Ascetic feats- Do you need monk levels to benefit?

[SirNibbles]

There are four Ascetic feats in Complete Adventurer (pages 105-106):
Ascetic Hunter
Ascetic Knight
Ascetic Mage
Ascetic Rogue

These feats all help multiclass Monks. Of these feats, three (all but Ascetic Knight) have the following clause within them in regards to gaining a benefit from the feat:

"If you have levels in [class] and monk..."

RAW, it's quite clear that you need levels in both Monk and the other class to benefit for these three feats (though there are parts of the feat that allow you to benefit even without Monk levels). However, you can qualify for all of the feats without Monk levels- you just need Improved Unarmed Strike.

How would you rule regarding all four of these feats? Do you need Monk levels to be able to benefit from other class levels for Unarmed Strike Damage (for Ascetic Hunter, Ascetic Knight, and Ascetic Rogue) and AC Bonus (for Ascetic Mage)?

Example: Would a 10th level Ranger with Ascetic Hunter deal 1d3 damage with an Unarmed Strike or 1d10?

Addendum: How would this interact with a Monk's belt? (Would the Monk's belt qualify as having Monk levels for the purpose of the feats?)

[Dagroth]

There are four Ascetic feats in Complete Adventurer (pages 105-106):
Ascetic Hunter
Ascetic Knight
Ascetic Mage
Ascetic Rogue

These feats all help multiclass Monks. Of these feats, three (all but Ascetic Knight) have the following clause within them in regards to gaining a benefit from the feat:

"If you have levels in [class] and monk..."

RAW, it's quite clear that you need levels in both Monk and the other class to benefit for these three feats (though there are parts of the feat that allow you to benefit even without Monk levels). However, you can qualify for all of the feats without Monk levels- you just need Improved Unarmed Strike.

How would you rule regarding all four of these feats? Do you need Monk levels to be able to benefit from other class levels for Unarmed Strike Damage (for Ascetic Hunter, Ascetic Knight, and Ascetic Rogue) and AC Bonus (for Ascetic Mage)?

Example: Would a 10th level Ranger with Ascetic Hunter deal 1d3 damage with an Unarmed Strike or 1d10?

Addendum: How would this interact with a Monk's belt? (Would the Monk's belt qualify as having Monk levels for the purpose of the feats?)

By RAW, you have to have levels in Monk to gain the benefits listed in that section of the Feat.

And yes, I personally would insist upon it.

You don't have to have levels of Monk to qualify (unless one says "Flurry of Blows" under requirements).

No, a Monk's Belt does not count as Monk Levels. It only gives some abilities "as a Monk".