Over the years, I have visited many temples in Thailand, and most of the time I've had similar experiences.

I knew what I wanted to see there: the chedi, the Buddha statues, the murals, the architecture, and some historical information from the guidebook. Then I took some photos and moved on.

I had always thought of temples as places that preserved the past – ancient buildings, traditional art, and preserved evidence of history.

But this time, at Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai, I saw the temple differently.

It wasn't just a place that preserved the past. Life still takes place there.

A young monk who had not yet decided how long he would stay.

For years I had a pretty fixed image of what a monk should be like. Serious. Disciplined. Someone to be respected, but also someone to be kept at a distance.

I imagined monks spending their days chanting, studying Buddhism, receiving alms, and living a life somewhat removed from ordinary modern life.

I used to even think that for some families, entering monastic life might simply be a way out for a son who didn't have many other options.

Then we met a young monk at Wat Chedi Luang.

Before I met him, I had imagined him as an elderly monk. I also wondered if we would be able to communicate easily.

But when he came over, I was surprised. He was young, wore flip-flops, smiled, and spoke fluent English with almost no accent.

At Wat Chedi Luang, there is the opportunity to speak with monks, for example, through a formal conversation. However, we did not participate in such a conversation on this particular day. Instead, the monk guided us through the temple and chatted with us during the tour.

As we walked, he began to tell us about his life.

He entered the temple as a novice at about the age of twelve. At the time, he didn't give it much thought.

In Thailand, it's common for men to spend some time in a temple at some point in their lives. Some stay for 15 days, a month, or several months. He never imagined he would stay for 15 years.

At one point I asked him, "How long will you stay in the temple?"

He paused. "I haven't decided yet." Then he added, "I could change my mind at any time."

That wasn't the answer I was expecting. I had imagined that becoming a monk meant making a very specific life decision.

Instead, there was a young man who, just like all of us, was still searching for his path. And he was part of a system that gave him the freedom to change his mind and leave.

What surprised me even more was that he is currently working on his PhD. Just a few months earlier, he had traveled to Yogyakarta in Indonesia to participate in a religious ceremony.

He also told us that the temple has its own education system. Wat Chedi Luang houses the Lanna Campus of Mahamakut Buddhist University. The students study Buddhism, but also English, mathematics, and natural sciences.

Temple life is therefore not just about singing and prayer. It is also a school. For some Thai boys, it may even be one of the best educational opportunities available to them.

And I realized that my old idea of ​​the temple as merely a “way out” for boys from poor families was far too simplistic.

The longer we talked, the more he told us about his daily life.

He leaves the temple shortly after 5 a.m. to collect alms and receive food from the locals. Around 7:30 a.m., he returns and eats his first meal of the day. After lunch, he eats nothing more, so he only consumes two meals a day. Furthermore, he cannot simply spend the night wherever he pleases.

He also told us that the temple wasn't just a place for monks. Locals came here to talk to them. When they were stressed, had problems at home, or simply felt stuck in life, they came to the temple seeking advice.

He said something that stuck in my mind:

"A monk can only guide you. Whether you persevere is up to you. If someone cannot free themselves from it, even a monk cannot help – not even Buddha."

At that moment I realized how simplistic my old idea of ​​monks had been. I had imagined them as people who had withdrawn from ordinary life because they had already found the answers.

But they are also studying, taking exams, and wondering what their next steps should be.

Since that day, whenever I think of Wat Chedi Luang or visit another temple in Thailand, I no longer just see a hall, a chedi, or a photo I took. I also see that young monk in my mind's eye – the flip-flops, the smile, and the words: "I haven't decided yet."