ascetics
Pleasure-shunning devotees
Ascetics are people who practice severe self-discipline and abstain from physical pleasures, typically for spiritual or religious purposes.
They may fast, live in isolation, own few possessions, or deny themselves comfort: The desert ascetics spent years in solitary prayer.
The singular ascetic also functions as an adjective describing such practices or the austere lifestyle itself.
Deliberate food avoidance
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
celibacy · chastity · mortification · penance · self-restraint · abnegation · purification · forbearance
Strict, thorough precision
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
strictness · austerity · stoicism · puritanism · self-mastery · devotion · perseverance · regimen
Profound spiritual awakening
- meditationFocused attention practice
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
dharma · karma · mantra · yoga · transcendence · salvation · piety · holiness
Lack of complexity
- spartanRigorously simple, unadorned
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
- frugalityEconomical resource management
- bareLacking any covering
unadorned · essentialism · poverty · plainness · modesty · humility · simple living · mendicancy
Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- epicureanismPursuit of refined pleasures
- neoplatonismRevival of Platonic metaphysics
- transcendentalismIntuition-based idealist philosophy
dualism · gnosticism · mysticism · contemplation · detachment · ataraxia · self-examination · inner life
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
temperance · celibacy · chastity · mortification · penance · self-restraint · abnegation · purification · forbearance · restraint
rigor
Strict, thorough precision
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
self-control · strictness · austerity · stoicism · puritanism · self-mastery · devotion · perseverance · regimen · routine
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
- meditationFocused attention practice
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
satori · dharma · karma · mantra · yoga · transcendence · salvation · piety · holiness · saintliness
simplicity
Lack of complexity
- spartanRigorously simple, unadorned
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
- frugalityEconomical resource management
bare · unadorned · essentialism · poverty · plainness · modesty · humility · simple living · mendicancy · begging bowl
stoicism
Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- epicureanismPursuit of refined pleasures
- neoplatonismRevival of Platonic metaphysics
transcendentalism · dualism · gnosticism · mysticism · contemplation · detachment · ataraxia · self-examination · inner life · wisdom
- Orthodox Monksabbot, abbots, novice, novices, cenobite
- asceticshermit, hermits, recluse, recluses, anchorite
- holy peoplesaint, saints, prophet, holy men, martyr
- monasteriesabbey, abbeys, abbot, abbots, abbess
- spiritual seekersseeker, seekers, pilgrim, pilgrims, aspirants
- Kumbh Melasacred bath, ritual bathing, pilgrims, Ganges, devotees
asceticshedonists
Pursuers of sensual delight
sybarites · sensualists · debauchees · libertines · epicureans
asceticsmaterialists
Prioritizers of physical possessions
spendthrifts · profligates · plutocrats · big spenders · jet-setters
- ascetic lifeExistence of severe self-discipline