In Thailand's tropical climate, the monk's austere life is never unduly severe. Though a monk is celibate and may not be touched by a woman, even his mother, his life is not totally cloistered. Meditating monks excepted, daily contact with the laity is commonplace, mostly during morning collections of alms beyond the monastery precincts, and at various ceremonies and festivals. M onks abide by strict monastic discipline, observing 227 rules governing their behaviour. Unlike other monastic regimens, Buddhist monkhood does not demand manual labour of its monks.
Physical work is recognized as having value in allaying destructive thoughts and desires.
However, the Buddhist monk, preferring annihilation of temptation and craving to suppress them, elects to seek and destroy them through meditation. Freedom of discussion is allowed. He may study parts of the doctrine he feels important to his advancement and choose his own time to meditate. Except fot the three months of the annual Rains Retreat, he is free to travel, a legacy from Buddhism's earliest days when the Buddha and his disciples led itlinerant lives. A monk may leave the monkhood andy time he wishes.