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!
ReplyDeletechiangmai retreat Imagine falling asleep to the symphony of frogs and crickets, then waking up to the sounds of birds chirping. You find yourself cuddled up in the folds of white linen, in the centre of a majestic bed. Looking out the window, you see the sun peeking over the horizon, whilst the fog over the lake gradually rolls back to reveal the glimmering water's surface.