There are two categories of Buddhist monks in Thailand. One consists of those who become monks for long periods, sometimes for life, and the other of those who enter the Order temporarily. To serve in the monkhood even for a short period is considered a great merit-earning attainment by the Thai Buddhists. Even kings follow this age-old custom. For instance, the present ruler, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also observed the custom for a period. Government officials are allowed leave with full pay for a period of three months in order to serve in monkhood. The idea is to enable young men to gain knowledge of Buddhism and thereby to become good citizens.

As is well known, the original idea of men's entering monkhood during the Buddha's time or shortly later, was to attain liberation from worldly existence in accordance with the teaching of the Master. Such an idea, of course, springs from man's feeling of dislike of things mundane. In other words, in those far-off days, men entered monkhood with the sole intention of leaving behind life's miseries and of obtaining spiritual freedom or Nirvana.

Life as a monk offers practical experience of how an ideal Buddhist life should be. In rural districts the general tendency is still to give more respect and prestige to those who have already served in monkhood. Such people are supposed to be more "mature" than those who have not undergone the monk's life. Moreover, in Thailand wats (monasteries and temples) used to be and are still regarded as seats of learning where all men, from all social classes, could go and benefit from education benefits.