Meditation in Asia - Retreat Infos

What to bring: From home, insect repellant, water disinfectant, medications in
sufficient amounts. A light sleeping bag and a warm fleece jacket are useful
especially in the winter months (night and morning meditation can be rather chilly).
Sitting pads are available, but a sitting pillow should be brought. Items of daily use
like toiletries, flashlight, batteries, flip-flops, and water bottle can be bought in
Yangon. In emergencies or during long retreats the management will do small errants
(out of soap ...).
Costs: Support of the center is exclusively through donations and it is therefore
dependent upon the support of retreat participants.
Food: Breakfast at 5:30 a.m. and lunch at 10:30 a.m. Food is rich, varied, and
hygienically prepared. Breakfast is quite varied (noodle soup, egg, porridge, fruit,
biscuits). Lunch consists of rice, two to three vegetarian dishes (sometimes tofu), two
nonvegetarian meals, and fruit, tea or coffee. Being vegetarian is no problem.
Evenings, juice is available at 5 p.m.
After breakfast and lunch you can fill your thermos with hot water. Drinking water is
filtered and, as a rule, potable, but do exercise caution nonetheless. You’ll be safer
using own disinfectant or filter or boiling water. Sometimes large vats with mineral
water are set up for filling your water bottle. For longer stays, consider bringing nuts
(vegetarians), vitamin tablets, and boiled sweets (taking sugar and fruit juice are
permitted in the evening). Food stuffs must be kept in ant-proof containers!
Medical care: Hygienic conditions are good by Burmese standards. Malaria risk is
low. Medication is scarce and must be brought in sufficient amounts (antibiotics,
Halfan, first-aid kit) and should be donated when leaving. Sometimes a doctor is
present.
Rules: Each participant should spend 14 hours in formal practice (walking and sitting
meditation) and limit other activities (laundry etc.) to a minimum. Don’t read, write
(except notes), go on walks. Adhere to the eight silas (moral precepts). Clothing
should be decent (no shorts or tank tops) and comfortable. Traditionally, white
blouses and shirts are recommended. Men and women wear a longyi (sarong or
wrap-around skirt) which is available there.
Climate and best time to go: Tropical climate. The cooler dry season is from
November to February (from March on very hot).
Immigration and literature: See Panditarama.
Note: Highly suitable for serious meditators with retreat experience desiring intensive
practice, good conditions.
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