Reply To: Did you learn anything about monks in the novel that surprised you?
That’s an interesting question, Angie, and I understand what you’re saying. It would take a special type of personality to be able to adjust to that sort of lifestyle. I know that Jean-Guy pretty much had the same question in TBM— he saw a version of himself in that one monk who was so like him is so many ways, but just couldn’t understand that man’s choices. And that monk (sorry, his name escapes me at the moment) told him that he did it to save himself, basically. It worked for him, and he saw it as a positive thing. That said, I don’t think that it’s really possible to separate the religious aspect from this particular sort of choice— while I’m sure there are probably some people who just require that sort of environment to exist, and might find something similar in some other sort of regimented system — the routine, perhaps the silence, the orderliness, the time for reflection, the limitation of too many choices and/or temptations, etc.— surely, that religious calling has to be strong to even consider being a monk. I can’t relate to it, but neither can I relate to many of other peoples’ choices and logic. That said, I do believe that good people can exist in such situations, and be sincere in their efforts to do good, but I also realize that it’s a fine line between one person’s good, decent life and another’s version, and what seems logical and just to some is the exact opposite to others. At these times, I sometimes consider that being a hermit might have a personal appeal!
