See also: Religion.
Monastic institutions were inherited from Before Ruini times and changed slowly over time.
Despite different approaches to religion, all monasteries of Anno Ruini share a baseline set of practices which allowed them to endure Dark Years. Through eras, the monastic rites were changing, so what was common in Dark Years, isn't necessary the same in the Era of Calm.
There is three years postulancy which ends with komuso vows; after the final trial monks take kamunushi vows.
Young people (almost always boys) are taken to the monastery in the age of 11–13. They become disciples for the next three years:
After the third year, disciples become komuso, take the vow of silence and go on a journey of several years of wandering. They receive spirit animals which follow them in their journey. Komuso are often referenced as Wanderers of the Void.
The komuso's journey ends in the monastery with the final trial. The outcome of such trial is either death of the monk, or his elevation to the kamunushi.
After the final trial, komuso monks become kamunushi. They take a vow to serve the celestials, keep the celestials in their prayers, arrange the celestials a living inside of their heads.
Kamunushi (almost) never leave monasteries. They live reclusive lives and little is known of their fate.
There is still five year postulancy after which a disciple takes the vow of kamunushi and stays in the monastery to the end of his life.
However, there is no komuso vows of silence. Wandering devolved into ritual procedures of ‘looking for treasures’ and ‘fighting weredemons’ which allow monks to meet mortal danger but all in all lack spiritual meaning.
Samanera title is now given after two years instead after the first year as in Dark Years. It is the time when disciples learn of the true purpose of kamunushi.
Gender diversity is also represented a bit more compared to Dark Years, though the distribution is still skewed towards boys. For more info, read about neurodiversity.
There is no komuso rite anymore.
However, the institution of komuso carries on. A very few of monks take vow similar to komuso's and become the monastic guardians. They protect kamunushi and monasteries by extension, from evil spirits: bhutas and rakshasas.
Nothing changed for kamunushi. They still live a reclusive life, serving a safe haven for celestials.
To become a kamunushi, a person should have a specific kind of neurodiversity.