A hermit is a person who lives in isolation from society, either for religious, secular, or spiritual reasons. They may live in a hermitage or in a cave or forest. Roman Catholic and Buddhist monks also live a similar lifestyle of simplicity, prayer, and selfless service. The goal of a hermit is to attain spiritual enlightenment and connect with the divine aspects of life.
A hermit is a recluse who lives isolated from society. The term comes from the Greek word eremos, for desert or desert dweller. In Christianity, hermit refers to a hermit’s 40 years of life, wandering in the wilderness, bringing great change and religious conviction.
A person can be a religious, secular or spiritual hermit. The commonality is that he or she lives a lonely life of isolation. Most spiritual hermits have completely withdrawn from society, while many religious hermits live the life of a monk within the confines of a hermitage. In modern times, anyone who lives outside society is considered a hermit, regardless of his motivations or goals.
Roman Catholic hermits are referred to as monks. They live in harmony within their monastery, often in silence, and focus their efforts on sacred texts and mindful work. Often their daily activity is in the service of all humanity. Simplicity creates an environment for a life of contemplation, prayer and Gregorian chant.
Buddhist monks live a similar lifestyle, surrounded by sacred company. They are focused on meditation, contemplation, chanting and reciting sacred texts. Their daily activity is one of selfless service and devotion.
A hermit seeks out this lifestyle to eliminate the distractions and traps of society. Simplicity is essential to embrace the life of a hermit. This also includes a simplified diet because food can be a distraction to their focused attention.
For the spiritual hermit, or ascetic, he lives a total life of isolation. Preferably, they live in a cave or forest, away from any civilization. This allows the hermit to live in silence and focus on the natural flow of creation. This in turn gives him an understanding of the purpose and true blessings of life. These hermits live beyond the ego in a state that brings total contentment.
Living as a hermit is following a path of devotion to God, nature and one’s inner self. By renouncing all worldly and social concerns, one naturally becomes more in tune with the God or Gods of one’s heart. By renouncing and letting go of all preconceptions and opinions, this lifestyle allows the divine to shine through while advancing and paving the path simultaneously.
An ancient tale of the Tao tells the story of Lao Tsu’s disciple who was sent to his cave to contemplate the Tao. He was told to come back when he figured it out. After repeated refusals, the disciple finally presented himself to Lao Tsu and said, “Master, I have exhausted all efforts to know the Tao. I give up.” At that moment, Lao Tsu lovingly said, “Ah, now we can begin.”
A hermit can embrace many lifestyle differentiations. Isolation allows the spirit to connect with the divine aspects of life in a way that is difficult for the breadwinner. The source, course, and goal of every hermit is to attain spiritual enlightenment.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
