Retreat at Wat Ram Poeng-Chiangmai

Wat Ram Poeng is also called Northern Insight Meditation, located less than 10 minutes Taxi drive from Airport. This is an International Meditation Center, you can see lot of different nationalities coming here to practice. Meditation method based on 4 foundations of mindfulness, as taught by using Mahasi Sayadaw techniques.

You will be provided with a small kuti or room with attached bathroom, with only the basic things. You can meditate inside or outside of your room. You will wake up at 4:00am for meditation, 6:30am for breakfast, 10:30am for lunch. There is liquid snack or afternoon drink at 5:00pm. That is it. Have to keep 8 precepts, no food after 12:00pm. Life is simple here, no talking, reading except meditation and keep your heart to your mind and body every moment. There is a daily interview or reporting to the Abbot about your daily experience you encounter during meditation. The Abbot, Ajahn Suphan is very kind, always smiling and giving timely encouragement to your practice, a very experienced meditation teacher.

Give yourself at least ten days, though full course is 26 days, but you still can leave anytime, if you want to. Try to taste the simplicity of temple life, everything is SLOW DOWN, not only on walking but also your mind too! There is no tomorrow or yesterday, only HERE and NOW... Give your heart and mind a chance to see itself clearer, as we have accumulated too much rubbish that obstructing us to understand ourselves deeper and clearer. Mind free from rubbish, is very light and peaceful, that will make you see the wonder of instant insight within, that can make you wiser, and know how to cope with the challenging of life ahead.

Actually mindfulness meditation is part of life, you can practice outside retreat center. In your daily life, just being mindful of your mind, always check and see what is it doing, thinking at that moment? Is your mind happy, sad or angry? But don't involve with the happiness, sadness or anger. Leave them alone, it is dangerous to get involved! That is meditation, sound simple?

Northern Insight Meditation Center - Wat Ram Poeng

Stupa-is an excellent place for night sitting

Meditation Hall

Wat Ram Peong Female Meditation Hall

Dining Hall, served with both meat and veggie.

Area for meditation

Kuti with bathroom attached for meditators

Quarter attached with bathroom for Yogi

Meditation under the Ancient Bodhi tree

Monks assembly to cerebrate Abbot's birthday - 23 Jan

Alm-giving

Abbot Ajahn Suphan, on his birthday giving speech,

23 Jan 2012, falls on CNY

Alm-giving for merit accumulating...

Waiting to offer food for monks

My Favorite Cozy Corner for Sitting

You can practice any where in the temple

Meditation under the Ancient Bodhi tree

Symbolic the pure light of wisdom

Jan 2012 retreat began here ...

Time to leave, people coming and going, a sign of impermanence.

Telling us that nothing in this world is permanent and no change.

So, it is same to our mind and body, if you watch closely

there is no one time mind body stop changing!

That is the important aspect and teaching of Buddhism.

If you cling to changing thing, thought that it is permanent,

sure, you are expecting to suffer. This meditation teaches

you to let go... The more you let go, the more peace and

happy you are. Just that simple!

Wat Umong-Historical Site

Wat Umong was built about 700 years ago. First impression,felt peaceful and cooling. There is pond, you can feed the fish. The Wat is famous for its ancient tunnels and large stupa. it has a certain air of mystery about it that is absent from Chiang Mai’s other temples.

The monastery at Wat Umong is one of the oldest in Chiang Mai, dating back to 1300 A.D. The fable goes that a king built the brick-lined tunnels for an eccentric monk named Thera Jan. Once upon a time there were paintings decorated on the wall which dated back to about 1380. You can enter the tunnels to see the small shrines inside.

The monastery was eventually abandoned, though Japanese troops were said to have a stronghold here during World War 2. Since 1948, the Thai prince Jao Chun Sirorot has been active in rebuilding and reestablishing the monastery. In 1949 he invited Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (founder of Suan Mokkh in southern Thailand) to come and live in the monastery.

I think so far, this is the best temple I ever visited during my trips to Chiamgmai. As I have talked to the monk in the pictures, this is also a wonderful meditation center; scenic, quiet, and free for self practice.

Ya... it is good idea to come for retreat next time.

Flower Festival 2012 - Chiangmai