monachism is the highest development of humanity, and the world will become, as it were, one vast monastery.
Although human memory is apt to register evil acts with more assiduity and fidelity than good, yet a contrary view of the last state of monachism may be argued with as much reason and with the support of equally reliable evidence.
Section I To people of modern times early monachismmust seem an unbeautiful and even offensive life.
Especially would this be the case in the seventh century, and afterwards, during the time continentalmonachism was in rivalry with the Celtic missionaries.
Section II Monachismof this Eastern type came from Gaul to Ireland.
Work of this grand character is the best testimony to the noble spirit of monachism in the days of Ethelwold.
And when Athanasius introduced Eastern monachism into Italy, and St. Martin of Tours and John Cassian carried it farther afield into Gaul, the same work went on.
Of the later days of monachism it is not so pleasant to write.
This service, added to the enormously greater service which monachism did for us in preserving ancient literature, will always breed kind thoughts of a system so repugnant to our modern view of human endeavour.
THE BOOK TRADE Secular makers of books have plied their trade in Europe since classic times, but during the early age of monachism their numbers were very small and they must have come nigh extinction altogether.
On the one hand it is urged that monachism became degenerate, both in reverence for spiritual affairs and in love of learning.
Already in the previous century the secular priesthood had complained bitterly of the impulse given to monachismby the founding and development of the Cistercians.
In its essence monachism was the selfish effort of the individual to secure his own salvation by repudiating all the duties and responsibilities of life.
This was a pest which had afflicted the Church ever since the rise of monachism in the fourth century, and it continued unabated.
Theological knowledge and monachism are not at all necessary means of cultivating bhakti; Krishna's society gives inoffensiveness and discipline.
From this monastery went forth St Augustine and his companions on their mission to England in 596, carrying their monachism with them; thus England was the first country out of Italy in which Benedictine life was firmly planted.
At that time the face of monachism was sad and pitiable.
That he did patronise monachism in Africa we gather from his writings, but it is not clear that he founded any distinct order; nor was any order called after his name until the middle of the ninth century.
Buddhism taught that only the monk could attain the highest sanctity and receive the highest reward, and such has generally been the teaching in those forms of Christianity in which monachism exists.
Monachism has rendered valuable aid to Buddhism and Christianity by training men and women, laity and clergy, who were devoted to the forms of religion represented by these organizations.
