Meditation in Thailand
Please contact Wat Suan Mokkh directly if you have any questions or need more info on their meditation course featured below. International Dharma Hermitage Wat Suan Mokkh, Chaiya, SuratThani, Thailand. 10 day Silent Meditation Retreats Starting on the 1st day of every month (get there a day before). No need to book just turn up! Wat Suan Mokh (Wat is the word for temple in Thai) is a Thai Buddhist monastery which has been holding on-going meditation retreats for people from all over the world for over 20 years. All the teachings are taught in English by both Thai and Ferang (Ferang is Thai for foreigner) Monks and lay persons including more recently the addition of female teachers which somehow gives the retreat a much more ‘softer’ edge. Adjan Poh is the Abbot of Wat Suan Mokh and for many years he has sat in front of many blank, bewildered, confused and lost westerner faces in his selfless effort to enlighten us all!!!! He teaches breathing with mindfulness ….Anapanasati…the method of meditation that the Buddha taught, training the mind so that eventually we see through the veil of illusion and are then liberated from suffering!!! But even if your goals are not set on enlightenment Anapanasati meditation will bring you many physical and mental benefits and will lead you into greater mindfulness that will transform the way relate to yourself, others and the world that you live in. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your true nature in the peaceful, natural and beautiful semi jungle setting under the expert guidance of seasoned meditators. The harmony within the retreat is present because everybody observes a certain behaviour and attitude. The below are just some of the things you can expect as you live for 10 days with the monks. THE MONASTIC WAY OF LIVING DURING RETREAT SILENCE The 10 days is in complete silence apart the monks/teachers giving dharma talks and meditation instruction. The only time that you will hear your own voice will be in the daily afternoon chanting or in a personal interview that you can sign up for if you are having any difficulties with the meditation practice. EARLY START The morning starts at 4am!!! Don’t worry….its not as bad as it sounds! You are woken up by the temple bell donging gleefully and when you do stand up and go out into the cool pre-morning air you often are blessed to be standing under a clear sky thick with stars. Pre dawn is the magic hour! And with the mind empty and the world still it’s the perfect conditions for meditating. DAILY READING The morning begins with a reading. It’s a good awakening….the first thing that the mind engages in is inspirational and uplifting! YOGA After the first meditation session that follows the reading you can practice your own yoga or join in the class….. Its pot luck whether the teacher is any good or not as it is on the list of chores that everyone has to sign up for!!!….. So if you are a good yoga teacher and don’t mind sacrificing your silence to teach then sign up to teach on arrival at the Hermitage MEALS There are two meals a day and a hot chocolate drink for evening ‘tea’. The food is generally quite yummy. Lots of tofu and rice, thai curry, veggies and fruit. SEPARATE DORMS
There are separate dorms for men and women. In the meditation and dining hall men sit on one side and the women on the other. All persons should be respectfully clothed with shoulders and knees covered. CHORES
On arrival to the Hermitage there is a list of chores. Each person signs up for at least one chore, this can be anything from sweeping up, mopping up, wiping the dining tables, cleaning toilets etc. sometimes there can be as many as 100 people on the retreat so each person does his bit to keep the environment pleasant and clean. HOT SPRINGS The hermitage has natural hot springs. You can have a relaxing dip after breakfast and after evening tea. Separate springs for men and women! NO INTOXICANTS Obviously no alcohol, no cigarettes and no drugs! What to bring There is a shop that opens a couple of times during the retreat should you run out of essentials like toothpaste, washing powder, insect repellant etc. In the olden days there was no shop and you had to make do with what you brought with you which should be the following (all toiletries, clothes you will wear etc, buy everything in Thailand. Its tons cheaper!!)…You don’t need much!!! mosquito repellant tiger balm (useful for an after bite and to dab on the tip of nose which can help to focus there during meditation) toothpaste soap, shampoo etc (no strong scents or perfumes because they can disturb others meditating close by!) candles and lighter/matches torch and batteries Sarongs ( a couple two use when going to the hot springs) Towel a few T-shirts and a few pairs of long comfortable trousers (natural materials are best for comfort and to keep cool in the heat) (2 changes of clothes is really enough as washed clothes dry fast in Thailand!)
How to get there
Go to Surat Thani in the south of Thailand and take a taxi or a local bus. Just say Wat Suan Mokh…every ‘Thai’ knows Suan mokh!!!! or get the train to chaiya and take a mini van to Suan Mokh Cost:1,500 baht (2007price) ....the teachings are free and the 1500 baht is your contribution to food.). Donations Everything in the hermitage and the hermitage itself (including the land) has been made possible by the generous donations from both Thais and Foreigners. If you feel inclined to donate something then do… ….if you don’t, don’t. it’s not expected ! All featured photographs are taken at Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage. October 2007
|
.jpg)
