As times have changed, monks have changed as well.
Monasticism developed in many of the world's major religions. The idea of isolating oneself from the temptations of the world to devote one's life to prayer or contemplation was seen as a way to achieve salvation, according to Catholic or Eastern Orthodox views, or liberation from karma, as perceived by Jains and Buddhists. In the 21st century, while Jainist monks cannot be said to have adapted to "modern" life, Buddhist, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox monks have embraced the use of technology, either to help in supporting themselves as communities, to spread their teaching or to attract new members.
Monastic Roots
As an offshoot of Hinduism, Jainist monks renounced all worldly things and depended on the local community to provide for their few physical needs, forming into small groups of five or six. Buddhist monks developed along similar lines, using begging bowls to collect food and alms, but they also freely interacted in society, preaching and teaching as well, and forming larger groups gathered into a monastery. Catholic and Eastern Orthodox monasticism developed from the practice of solitary hermits banding together to live communally and following a "rule," or established guidelines. These generally consisted of vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and each monastery would support itself with the fruits of its labor.
Buddhist Monks
While Buddhism originated in India, it was disseminated into Tibet, China and the Far East and took hold there. Buddhist monks have traditionally been teachers and scholars and many are now embracing the Internet as a means of extending their message. Venerable Pannyavaro, an Australian monk, initiated the website Buddhanet, as a "Buddhist education and information network." Today, the website includes an online Buddhist magazine, an instructional section called "Insight Meditation Online," as well as a section on Buddhist studies. In Beijing, the abbot of Longquan Temple, Master Xuecheng, established a website in Chinese, English and Japanese, as well as personal and temple blogs, a personal English Twitter and instant messaging groups in eight different languages.
Catholic Monks
In the Christian tradition, monks have supported themselves by growing their own food. They also began to sell items, such as specialty foods, crafts, cookbooks to CDs of Gregorian chant. Many monasteries now have websites that advertise the products they make as well as offer information on retreats they sponsor. In the U.K., monasteries have taken to offering "taster" weekends to those with an interest in a possible vocation. Worth Abbey in West Sussex has even been the subject of two BBC reality shows -- "The Monastery" in 2005 and "The Monastery Revisited" in 2006.
Eastern Orthodox Monks
Outside Greece and Russia, the Eastern Orthodox monasteries in North America and elsewhere often support websites offering their products, such as coffee, tea, incense, candles, hand-painted icons or other devotional items. One of the more unusual businesses developed by any monastery is the dog-training material and breeding program offered by the monks of New Skete, who are Byzantine-Rite Franciscans living near Cambridge, New York. They breed German Shepherds and will train other dogs. They have produced best-selling dog-training books and their training program was featured on Animal Planet in a series called "Divine Canine."
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