We are accustomed to believe that monasteries and monastic culture are associated primarily with the Christian religion. This is certainly true. The book you are holding in your hands tells about Christian monasteries that have become truly national (and often global) shrines both in the Catholic West and in the Orthodox East, as well as in countries where the so-called ancient Christian Churches exist. But the book also tells about Buddhist monasteries, because in the tradition of this world religion, the custom of creating centers for hermitic communal living, prayer practice and management, which are rightfully called monasteries, has also been widespread since ancient times.