The monks of Shi lived without the interference of any galactic government or raider group for one simple reason, they had nothing anyone would want. The planet Ernos was a superdense dwarf, being 1/8th the circumference of earth but possessing almost the same mass. The surface was shrouded in a thick atmosphere comprised mostly of carbon dioxide. The surface pressure makes carbon based life impossible event without the lack of water or oxygen or sunlight. The planet is in the stars habitable zone and the inactive core is devoid of any major seismic activity. No one has bothered to learn what even created the gods hand but it is the reason the monks are able to live quite happily on the planet. The five peaks of colossal 20 mile Hight mountains converge close enough that they bases merge into a crater like basin out at the very edge of the atmosphere. Only three times normal atmosphere and with a clear view of the sky the basin is warm for most of the day and still habitable at night with a few heaters. The monks spent the better part of two centuries bringing seeds from earth and adapting them to thrive in the environment. Over the years enough oxygen was produced locally to make breathing masks only needed at the basins edge or under ground. The basin is only a mile across and is able to support several hundred people and animals. Apart from a docking spire and a water reclaim station there is barely any technology past the 22nd century.
The monks have no exports other then the occasional pilgrimage to and from earth or the 7 colonies. They have no resources apart from those they used to sustain their colony and as a result apart from the occasional delegation from 3 neighboring systems that all claim the planet to make sure the place was not turned into a staging base they are left to study and farm.
Short story 1.
Monk on Pilgrimage to a major colony to visit the petrified corpse of the only alien ever discovered.