The monk seeks God. He is so madly in love with Christ that he sacrifices himself for Him. The would-be monk is called to a special way of life in which he gives up property, power, and person to follow Christ. He lives in the Monastery, submits to the authority of the Abbot, and follows the Rule. This form of Christian life is the monk's path to eternal life with God.
The monk seeks to be perfect. He desires this with profound urgency. Rather than pursuing fame, fortune, and luxury, he goes straight for the most important object: God Himself. As good as earthly pleasures may be, the monk strives to purify his heart of base desires, leaving room only for Christ. In effect the monk takes to heart Jesus' words to the rich young man: "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
The monk seeks intimacy with God. He wants to enjoy here and now that union that Jesus shares with his Father. To do so, the monk leads a celibate life. This allows him to devote his entire life to developing a close friendship with the Lord. That love grows through prayer and charity. In prayer the monk spends time with the one he loves. In as much as Jesus dwells in the other, the monk who practices Christian charity towards his brethren expresses his love for the Lord and draws closer to God. A similar dynamic occurs in marriage.
The monk seeks God exclusively. Detached from all things and people, he gives himself totally to God. For Jesus' sake he renounces his most precious options: wife, children, and free will. Yes, his own will. The monk turns even this over to God. Through obedience to the Abbot and the Rule, the monk lets God make the decisions for him. In this blind abandon to God, imitating Christ's perfect obedience to His Father, the monk finds the golden freedom to serve God alone. Ultimately, he hopes for eternal bliss in Heaven.