--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Monks congregate like dogs in a kennel…" description: "\"Monks congregate like dogs in a kennel, From contact with their superiors they acquire knowledge, Is one the course of the wind, is one the water of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/taliesin-40705_contact_monks-congregate-like-dogs-in-a-kennel-f_1708376.jpg" --- # Monks congregate like dogs in a kennel, From contact with… ![“Monks congregate like dogs in a kennel, From contact with their superiors they acquire knowledge, Is one the course of the wind, is one the water of the sea? Is one the spark of the fire, of unrestrainable tumult? Monks congregate like wolves, From contact with their superiors they acquire…” quote by Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/taliesin-40705_contact_monks-congregate-like-dogs-in-a-kennel-f_1708376.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/taliesin-40705_contact_monks-congregate-like-dogs-in-a-kennel-f_1708376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/taliesin-40705_contact_monks-congregate-like-dogs-in-a-kennel-f_1708376.jpg) > “Monks congregate like dogs in a kennel, From contact with their superiors they acquire knowledge, Is one the course of the wind, is one the water of the sea? Is one the spark of the fire, of unrestrainable tumult? Monks congregate like wolves, From contact with their superiors they acquire knowledge. They know not when the deep night and dawn divide. Nor what is the course of the wind, or who agitates it, In what place it dies away, on what land it roars.” [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem likens monks to animals, questioning the nature of knowledge acquisition and the unknowable forces that shape existence. **In simple terms:** Monks are compared to animals, pondering how knowledge is gained and mysteries of nature. Key Takeaway Consider how authority influences learning and the limits of understanding. Themes knowledge authority nature mystery Mood contemplative enigmatic thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - spiritual practice - education - philosophical reflection - creative writing Key Concepts epistemology metaphor existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does authority shape what we learn? - What forces remain beyond human comprehension? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify complex spiritual traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dawn/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Like Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-dogs/) [Like Wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-wolves-899732/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Monks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monks/) [Monks Congregate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monks-congregate-1223014/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks/) [Tumult Monks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tumult-monks-1223015/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [The Buddha also counseled the monks and nuns to avoid wasting any precious time by engaging in idle conversation, oversleeping, pursuing fame and recognition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-buddha-also-counseled-the-monks-and-nuns-to-avoid-wasting-any/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Indian monks were the first to choose the garden as the proper setting for their lives, which were devoted to the contemplation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-luise-gothein/indian-monks-were-the-first-to-choose-the-garden-as-the-proper/) [Marie-Luise Gothein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-luise-gothein/) > [There is, Oh Monks, a not-born, a not-become, a not-made, a not-compounded. Monks, if that unborn, not-become, not-made, not-compounded were not, there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-oh-monks-a-not-born-a-not-become-a-not-made-a-not-compounded/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I remember there was this one lady shaman who said that having children puts a hole in your soul. And the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larkin-grimm/i-remember-there-was-this-one-lady-shaman-who-said-that-having/) [Larkin Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larkin-grimm/) > [What! Have you no monks to teach, to dispute, to govern, to intrigue and to burn people who do not agree with them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/what-have-you-no-monks-to-teach-to-dispute-to-govern-to-intrigue-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [All is lost. Monks, monks, monks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-viii-of-england/all-is-lost-monks-monks-monks/) [Henry VIII of England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-viii-of-england/) > [Two monks sit facing, playing chess on the mountain, The bamboo shadow on the board is dark and clear. Not a person sees the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bai-juyi/two-monks-sit-facing-playing-chess-on-the-mountain-the-bamboo-shadow/) [Bai Juyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bai-juyi/) > [Monks are not expected to speak about themselves; the message is important, not the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/monks-are-not-expected-to-speak-about-themselves-the-message-is/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [I was educated by monks - I thank them dearly for the education they gave me, but I am no longer a Catholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-was-educated-by-monks-i-thank-them-dearly-for-the-education-they/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [There is a basic problem that a lot of Western monks and nuns become ordained without really understanding or appreciating what the monastic life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/there-is-a-basic-problem-that-a-lot-of-western-monks-and-nuns-become/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Because monks come from the midst of purity, they consider as good and pure what does not arouse desire among other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/because-monks-come-from-the-midst-of-purity-they-consider-as-good-and/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [Monks, one thing, if practiced and made much of, conduces to great thrill, great profit, great security after the toil, to mindfulness and self-possession,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/monks-one-thing-if-practiced-and-made-much-of-conduces-to-great/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If the world is crazy, maybe it needs a few sane people in the middle of it. Why do monks lock themselves up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/if-the-world-is-crazy-maybe-it-needs-a-few-sane-people-in-the-middle/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [When I became a novice monk, I lived in a temple where the atmosphere was quite like in a family. The abbot is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-became-a-novice-monk-i-lived-in-a-temple-where-the-atmosphere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Taliesin > [“Hoarding kings are to be pitied in their lifetime when they can't take their riches to the grave. - Gwallawg is Other ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/hoarding-kings-are-to-be-pitied-in-their-lifetime-when-they-can-t/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [Old is man when he is born and young, young ever after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/old-is-man-when-he-is-born-and-young-young-ever-after/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [I have been a multitude of shapes, Before I assumed a consistent form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/i-have-been-a-multitude-of-shapes-before-i-assumed-a-consistent-form/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [“Dechymic pwy yw. Creadt kyn dilyw. Creadur kadarn Heb gic heb ascwrn. Heb wytheu heb waet. Heb pen aheb traet. Ny bed hyn ny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/dechymic-pwy-yw-creadt-kyn-dilyw-creadur-kadarn-heb-gic-heb-ascwrn/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [From warriors ravens grew red And with their leader a host attacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/from-warriors-ravens-grew-red-and-with-their-leader-a-host-attacked/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [Let them make their war. Whence come night and day? Whence will the eagle become gray? Whence is it that night is dark? Whence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/let-them-make-their-war-whence-come-night-and-day-whence-will-the/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [“To pay flattery their country will bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/to-pay-flattery-their-country-will-bleed/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [I praise the Lord, the Sovereign of the royal realm, Who has extended his sway over the tract of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/i-praise-the-lord-the-sovereign-of-the-royal-realm-who-has-extended/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) > [Reaper of enemies; strong of grip; One kind with his fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taliesin/reaper-of-enemies-strong-of-grip-one-kind-with-his-fathers/) [Taliesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) [Explore all 10 Taliesin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taliesin/) ## More Contact quotes > [Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/politics-in-philadelphia-is-a-contact-sport/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [The improved American highway system isolated the American-in-transit. On his speedway he had no contact with the towns which he by-passed. 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