Buddhist Meditation Retreat

Asia » Thailand » North-West Thailand » Chiang Mai
October 12th 2006

Published: October 12th 2006

Yep, we're still in Chaing Mai - there is so much to do here! But we are leaving tomorrow to head to the Loas border.

Yesterday we got back from a two day Buddhist meditation retreat. It was a really good experience but it was probably harder work than treking through the forest. We hear about it at Wat Suan Dok in Chaing Mai. This is a very 'out there' temple that is attached to the Buddhist University. They also have Monk Chat evenings where you can go and chat to monks. The retreat is tottaly free and we were never asked for any money, of course everyone made a donation as they fed us and put us up and taught us for two days, but it was up to us.

You can view all the photos on the webiste. They are pretty bad quality but give you an idea of what we got up to. Dad- can you try downloading them for me please?

http://www.monkchat.net/images/picture/Meditation%2010-11%20October%202006/index.html

We assembled at the temple where we registered and where given a book on Karma to read. There were 15 of us in tottal form all over europe and america. Then we went to a very posh seminar room where we had an intorduction to Buddhism. This was given by a monk I call 'mini monk' because he is probably less than 5 foot tall. Afterwards we were driven to a newly finnished meditation training center which was also very posh. It's in a beautiful setting right out in the country side.

Men and women were seperated and we were snet to our rooms to wash and change into white clothes that we wore for the duration. Then we had tea...... in silence. I didn't realise it would be a silent retreat but I guess all meditation retreats are. We had to wear 'silence' badges and didn't talk again until the course ended. This was strange at first as I wantted to talk to Sam but I got used to it and by the end it was strange to talk again.

After tea we had evening chanting in Pali, which is an Indian language that the Budhha probaly taught it. I really liked the chantting as it is done with a risisng and falling voice a bit like singing. Then we had a very intensive four hours of learning meditation techniques. First we learnt sitting meditation, which I found really painful on the back after a while. The we moved onto walking meditation. This was interesting as I have never done it before. It is hard to focus as you have to have your eyes open and try not to fall over. We actually did this outside in foold lights with a gold Buddha illuminated next to us. This was wonderful as it was a lovley quiet still night. Then there was more sitting meditation and a second round of walking meditation. Next up was lying meditation which the monks do before bed. This was the easiest although it was hard to to fall asleep. We finnished off with more chantting and went to bed about 10pm.....just as well seems as wake up time was 5am.

After a bad nights sleep I arose at 5am and, in the dark, headed down to the mediation room for morning chanting and yoga. You are meant to do yoga on an empty stomach but I was naughty and sneeked a chocolate bun while my room mate was in the bathroom. I think I would have passed out otherwise as breakfast wasn't till 7am. The yoga was good but made me realise how out of shape I am. I really need to stretch daily I think.

Before breakfast we gave alrms to the monks. The idea is that lay people feed the monks bodies and the monks feed lay peoples mind by teaching etc. Then we had breakfast which was salad. Never had salad for breakfast before.

We had a discussion aftet that which was more of a questions and answers session. The very cosmic senior monk told us lots of interesting teaching and gave us buddhist rosaries which aid meditation. You count them you see which focuses the mind. I have to leave during this meditation as I was falling off my chair asleep. However, a couple of cups of coffee later...........and I was fine again.

We did some more meditation and had lunch and a group photo then got changed and went back to the Temple. I did feel very calrm and peaceful afterwards so I think I did get a lto out of it dispite the physical agony and hard work. I got to learn a lot about Thai cultuer too. Most men in thailand become monks for a short while, usually three months. It's a bit like national service only more cosmic. The monks that taught us were all full monks and had been training for years.

You can see the monks photos here. The cosmic monk is the founder and 'mini monk' is the one on the right who is monkchat staff.

http://www.monkchat.net/aboutmonkchat.php

All in all it was a good experience and being silent is a good way to get to know yourself as the idea is that you have conversations with yourself rather than others. I have my beads that I can count if I need to center myself and I think both of us are going to try to keep up the meditation. Well we've done it today anyway.

Mary - all our love and best wishes.

Racheal - loads of luck on your trip to India.

Dad - Happy birthday for the 14th.

So stay calrm people and take care. We are off to Chaing Rai tomorrow then on to Loas so I'll update from there.

Buddhist Meditation Retreat

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