.... ▁To ▁go ▁into ▁the ▁pou st in ia ▁means ▁to ▁listen ▁to ▁God . ▁It ▁means ▁entering ▁into ▁k en osis ▁— ▁the ▁empty ing ▁of ▁ones elf ." ▁She ▁prom otes ▁the ▁pou st in ia ▁as ▁a ▁place ▁where ▁anyone ▁— ▁in ▁any ▁walk ▁of ▁life ▁— ▁can ▁go ▁for ▁ 2 4 ▁hours ▁of ▁silence , ▁sol itude ▁and ▁prayer . ▁Ult imately , ▁however , ▁the ▁pou st in ik ' s ▁call ▁is ▁to ▁the ▁desert ▁of ▁one ' s ▁own ▁heart ▁where in ▁he ▁dwell s ▁with ▁God ▁alone , ▁whether ▁in ▁the ▁work place ▁or ▁in ▁a ▁solit ary ▁locale . ▁▁ ▁A ▁pou st in ia ▁cabin ▁or ▁room ▁generally ▁consists ▁of ▁a ▁bed , ▁a ▁table ▁and ▁chair , ▁a ▁cross , ▁and ▁a ▁Bible . ▁ ▁Other ▁trad itions ▁ ▁Ash ram ▁ ▁In ▁H indu ism , ▁a ▁herm itage ▁is ▁called ▁an ▁as hr am . ▁Trad itionally , ▁an ▁as hr am ▁in ▁ancient ▁India ▁was ▁a ▁place ▁where ▁s ages ▁lived ▁in ▁peace ▁and ▁tran qu ility ▁amid st ▁nature . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁S ources ▁Source : ▁The ▁History ▁of ▁Relig ious ▁Sec l usion , ▁A . S . ▁Brown , ▁ 1 9 6 3 ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Madonna ▁House : ▁P oust in ia : ▁Enc ounter ing ▁God ▁in ▁Sil ence , ▁Sol itude ▁and ▁P ray er ▁ ▁( The ▁current ▁ 3 rd ▁edition ) ▁P oust in ia ▁at