There are some experiences during your travel that shape the rest of your life. Change the way you look at life, people and the World.
Honestly, I never thought that my trip to Thailand would be one of the most life-changing journeys. After few days living in Bangkok – the City of Angels and observing everything around me, I realized that my path is taking me to something more sacred and spiritual. My real life experience was a meditation retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Meditation is a way of resting the mind and reaching a state of inner peace and awareness. The key is to focus your attention on your breath and be present. It leads to a deeper lever of relaxation, concentration and clarity of perception. When the mind is calm and silent without any distracts, meditation deepens. For me, a meditation retreat was a healer for my mind and my soul. However, it wasn’t an easy process, as many times, my mind couldn’t stop thinking.
I found myself getting swept away by thoughts or emotions. Every time, when it happened, I was trying to concentrate at the present time and use the breath as an anchor. The state of mind being so busy is very normal for us. The process of coming back again and again, was very challenging for me.
About meditation retreat
Meditation centers offer short and long silent meditation retreats. Each day, you follow a daily schedule to practice and learn about meditation techniques. Silent meditation means that you can’t talk with anybody but also you can’t use internet, your phone or laptop. You have to be separated from your daily life and be present without any distraction from outside. Just live the moment.
Meditation retreats in Thailand focus on the four foundations of mindfulness, which leads to Vipassana Meditation – to see things as they really are. I practiced walking, sitting and lying meditation during my stay. It is a process of self- purification and self-observation through the interconnection between your body and mind.
Every day starts at 4 a.m or 5 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Most of the meditation centers run only on a donation basis and some charge a registration fee. There are no additional costs for food and accommodation. Most of the retreats provide vegetarian food. It is very tasty and healthy! There are two meals per day in the morning and at noon time. In afternoon, centers usually offer hot drinks, but no meals should be taken. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel hungry at the rest of the day.
Dorm rooms equipped with simple mattress, pillow and blanket are shared between female and male. You have to wear all-white and humble apparel during retreats.
There are numerous of meditation retreats in Thailand, but I would like to share my top 5 best retreats:
Wat Khao Tham, Koh Phangan
It is located in beautiful mountainside area, surrounded by jungle and coconut plantations on the Koh Phangan island. The Kow Tahm Insight Meditation Center has been running for over 25 years. It offers a 7-day silent meditation retreat the Satipatthana, which leads to Vipassana.
The Wat Mahathat is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok and it is located in the northern part ofthe Grand Palace. Also, it is one of the six temples of the first class Royal temples. Known as an important place for Buddhist studies and a meditation center.
Surrounded by lush greenery, trees and incredible wildlife, the International Buddhist Center is a perfect place to start your first mediation retreat. It offers a Satipatthana, Vipassana meditation course. There are short-term training programs for beginners last from 4 days to 14 days and longest foundation courses run 21 days. Moreover, there is a 13-day advanced review course for those, who passed the foundation course.
TheInternational Dharma Hermitage of Wat Suan Mokkh is situated in a lush green forest in Surat Thani. It offers a 10-day silent meditation retreat, which starts on the first of every month. The program includes concentration meditation with attention on breathing and insight meditation. It doesn’t provide shorter or longer retreats.
The Wat Ram Poeng is situated in Chiang Mai in the Northern Thailand. It offers a 26-day introductory course to Vipassana Meditation. Also, there is a Insight Meditation course that lasts 10 days and it is available for those, who went through the basic course.
If you’re looking for great, affordable meditation retreats all around Asia, WellBook.co has some great options in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Cambodia and more. These are all personal retreats held at retreat centers you can book year round.
Meditation doesn’t belong to any religion. Spiritual growth is a personal experience. It really doesn’t matter, if you are adherent of Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any other religion. Meditation is for everyone, no matter, what your skin color, race or nationality is.
Now, probably some of you are wondering, why I did it. Instead of enjoying sun on the gorgeous beach or relaxing in my hammock?
Even though, tasting a simple life with monks can be mentally, emotionally and even physically challenging, it is priceless for your spiritual life. Meditation retreat in Thailand was something new for me, but, it helped me to eliminate misinterpretation about spirituality, encouraged to self-discovery and gave me the time to reflect.
Booking Your Retreat
Booking retreats can always be a bit of a challenge, and I really like Wellbook.co as an option for booking. They have a nice selection of meditation retreats in Thailand, and offer payment plans which allow you to pay monthly for your next trip, as well as a $150 discount for first-time customers.
Sabine @ The Travelling Chilli
March 25, 2017 @
4:28 pm
Sounds like a great thing to do and I guess with the natural beauty of Thailand, you can meditate in a stunning environment. Is it the first time you have done something like this, or do you do it more often? The days seem really long, but I guess that’s how you get the most out of it, right?
I loved this post! I was so inspired while reading it and now I’m dreaming for 10 spare days to go to one of these! I am still amazed how come the centers work only on donation base. Do the government support them financially?
I really would like the opportunity to do this and can quite understand why you’d recommend it as opposed to more beaches or general sight-seeing. I’m sure it gives you sustenance for the body – we all need to stop sometimes I think.
Thanks for the introduction and sharing about the experience. I bet I too ADHA or ADHD to meditate but I could still have some peace and qiuet when I am on A vacation. Chiangmai is a great place to be as it has a lot to offer but without the hustle and bustle of Bangkok ??? @knycx.journeying
I didn’t about the existence of so many meditation centres in Thailand that practices Vipasana! In beautiful places like Chiang Mai surrounded by nature, it would be so wonderful to practice this!
[…] cooking, showering or having sex. In Thailand’s monasteries or Google’s headquarter. To increase productivity, reduce stress, or deal with chronic pain. […]
March 25, 2017 @ 4:28 pm
Sounds like a great thing to do and I guess with the natural beauty of Thailand, you can meditate in a stunning environment. Is it the first time you have done something like this, or do you do it more often? The days seem really long, but I guess that’s how you get the most out of it, right?
March 25, 2017 @ 4:29 pm
I loved this post! I was so inspired while reading it and now I’m dreaming for 10 spare days to go to one of these! I am still amazed how come the centers work only on donation base. Do the government support them financially?
March 25, 2017 @ 5:03 pm
I really would like the opportunity to do this and can quite understand why you’d recommend it as opposed to more beaches or general sight-seeing. I’m sure it gives you sustenance for the body – we all need to stop sometimes I think.
March 25, 2017 @ 5:43 pm
would love to go there!
The Fashion Matters– Travel & Fashion Blog
March 26, 2017 @ 9:36 am
Thanks for the introduction and sharing about the experience. I bet I too ADHA or ADHD to meditate but I could still have some peace and qiuet when I am on A vacation. Chiangmai is a great place to be as it has a lot to offer but without the hustle and bustle of Bangkok ??? @knycx.journeying
March 28, 2017 @ 7:39 pm
I didn’t about the existence of so many meditation centres in Thailand that practices Vipasana! In beautiful places like Chiang Mai surrounded by nature, it would be so wonderful to practice this!
What the hell is Mindfulness? - universal guidelines
September 13, 2019 @ 4:31 pm
[…] cooking, showering or having sex. In Thailand’s monasteries or Google’s headquarter. To increase productivity, reduce stress, or deal with chronic pain. […]