Final answer:
The disciplines of monastic life were all directed towards the goal of spiritual contemplation and the pursuit of divine communion. Monks engaged in prayer, meditation, and renunciation of worldly goods, while also carrying out useful work and providing education and administration to their communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disciplines of monastic life were all directed towards the goal of spiritual contemplation and the pursuit of divine communion. The early monks spent their time in prayer, meditation, and renunciation of worldly goods, following the example of figures like Antony of Egypt. Later, monastic communities embraced useful work as well, engaging in activities like tending crops and animals, copying out books, and providing education and administration to newly converted peoples. Monasteries became centers of learning, preserving knowledge from the ancient world and fostering the development of Christian culture.