The correct answer is "giving up comforts and possessions for a life of study and worship", this religious way of life is still important in Catholic and Orthodox church, in some cases monks (men) and nuns (women) accept, willingly, to follow this way of life inside the monastery and to stop the contact with the outside world (even with their families). This philosophy was very common and important during the 16th century, and despite nowadays it has lost the impact it had, it is still practiced by some christian orders in many countries.