The recently rescued Thai soccer team just entered monkhood for 9 days, the time they were alone before being discovered in the cave. They note they are doing this in memory of the Thai Navy seal who died during the rescue efforts, along with showing gratitude for all other rescue workers.
The idea of temporary monkhood seems rather foreign to me as a Westerner, and am wondering if there's any history of Christianity, or other Abrahamic religions, having temporary vows instead of life long terms (if vows is even the right term to use in the Thai setting).
So in Christianity there are temporary vows, but not quite like the Buddhist system (or at least what I understand the Buddhist system to be).
In religious life in the Christian Church, Eastern and Western male and female communities, there is a process to becoming a full blown monk (which does not necessarily have to be a priest) or sister (I am also ignoring the distinction between Nuns and Sisters). This process varies according to community, but the following process is pretty much standard across all communities.
The first stage is being an aspirant. An aspirant to a religious community is interested in joining religious life, but may not be sure which community or even really if they should be in religious life. They may come for extended visits/stays, but typically no longer than 30 days.
The second stage is being a postulant. This is essentially being a full time aspirant. A postulant will move into the community, and as fully as possible live the community life. This period of postulancy varies, but usually lasts about 6 months. Typically one enters postulancy when they are at least pretty certain they may be called to religious life.
The next stage is being a novice. A novice makes a full time commitment to studying the history of the community and other theology, as well as living the full life of the community. This may not seem very different from postulancy, and in a lot of ways it isn't. At this point some communities will have a special outfit for the novice, but typically those in the novitiate still are not wearing the habit of the community. At this point an individual feels pretty certain they are called to a particular community.
The next stage is temporary vows. At this point a person becomes an identifiable member of the community. They wear the habit (which may be slightly different than the habit of permanently professed members). Those in temporary vows are intensely studying for their vocation/earning degrees, men may be discerning between priesthood or lay brotherhood, and are otherwise very active in their communities works. At this point they are discerning spending a lifetime with a community.
The final stage is perpetual vows. At this point a person swears to be with a community for life. They may still continue studies, become ordained a priest, etc., but as far as the community is concerned they are in for life unless they are released.
So while that is a general overview of Christian religious life which does include temporary vows, those vows are different from the Buddhist ones in the sense that the temporary vows in Christianity are always geared towards discerning a permanent state of life whereas in the Buddhist system (I believe) the temporary vows can be simply for the sake of temporary vows.
The reasons for WHY Christians approach religious life differently are more theological, and I can answer those if you would like. Just respond to let me know.
Now there is a more appropriate analogue in the Judeo-Christian tradition to the Buddhist temporary vows, and this is simply periods of intense fasting or other vows or penance. Famous examples from the Hebrew Bible include King David's fast and penance after the death of his child born of adultery. Also the Nazarites would often take vows of no alcoholic beverages or grooming for years at a time.
Similarly in the Christian tradition people would enter intense fasts or other penances for periods of time. A common example are 30 day silent retreats. While the terminology is different, a Judeo-Christian period of fasting and penance for a period of time functions the same as these Buddhist vows might.