Wat Ram Poeng-Meditation Center

Out of curiosity, on this trip I decided to explore further on other meditation centers in Chiangmai area. Here arriving at Northern Insight Meditation Center, Wat Ram Poeng, which is about 20 minutes of driving from center of Chiangmai.

I met up with Phra Chaibordin, a coordinator and person in charge at the Foreign Meditation Office. He took me around the center and finally led me to Abbot's office and paying respect to him. The Chief Monk briefed me on the method of meditation.

The center has an introductory booklet, it explains the method of vipassana. The practice is based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. As this is a practice of mental development, and involved with personal experience. It does not matter if you are Buddhist, Christian, Jewish or Muslim. Nor it is important what nationality or colour you are, since each person in the world is longing for a better life. The Insight Meditation technique taught here is a way to prepare a path to a better, peaceful life through clear understanding about one self. Meditation also means Mental Development, through intimately personal experience of this mind and body to understand one self deeper.

I was told by Phra Chaibordin, on month of April, there will be 100 Chinese from China, are coming to this retreat center for practice meditation. China? A bit surprise! On last year, 2010, there are 422 meditators, coming from all over the world to this center for retreat. Mostly American (57) and European (96), there are also Australian and Canadian and some Vietnamese.

For basic course in Vipassana (Insight) meditation, the center provides guidance for the practice. Welcome for those interested, seeking happiness & peaceful life, to explore and understand your own mind deeper.

May you be well & happy

At the main entrance, the big signboard shows:

Northern Insight Meditation Center

Wat Ram Poeng

Near to the entrance, there is the

trademark stupa of this center

Foreign Meditation Office for registration.

PIC-Phra Chaibordin, a very friendly monk, who briefed

me on the center and led me to see the Abbot.

Compound of the meditation retreat center

From the gate, leads to dormitory for yogis.

Place for lunch & breakfast, buffet/self-service meal

A lovely, cosy but serene environment. With tall trees

all over the place. Peaceful place for retreat

Row of kuti built orderly, with modern amenities.

Walking path to individual kuti/rooms

A typical kuti for meditator, bathroom with toilet attached

Part of compound of the retreat center.

A monk from Brunei walking and had a talk to me.

Behind is the place for lunch and breakfast

Abbot/Chief Monk of Wat Ram Poeng: Ajahn Suphan.

Briefing on the teaching, method of practice etc

for this meditation center.

Ajahn Tong, Ajahn Suphan's Teacher.

Ajahn Tong is currently Abbot of Wat

Phradhatu Sri Chom Tong, in Chom

Tong District of Chaingmai. He is the

Chief Vipassana Master of the Northern

Region of Thailand. One of the most

respectable meditation teachers in

Thailand.

A spectacle view of the sacred Stupa.

A female yogi in a peaceful state of meditation

Tham Tong - The Meditation Center In Chaing Mai

The Chief monk pointing to the little girl who was paying respect to me

A row of kutis (house) along the valley as accommodations.

A stream running across the valley separates the male & female kutis

Female meditators, nuns and lay people

Offering food to monks - 2 meals per day

A simple kuti built on hilly slope

Top view - a remote and secluded kuti

A serene small path leading to a secluded cave at back of hill

A bigger and well developed cave for meditation and chanting

A smaller but natural cave, excellent for meditation

With crystal clear water from waterfall for daily consumption

Daily activity, preparing food for offering to monks.

Dedicated monks and nuns involving in organic farming

Nuns as cooks and chefs serve the monastery selflessly

Well... time for meditation, please don't disturb me!

Tham Tong, it means monastery with caves. This monastery cum meditation center is about 90 km away from Chaing Mai. It is very convenient to take bus from center of Chaing Mai, with 50 Bath and 1.5 hours to reach here. The monastery opens to people who want to taste the peaceful and quiet of monastic life, free of charge.

The natural environment is peaceful, with crystal clear stream running across the valley which separates two rows of kutis, one side for female and the other for male meditators. It is a good engineering practice that the monastery built a simple dam on top of waterfall and diverted the stream of water from the dam to the center for daily consumption. It is really environmental friendly. The quality of water is superb; cold and fresh that can energize our body and mind. With the fresh air within the mountainous surroundings, it is a healthy life style to stay here, cool!

Wake up bell is at 4.00am to start practice, 7.00am and 11.30am for breakfast and lunch, two meals per day. Food is good, as the monastery encouraging for organic farming, with a lot of vegetable and fruits, with Thai style of cooking. In additional to this, the center provides a varieties of drink at 5.00pm.

We are entirely free for the whole day, practice on our own, and no one will disturb you. The period of stay is entirely up to you, you may stay for few days, to few months, or for good: to be ordained as a monk or nun and stay there forever! Why not?

Sometimes city life and works stress you, why not give yourself a chance to taste this alternative life style? May be the experience you gained after the stay, can change your perspective in life, and you will never be the same person again! For sure, and at least the experience here will make you much more happier and healthier than before... And re-charged with fresh energy for your next venture or challenge when coming back to the worldly life.

Thanks to this monastery, especially the Chief monk, with his compassion, providing the helps of all kinds for the duration I stayed. May all of you be well and happy...