Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos

Meditation in kuti or hall (walking, standing, sitting, 2 hours)
4:00 p.m. Walking meditation (1 hour)
Showering, laundry, other work, etc.
7:00 p.m. Evening recitations, meditation (1 hour)
Instructions and interview
Some evenings dhamma talk
Opinion of Jörg Dittmar:
Ban Sawang Jai will be ideal for people who might consider Wat Sanghathan too big
or maybe too busy. For western people who speak little or no Thai and therefore
would have difficulties in getting appropriate support and instructions in Wat
Sanghathan. And for people who simply look for meditative peace away from
Bangkok.
Ban Sawang Jai can be easily reached from Bangkok within 3 hours.
People can meditate and be instructed according to the monastery system. But there
is also the possibility to continue practice as used to at home (except when
participating in the course obviously). Ban Sawang Jai has a very open-minded
atmosphere. Mae Chee Brigitte is a very competent and understanding person. And
Ajahn Tippakorn – having travelled Europe, New Zealand and South Africa – knows
well western ways of thinking and typical problems .
The 1-week meditation course is a very impressing experience. For western people
who do not speak enough Thai, though, it is more of a cultural event. It is interesting
and inspiring to be involved in various activities, get in touch with Thai people,
meditate together. But a large part of the daily schedule (like important guided
meditations) will not be easy to make use of. Some monks give some instructions in
English, too. But main language (by far!) is Thai.
Another thing is that during the course an additional 60, 80 or even more people will
be living in the monastery. That will affect the general atmosphere, even though
everybody would act in peace and mindfulness.
I therefore have participated in only select activities of the meditation course. And
have done my individual meditation in some quiet corner (that is always possible to
find).
My advice: For joining the course, arrive some days earlier in Ban Sawang Jai. Start
practicing and settle in individually. Then join the course, experience how it affects
your practice. After, you decide how to go on.
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