Monasticism is a subject of vital interest of every spiritual seeker. This book presents a symposium by eminent scholars and savants to the reader explaining about monasticism and its ideal and tradition. The reader can find here articles on the monastic tradition as it has developed and evolved in Hinduism Buddhism Christianity and Jainism. There are also articles describing how the best elements from all these religions have been harmoniously synthesized in the monastic tradition as it finds expression in the Ramakrishna Order. Thus the reader can expect to get a fairly clear outline about several facets of monasticism.