Monasteries and Asceticism

The depiction of monastic life in section ten paints an interesting picture. Perhaps Sulpicius leaves it out because it would be assumed, but there is no discussion of how the monks provide for themselves. Sulpicius specifically mentions that the Monks practiced no ars and that the Monks are in the practice of not selling or buying anything. I understand that ascetics try to limit the amount of food they eat, but one still needs some level of sustenance to survive. Sulpicius mentions fasting, but he also mentions that brothers coming together after fasting to dine together and also wine for medical use. Maybe I am picking up on something that isn’t really there; but if the Monks are not providing for themselves, then wouldn’t they have to rely on the outside world for food? Since they are trying to cut themselves off from the world, wouldn’t relying on outside goods be hypocritical? They also wear camel skin clothing, which our commentary mentioned would have been imported to copy the ascetics of Egypt. But that would imply buying and selling, which Sulpicius explicitly states they do not do. Perhaps that means simply at the level of individual neophyte and not the order as a whole, which would make sense and give meaning to the medium that everything is put into. The monastery, by removing any activity except for holy study, allows for the individual monk to be less concerned with the menial toils of life. The passage also mentions that there are only 8 disciples and I would imagine that would also make it easier for a monastery to support itself. However, why only partially emulate the ascetics of Egypt? Why not keep completely to themselves, if that is the monks’ purpose in going to the monastery?  Also, the ascetics of Egypt would have had to provide for themselves completely and been completely cut off from the outside world. However, the camel skin does also call to mind John the Baptist and he comes out of the wilderness prepared to spread the word of Jesus’ coming. I guess the other thing that I noticed was the focus on remaining separated both from each other and the world. It would seem incongruent with the ideas that Jesus represented in his ministry of approaching all levels of society. One would think that the monks would seek to understand the world in order that they might be better equipped to tend their flock as bishops. The insular approach would seem to make sense only if that is the purpose of a monk’s life. Otherwise that same insulation would make it more difficult to understand, sympathize, and help those whom these monks tend. However, referencing John the Baptist again, perhaps the period of isolation for a short period of time(atleast not a lifetime) is a way for someone to prepare themselves more full to spread the word. I am not very familiar with monastic life and I found the passage an interesting opportunity to reason monastic life using the opinion of someone who is clearly favorable towards it.