Young men at the age of 20 onwards are eligible to receive “Upasampada”, the higher ordination that establishes them as a full “Bhikkhu” (monk). This is also applied to the “Samanen or Nen” who intend on religious life and reaches 20. Nonetheless, temporary ordination is the norm among Thai Buddhists. Most young men traditionally ordain for the term of a single rainy season (known in Thai as “Phansa”).
The Buddhist temples or Thai Wats are the home of all monks and the novices. But the home area and ceremonial area are divided within the temples. The visitors may see monks performing the religious chanting in the building called “Bote” or “Buddhist Sanctuary” and their homes can be rooms or cottages, lying separately from the ceremonial area.