Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos
Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos
Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
image Luangpho Toh. It is about 200 years old, 10 m high and 4 m wide and<br />
constitutes the Wat Sangathan sanctum.<br />
How to get there:<br />
Bangkok–Nonthaburi<br />
The fastest and easest way from Bangkok to Nonthaburi is to take "Chao-Phraya-<br />
Expressboat". You can enter the boat at the every ferry pier <strong>in</strong> Bangkok. Then get off<br />
at the station no. 28 "Wat Kien" (from Banglampoo 40 M<strong>in</strong>.). From there walk 5 m<strong>in</strong>.,<br />
then you get to Radio Station, the "back entrance". Wait at the station for the m<strong>in</strong>ibus<br />
with the sign ‘Wat Sanghathan', which will take you to the ma<strong>in</strong> entrance.<br />
<strong>Meditation</strong> system: The four basics of m<strong>in</strong>dfulness (Satipatthana), observation of<br />
breath (Anapanasati) and other methods mentioned <strong>in</strong> the Buddhist scriptures.<br />
Teach<strong>in</strong>g method: Beg<strong>in</strong>ners are <strong>in</strong>troduced to the technique. Later they participate<br />
<strong>in</strong> regular <strong>in</strong>terviews. Sitt<strong>in</strong>g and walk<strong>in</strong>g meditation also <strong>in</strong> a group sett<strong>in</strong>g (see daily<br />
schedule).<br />
Teacher: Ven. Acharn Sanong, abbot, 56. Acharn Sanong speaks Thai and a little<br />
English. Several resident monks and nuns can help with translations.<br />
Accommodation: Lay meditators are given a s<strong>in</strong>gle room or a bed <strong>in</strong> the dorms.<br />
Women sleep <strong>in</strong> the nuns‘ section, men <strong>in</strong> the monks‘.<br />
Registration: For participation <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>tensive course <strong>in</strong> Ban Sawangjai Center<br />
(Khao Yai national park) registration is recommended.<br />
Orda<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g: It is possible to orda<strong>in</strong> as a monk or nun. You should have spent some<br />
time as lay meditator <strong>in</strong> the temple before, though.<br />
Size: Monks: 100–300, novices: 10–300 (dur<strong>in</strong>g school holidays only), nuns: 30, lay<br />
meditators: 40–100.<br />
Food: One meal daily only. A rich variety of Thai dishes is offered buffet-style. It<br />
always <strong>in</strong>cludes some vegetarian dishes.<br />
Costs: Free of charge. Donations are welcome.<br />
Rules: All participants commit themselves to observe the eight silas (moral<br />
precepts). Cloth<strong>in</strong>g should be white, comfortable, and decent (no shorts or tank tops).<br />
In the monastery area there is a shop, where on can buy white cloth<strong>in</strong>g and the<br />
necessary. Permission is given to stay 7 days <strong>in</strong> Wat Sanghathan to meditate and<br />
study the Buddhadhamma. If you want to stay longer, you must ask the permission of<br />
Acharn Sanong. For your first stay <strong>in</strong> Wat Sanghathan please br<strong>in</strong>g 2 passport<br />
28