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Why Do People Become Monks?
People have different motives behind this ancient choice of living!
A few years back, whenever my phone used to buzz with notifications and deadline emails, I used to think of renouncing it all to become a Monk! Though as a joke only, my idea of being a monk used to be someone who sits in the mountains with no deadlines, no phones, and no attraction for worldly possessions.
It is when I met them and understood their world, I learned that being a Monk is not this, but living in solitude, simplicity, and harmony. They don’t do this because they want to run from the complexities of everyday life and embrace monastic living. Instead, the reasons vary at individual levels. While the specifics may differ, it all narrows down to — the desire for inner peace, to know themselves better, to find their purpose on earth and the pursuit of believing in something greater than self.
And talking to a few of them, here is what I learned about them-
To Have A Sense Of Calm
Many monks are seeking relief from the emotional turbulence they have been through. They want to learn detachment and simple living. The silence during meditation becomes their powerful antidote to the constant chatter of the mind.
Thich Nhat Hanh, a revered Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Monk, once said-
“We humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting and relaxing. We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we sabotage our happiness by chasing materialistic things!”
I can’t agree more with this! The moment we sit idle, we reach out to our phone to scroll through Social Media or a Shopping App. When was the last time you sat for an hour doing nothing? To create space in the noise, to observe and calm the storm within?
Finding Purpose
As the world equates success with Wealth, Fame, and Professional Achievement, the nagging question seeps, Is that all you are born for? Some turn to religion or spirituality to search for the deeper meaning — to find something beyond the surface-level gratification.
Becoming a monk means you opt for a life of service, helping the community, and devotion to something larger than yourself. The purpose lies…
