Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2017

samui
DAILY SCHEDULE:
04:30 Wake up
05:00 Morning
Reading
05:15 Sitting
Meditation
05:45 Yoga/Exercise
07:00 Sitting
Meditation
07:30 Breakfast
and Chores
09:30 Dhamma Talk
10:30 Walking or
Standing
Meditation
“Loving kindness or ‘metta’
required more than sitting
on a cushion and wishing
others well…”
“I was thinking of leaving once
or twice, but now, I’m feeling so
relaxed. I also like the concept of
silence. It is a bit difficult at first
as I am not used to keeping quiet,”
said Ishaa. “This is a good place
for a good experience and I really
enjoyed the food!” said Ishaa.
11:00 Sitting
Meditation
11:30 Lunch
and Chores
14:00 Meditation
Instruction
and Sitting
Meditation
Below
Group activities
can be basic
housekeeping
done in meditative
silence, to sharing
knowledge of
learned teachings.
SHARING IS ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL
Most foreign practitioners said they
were very impressed with food that
was well-prepared and made with
love by nuns and volunteers during
breakfast and lunch. The menus
offer brown rice, a vegetarian
curry, various vegetable gravies or
different kinds of salad decorated
with edible flowers. It not only
fulfilled the participants’ stomachs
but also their eyes and minds too.
At the retreat, both men and
women chose a daily chore. I
would never forget the scene when
everyone did some kind of work
after breakfast for about 20 minutes
every day. Some chose to clear up
dining tables, sweep the floors, and
others even willingly cleaned toilets
– all in a happy manner.
Ajarn Buddhadasa’s teachings
had said that the practice of loving
kindness or ‘Metta’ in Pali, required
more than just sitting on a cushion
15:00 Walking or
Standing
Meditation
15:30 Sitting
Meditation
16:00 Walking or
Standing
Meditation
16:30 Chanting
and Loving
Kindness
Meditation
17:30 Tea
19:30 Sitting
Meditation
20:00 Group
Walking
Meditation
20:30 Sitting
Meditation
21:00 Bedtime
21:30 Lights Out
PREPARE YOUR
BODY AND MIND:
Doing a seven-day
retreat for a beginner is
not easy, so preparing
your body and mind is
highly recommended.
Remember you have to:
• have commitment,
determination and
discipline
• practise getting
up early
• adjust with the
schedule which
everybody must
follow
• live on two
vegetarian meals
a day
• deal with physical
discomfort
• experience a lot o
your own emotional
ups and down
during the retreat
and wishing others well. The revered monk reminds
us that we should also practise and put it into action.
You could prepare food or do good things to others,
show your friendliness, goodwill, benevolence,
fellowship, peaceful friendship, inoffensiveness and
non-violent acts, all of which is a way to practise
loving kindness.
Garlar Below, a twenty four year old German
visitor, shared the principles he learned when he
invited people to join activities at the retreat centre
and similar interests put them on the same path after
the course finished. He’s joined with others to ride
their motorcycles from Phuket to Koh Samui for a
“peace of mind” journey.
“Nothing makes me happier than sharing and
doing something together. It is not only meditation,
but also something else that I can {do to} support
others. I understand that I can change no one but
myself. For that reason, I can help them to change
themselves by opening doors for them.”
FIND YOUR MISSING PIECES/PEACE
Below sees a connection between past knowledge
and a new sense of understanding when one is
enlightened. He senses the power of seeing things in
a new way and he describes it as a big awakening of
his former self.
Hansar Moment of Happiness
Samui, Bangkok, Pranburi, Khao Yai, Cha Am
www.hansarhotels.com
68 Fah Thai