In the west a Monk's focus was bettering themselves to attain oneness with God, however in the East they were oriented on bettering the community, as evident by the importance of Monk's integration into a community. (Buss, 6) Furthermore, it is actually encouraged for monks to be part of society as a whole when they are needed to offer spiritual guidance, as demonstrated by St. Basil. In fat Basil the Great did not see need to establish a monastic class at all.(Frazee, 12)
Benedict did not concern himself with those who would have, "turned his mind's eye away from the light of contemplation. Each day, exhausted by their refusal to be corrected, he would have neglected his own affairs and might perhaps abandoned himself without finding them." (White, 170)