If you have done any research into the term hermit, you probably noticed that most definitions tend to be specialized to meet a group’s requirements or philosophical agenda, or they verge on being an urban legend. These diverse definitions can become confusing and frustrating for someone who is sincerely wanting to understand what is a basic hermit. Especially one who chooses not to align with a particular religious denomination. Fortunately there is a simple, straight forward definition.
Image via Wikipedia
Here it is, and it comes right out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
1) one that retires from society and lives in solitude especially for religious reasons
source: Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary
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Hopefully you found this definition helpful. Personally, I found it most helpful in filtering through all the additions and tweaks made by various folks and groups. Of course, the best definition for hermit is probably the life of one who is living it and not just talking about it. But be careful. You will likely find each hermit living their life uniquely different.
Now if you wish to disagree with Webster’s definition and want to use one that better suits your particular purpose or philosophy, fine. But please, let’s not argue it here.
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~ retires from society ~
To learn a bit more about the early hermits and what it means to retire from society, check out what Thomas Merton, had to say:
True, they were in a certain sense “anarchists” and it will do no harm to think of them in that light. They were men who did not believe in letting themselves be passively guided and ruled by a decadent state, and who believed that there was a way of getting along without slavish dependence on accepted, conventional values. But they did not intend to place themselves above society. They did not reject society with proud contempt, as if they were superior to other men. On the contrary, one of the reasons why they fled from the world of men was that in the world men [and women] were divided into those who were successful, and imposed their will on others, and those who had to give in and be imposed upon. The Desert Fathers declined to be ruled by men, but had no desire to rule over others themselves. Nor did they fly from human fellowship — the very fact that they uttered these “words” of advice [referring to the second half of his book] to one another is proof that they were eminently social. The society they sought was one where all men [all of mankind] were truly equal, where the only authority under God was the charismatic authority of wisdom, experience and love.
Thomas Merton
The Wisdom of the Desert
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~ solitude ~
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One aspect of the hermitic life that I find often overlooked or misunderstood is solitude. There are great benefits to be found from a practice of solitude. Yet the word solitude is often assumed to mean lonely. Something most people fear. Although one who is in solitude may be alone, they are not necessarily lonely.
While I’d like to discuss solitude further, it will have to wait for another day. Until then, here are a couple of articles you may find of interest/help:
1) THE LEADER’S CALL OF SOLITUDE: SOLITUDE AS A MECHANISM FOR AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
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Original: January 15, 2012
