Good luck with everything! David

The technique itself is fascinating and I am thoroughly glad that I have learned it. It incorporates acupuncture points/meridians into the actual meditation itself, so can be very energising. You need to do the full 21 days to receive the full teaching on that part of it.

It also relies heavily on walking meditation: there is a 50/50 split between each, beginning with 15 minute walk, 15 minute sit and working up to 45 minute walk, 45 minute sit.

There is also an option at the end of the 21 day course of a little thing called Determination. I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for you in case you decide to attend, but trust me it’s an experience you will have little opportunity to repeat anywhere else :)

Yes, the Wat is popular with tourists but it is a rabbit warren of a place, and the International Buddhist Centre is more like an enclave, situated amongst the monk accommodations a good 500m downhill from the main Wat and tourists never venture down there. You are welcome to visit the Wat at any time of course, and can even sit with the monks during their evening chant and meditate with them for half an hour each evening also, which is an amazing experience and not to be missed.

The Wat itself is incredibly beautiful, with wonderful views of Chiang Mai and just to be able to live and share the monastic lifestyle is a valuable experience.

Having said all that, bear in mind that this is an active monastery. Monks do not spend all their days in quiet contemplation. There is work being done, there are novices (child monks) on site at all times and they are fairly boisterous at times. Some of the retreat participants are from the backpacker demographic and do not take the course as seriously as I did. There will always be a few people who break the rules of silence etc, and the monks do not enforce this in any way unless it becomes intolerable. Thai Buddhists are very tolerant of others, almost to a fault. After all, according to them if you want to distract yourself with idle chit-chat it’s your karma right? And the karma of those around you.

However, despite these hindrances I intend to return to the Wat at my earliest opportunity. In fact, I have found that because of such goings-on during my time there, my meditation is far more resilient to outside kerfuffle than it used to be and I can quite happily meditate at home now while the neighbour goes to work with a chainsaw. It is all part of the endlessly changing present. There is no problem :) Without a long retreat on an active monastery I may never have reached this point. To some extent, I believe that the almost obsessive silence promoted at other centres causes people to feel that without “perfect” meditation surroundings they simply can’t meditate, a tragedy really since we so often find ourselves in an imperfect situation and without the resilience I mentioned we then run the risk of putting off our practice until the ideal situation presents itself. Easy trap to fall into, but to be avoided if at all possible IMO.

So that’s a braindump version of a post that I should have made a long time ago. I will clean this up and post it again shortly, along with some pictures of the place. As I have said, it’s IMO the most beautiful setting for meditation.

Thanks for commenting!!

Cam

I have your site open in one of my browser tabs, I promise to read it soon, but … I suck, so it might not be soon:)

Thanks for commenting. It’s nice when people actually take the time aye.

Cheers,
Cam

Cheers.

Thanks also for commenting, your feedback is much appreciated.

And there it is: an evocative tapestry of exploration, companionship, and – ultimately – friendship.

- Ph