But not interacting with people outside the monastery. Monks are sort of collectively introverted. Indeed, even within the monastery, interaction is often limit

But not interacting with people outside the monastery. Monks are sort of collectively introverted. Indeed, even within the monastery, interaction is often limited to the essential - consider rule of silence adhered to by some orders. hrktb is quite right about the general principle of monasticism. Here's the start of the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on it [1]: "Monasticism or monachism, literally the act of "dwelling alone" (Greek monos, monazein, monachos), has come to denote the mode of life pertaining to persons living in seclusion from the world, under religious vows and subject to a fixed rule, as monks, friars, nuns, or in general as religious. The basic idea of monasticism in all its varieties is seclusion or withdrawal from the world or society." EDIT although in the entry on "monk" [2] there is considerably less certainty about the origin of the name and idea. Imagine your primary reference work being internally inconsistent like that! Can't imagine where these bible-bashers got that idea. [1] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10459a.htm http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10459a.htm [2] http://catholicencyclopedia.newadvent.com/cathen/10487b.htm http://catholicencyclopedia.newadvent.com/cathen/10487b.htm