Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos

1.5 Wat Ram Poeng
information by Maggie and Dieter using leaflet, last updated by Florian Jan 2007
Address: pre-registration recommended!
Northern Insight Meditation Center
Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram)
Tambol Suthep, Amphur Muang
Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Tel: +66-53-27 86 20, Fax: +66-53-81 01 97
E-mail: watrampoeng@hotmail.com
Location: The Insight Meditation Center is some kilometres northwest of Chiang Mai
(close to the airport). On the grounds there are a beautiful old stupa, smaller clusters
of buildings with individual cells for meditators, bungalows, kitchen and dining hall as
well as some other buildings.
How to get there: From Bangkok take the night train (approx. 13 hs), bus, plane
(approx. 1 h) to Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai take a tuk tuk or shared taxi to the Wat
(depending on your bargaining skills, 50 to 100 Baht). The mini-bus from airport to
monastery costs 100 Baht. Taxi ist a bit more expensive but still appropriate. Prices
for taxi to the monastery depend on where you get on at the exit of domestic
terminal.
Tradition: Theravada, Vipassana meditation in the Mahasi tradition.
Teacher and abbot: Ajahn Suphan, an expert for Abidhamma. Friendly atmosphere.
Meditators receive very helpful and clear instructions for practice in daily interviews.
Technique and schedule of retreat: Intensive meditation practice. Meditators
practise in their rooms or at a location of their choosing. All meditators receive
individual instructions. During the retreat, the four foundations of mindfulness
(observing the body, feelings, mind and mind objects) are practised. All arising
phenomena are noted mentally. Initially, the primary object of meditation during
sitting is the rising and falling of the abdomen and during walking the movement of
the foot. Each period of meditation begins with a mindful prostration, followed by
walking meditation and a sitting period. Walking and sitting periods are of equal
duration. Beginners start with 10 minutes and gradually increase to an hour.
Language(s): Interviews in English or Thai.
Duration of courses and dates: An introductory course is about four weeks (26
days). Since courses are individual, there are no particular dates. Retreats start
16