What is J's view about the cistercian monks ?

Jerome felt that the near naked monks who ate no flesh, fish, or eggs were a sad and depressing group of people. He feels that despite their allegiance to their faith, the monks have really missed out on the meaning of life.

A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! Strange that Nature’s voices all around them—the soft singing of the waters, the whisperings of the river grass, the music of the rushing wind—should not have taught them a truer meaning of life than this. They listened there, through the long days, in silence, waiting for a voice from heaven; and all day long and through the solemn night it spoke to them in myriad tones, and they heard it not.

Cistercian Monks lived in Abbe in 13th century about 500 years ago. These were the monks who were sturned, they followed a strict lifestyle. They wore no clothes but rough tunics and cowls, they ate no flesh, no fish and no eggs. They lay upon straw and rose at mid night to prey. They spent the day in labour. Besides reading and playing, they never spoke in their lifetime. It is a pretty serious existence. 'J' respected these monks. He was impressed by these Monks. He also thought that they were unique. Despite their faith, these monks have really lived no life and didn't know true meaning of life.