What Is a Hermitage?
The term "hermitage" has come to have two distinct meanings. One keeps with its original religious meaning as the dwelling of a hermit, usually a monk in seclusion. The second, more contemporary usage is as a place of retreat and seclusion, not necessarily for religious purposes.
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Christian Hermitages
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In the 11th century, an Italian monk---seeking to "revitalize the best of the communal and solitary dimensions of monastic life"---began the Hermitage of Camaldolese with a single community in the mountains of central Italy. Camaldolese monks have established hermitages in Europe, Africa and the U.S., with the New Camadoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California.
Buddhist Hermitages
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Buddhist monks also seek seclusion and reflection at hermitages. Southern, or Theravada, Buddhism (practiced in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka) has a Forest Tradition that observes the Vinaya monastic code. The Forest Tradition is practiced in the United States by the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, which has established a hermitage in White Salmon, Washington.
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Secular Usage
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The word hermitage conjures up images of seclusion and peace, so it's no surprise that hotels have latched on. Hermitage hotels are accommodations that pander to a sense of remoteness and seclusion. These are different from hermitage stays, which are actual homestays at monasteries.
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References
- Photo Credit hermitage image by DOLPHIN from Fotolia.com
