Because it is not: the religious metaphor of the Monastery is deliberately and for a good reason IMHO a generic one. But in some traits it is more of a western nature.

Wouldn't a generic monastery have Buddhists? Also, where's that link supposed to point? I'm still a bit newbish here.

Haha, adding new areas, no seriously: haha!

I made the suggestion in jest; I realize that can easily be lost on the wire. I'm just trying to say I think being a monastery and a dojo are not mutually exclusive. I'm not demanding that we try to become a dojo, but I'm going to think of myself as ursus-senei, 'cause I want to. =D

I think that as with some other Japanese words, "philosophy" is an inaccurate translation of the real meaning of "do"...

It's from Chinese tao, "path" or "way" in the usual translation. I felt "philosophy" was the closest thing Perl has to a Way, so I called it that. It could be "The Ways of Perl," I suppose.

I'm vaguely inspired to translate the bits of philosophy in the Camel into Buddhist-sounding teachings. But my brain isn't cooperating. /sigh