I've been doing this for a couple years now (only coffee/water before 12pm and no food after 7-8pm). It's a very effective method of calorie restriction for me.

Only eating before 1pm would be absolute torture for me!

I just started doing this a few weeks ago, along with counting calories during my "feeding" window (which I actually try to restrict to six hours). So far so good.

I find I'm actually more successful at counting calories on this schedule. I think it's easier for me to completely abstain during the fasting period, and I'm less tempted to snack with lunch and dinner so close together. I've been planning and allocating my calories like I never have before, even though I've tried many carb- and calorie-counting schemes in the past.

I'm also toying around with taking a little MCT oil in the morning to help with cravings and mental focus and give me a little keto boost. It's unclear to me whether or not this defeats the purpose of the fast. Many people seem to think it's fine ("fat fasting") and maybe even a good idea, but I'm not yet convinced one way or the other.

I usually eat lunch somewhere between 12:00-14:00 and then something between 18:00-20:00 in the evening.

That's all, been doing it for about 17 years now and it works great. Although I drink coffee throughout the day.

The monks appear to use this eating pattern mostly to fit their meditation schedule and not annoy the people giving them food ( http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=1993.0 ), but there seems to be some evidence that skipping dinner is more healthy than breakfast ( https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/skipping-breakfas... ). I don't know if it is enough to balance the social aspects.

There are a few reasons for eating only once a day as a monk. Making yourself easy to take care of is one of them, as you mentioned. But there is another interesting point that a senior monk taught me while I was ordained. He said that one of reasons food intake is restricted is to avoid building up a lot of energy reserves which often leads to getting your mind going on the wrong things, something that's particularly likely with young men who haven't reached an advanced level of practice. Among the many precepts for monks are restrictions on movement like running and climbing. So the monk's lifestyle doesn't lend itself to burning off extra energy.

Along the same lines, monks begin to gather energy through different methods. They aren't eating as much but can sustain themselves off the vitality of the sun and surrounding environment (if they are in a clean, restorative environment.. basically nature)

Monks are solar powered?

electric monks are ;)

...but have a tendency to believe that everything is pink.

If you make such claims, provide some evidence to back it up or else it sounds simply nuts.

It is all complete bunk. It became a fad in the Uk in the 90s and a couple of people died

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inedia

Same here. It avoids the difficult part which is going to sleep hungry