Monks, particularly the younger generation, become more aware of their strength and responsibility for the country. In Myanmar most independent activity is suppressed or under strict control of the state. The monkhood, in contrast, enjoys a high level of immunity and freedom, for instance, with regard to freedom of movement or various social actives, mostly in the local area. The recent events showed that their role in the society is not limited to the preservation of religion and rituals.
Although there is a developed Sangha administration, the dependence of an ordinary monk on the administrative hierarchy is minimal. The Sangha Mahanayaka state committee, the highest administrative body of the Burmese Sangha, is regarded by the new generation of monks rather as a care taker of the government's religious activities and maintenance of its status quo, than as the body of moral authority for ordinary monks. Most of the members of the committee are elderly,traditional monks enjoying high privileges and material welfare. They have no real power on community matters, because this lies in hands of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.