Monastic life is a lifestyle of religious devotion and seclusion from the world. It is often associated with the practice of living in a CLOISTER, which is an enclosed area of a monastery or convent that is typically surrounded by walls or other structures. The term CLOISTER comes from the Latin word claustrum, meaning 'enclosed place.' Monastic life is characterized by prayer, contemplation, and manual labor, and is often seen as a way to draw closer to God.