An easy place to go is Wat Sriboonruang
http://www.templeretreatthailand.com/
A good master is Ajahn Dtun
http://www.watboonyawad.com/new/books/T ... -07-13.pdf
Beware of Internet monastery shopping! Ultimately the success or failure of your stay will be decided by your attitude and whether you'll make Dhamma friends at the monastery you stay. Don't fall into the error of believing that as a first year monk student you need the most famous meditation master in the world to teach you. What you need is a kind teacher who understands first year monk student problems and more than everything else, monk brother friends.
It would be best for you to shortlist three to five monasteries and then go to Thailand and visit the monasteries to see where you are welcome. There are thousands of good monasteries in Thailand alone, and many more in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.
If you are a student of Mahasi Sayadaw style Vipassana meditation, then you'll find in Myanmar famous meditation centers and monasteries which teach in this tradition.
If you are a fan of the International Forest Monastery Tradition, you would have to ask yourself why you don't join a monastery of this lineage in your own country and later proceed from there if you want to go to Thailand.
If you want to join a vegetarian monastery the options are fewer but there are good vegetarian Theravada monasteries in Thailand and maybe also in other countries... (maybe in Vietnam).
You should be aware that majority Buddhist countries have strong local traditions. If you have a positive attitude towards the local culture, native Buddhism will enrich your spiritual life. If you have a negative attitude towards the local culture, native Buddhism could annoy you.
Please don't fall into the error to believe that only the strictest Vinaya and the most traditional lineage will do for you. It is best to listen to the advice of monks you respect. You need to find a place where you can grow into a reasonably good first year monk. If later you want to stay in a cave or in the heart of the jungle, nobody will stop you.
The Noble Eightfold Path: Proposed to all, imposed on none.
I am in my last year of high school and I have decided that a year prior to going to university I want to live the monastic life, but I have no idea where no go. I have looked through many documents and websites speaking of places to go, but I am still unsure. Thailand and Burma tend to be the most appealing to me, but most of all I care about learning from a good master. If any of you have information or recommendations of monasteries it would be much appreciated.
