A hermit's reading list
September 16, 2010 12:25 PM Subscribe
I recently watched "Amongst White Clouds" and reread Road to Heaven: Encounters With Chinese Hermits and am looking for more books and films on the solo ascetic life.
Those with a Zen / Buddhist slant are of particular interest, but I'm casting the net pretty broadly here. The asceticism doesn't have to have an overtly religious motive.
Older, obscure-or-out-of-print-but-interesting sources will be especially appreciated.
Those with a Zen / Buddhist slant are of particular interest, but I'm casting the net pretty broadly here. The asceticism doesn't have to have an overtly religious motive.
Older, obscure-or-out-of-print-but-interesting sources will be especially appreciated.
You might enjoy Into Great Silence, which was an unprecedented look at life in a Carthusian monastery. This is an order, oddly enough, of hermits - many of the monks live in cells, while the others are responsible for the upkeep, feeding, etc. Considering the circumstances - one camera(man), no extra lights - it's beautifully shot.
For reading, I've recommended here before The New Seeds of Contemplation before, which was written by Thomas Merton during his time in the hermitage of his Trappist monastery.
For an Eastern Orthodox perspective, you might peruse the Philokalia, though it is likely going to be less about the ascetic life per se and more about its fruits..
posted by jquinby at 1:37 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
For reading, I've recommended here before The New Seeds of Contemplation before, which was written by Thomas Merton during his time in the hermitage of his Trappist monastery.
For an Eastern Orthodox perspective, you might peruse the Philokalia, though it is likely going to be less about the ascetic life per se and more about its fruits..
posted by jquinby at 1:37 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's A Stranger in Tibet which tells the story of Kawaguchi Ekai.
posted by Abiezer at 3:56 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by Abiezer at 3:56 PM on September 16, 2010
Seconding "Into Great Silence".
But here's an unconventional suggestion: Anathem by Neal Stephenson. It's a fantasy/sci-fi novel about a monastery that's devoted not to religion, but to science and mathematics.
posted by schrodycat at 4:30 PM on September 16, 2010
But here's an unconventional suggestion: Anathem by Neal Stephenson. It's a fantasy/sci-fi novel about a monastery that's devoted not to religion, but to science and mathematics.
posted by schrodycat at 4:30 PM on September 16, 2010
Response by poster:
Seconding "Into Great Silence".
Thanks - I've seen and enjoyed it, but am interested here only in books/movies dealing with hermits and other folks living, praying, or meditating in isolation.
posted by ryanshepard at 6:21 PM on September 16, 2010
Seconding "Into Great Silence".
Thanks - I've seen and enjoyed it, but am interested here only in books/movies dealing with hermits and other folks living, praying, or meditating in isolation.
posted by ryanshepard at 6:21 PM on September 16, 2010
The Way of the White Clouds by Lama Anagarika Govinda.
posted by gudrun at 10:09 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by gudrun at 10:09 PM on September 16, 2010
"A book of silence", Sara Maitland.
posted by curious_yellow at 3:33 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by curious_yellow at 3:33 AM on September 17, 2010
This movie is fictional but it is very good: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring.
posted by at the crossroads at 8:50 PM on September 17, 2010
posted by at the crossroads at 8:50 PM on September 17, 2010
Check out the hermitary (both the website and the forum).
posted by BigSky at 2:03 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by BigSky at 2:03 AM on September 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by satori_movement at 12:54 PM on September 16, 2010