some are giving more in donations, but phra boonchuey, the assistant abbot at this large temple, saysoo many are just donating to buy good karma. >> because now they are coming to the temple just only to offer the offering in order to please, you know, their life for their own benefit. >> reporter: phra boonchuey is on a mission to get thai buddhism back on track. >> and so we have to do many things, you know, to bring people, you know, back to the religion. >> reporter: that would include bringing back the monks themselves who have been disappearing. in the past, almost every young man would become a monk, leading a monastic life, some for a few months, some for a lifetime. but in the last 30 years it is estimated that the number of monks has fallen by more than half. mr. vinai, our tuk-tuk driver, served as a monk for over a year as a young man. did you like being a monk? >> yes, yes. >> reporter: do you think every young man should be a monk? >> no, no. >> reporter: he says not every young man should be a monk because some care more about shopping. how many boys do you have? >> i h