First thing's first. I've gotten along fine without a Beholder chain because my Champ was a pure combo in her monk days and is remaining that way for the most part. Unlike everyone else, I don't limit myself to Sleepers, so the Beholder Chain becomes rather pointless (For now).
>_>;; However...don't take that as "completely blow off getting proper gear" for obvious reasons.
It's a good idea to get the chain, really. :3 Can't hurt to have something that can help you level faster.
Now to address the skill issue. I have NO idea how monks manage to get snap. The prereqs eat up a lot of your skill points and you're kinda pressed as is. Save it for Champ when you have 69 skill points instead of 49.
Absorb Spirits...as a monk it's only beneficial when you use it on monsters...and it doesn't work all that often. The Call Spirits + Absorb Spirits DOES NOT WORK. You just end up breaking even because you got back the same 50 sp you used to summon the spheres in the first place. As a Champ, that changes, but we'll talk champ later.