For your info, on the 17 January 2017, I (Mohin Sawat) am taking my 10 days Intermediate Vipassana Retreat Course with two other followers of Ajahn Singha at Wat Tam Hua located in Mae Hong Son, Chiangmai arranged by my Master, Ajahn Singha Thong. The course ends on 26 January 2017 and we will be back in Singapore on the 27th January before Chinese New Year 2017.
A Brief Description Of The Daily Routine.
Listen for the monastery bell or drum to signal the start of meditation sessions and other events.
5am Wake up, be mindful. Practice individual meditation.
7am Offering alms to monks in the sala(main hall), followed by breakfast for the rest of the community.
8.30am Group meditation-Vipassana in the main sala.
1030am Offering meal to monks in the sala, followed by main mealfor the rest of the community(note: no eating after midday)
1pm Group meditation-Vipassana in the main sala 4pm Community chores: sweeping the grounds, cleaning the sala, monastery areas, laundry (note: while cleaning be mindful)
5pm Relax time Afternoon tea(no Eating) 6pm Evening Chanting and meditation at main Dhamma Hall in the Sangha area.
This session usually finishes by 7.30 Practice individual meditation in our kuti untill sleepy.
Lights go out around 8.30pm
10pm Sleeping
The schedule allows plenty of time for individual meditation, relaxation or simply enjoying the beauty of the wat and its surroundings. Try to make good use of the time, recollect the opportunity offered and most importantly try to be mindful, aware of here and now, in all one's activities.
In the near future, Ajahn Singha will arrange such Buddhism Retreats Course in Thailand for interested Devotees to attend. Available courses are from 3 days, 7 days, 10 days, etc...
The last begginer course, I had attended was at Wat Doi Suthep also in Chiangmai. You will learn and gain not many but alot (means countless) of Knowledge and Wisdom of Buddhism. BENEFITS The Budda taught a path to completely eliminate suffering by developing profound insight into the nature of reality. Insight(Vipassana) involves first allowing one's mind to settle and become calm.
In meditation, one learns to rest in mindfulness, bare awareness of the present, while letting go of habitual thought patterns and emotions. With a calm open mind free of preconceptions, beliefs, opinions or desires, it is possible to see deeply into the nature of things and understand the relationship between our experiences of happiness and suffering their causes.
In order to calm the mind and meditate one needs to simplify one's busy life, attending to basic needs but minimizing distractions. While at the monastery, it is recommended that reading be limited, and oriented towards practice. Eating less rests one's digestion and is conducive to clarity of mind. Noble silence is not routine here, but quiet moderation is respectful, and talking is best kept to a functional minimum. Relax, enjoy the practice. Check for yourself just what is conducive to calm and just what hinders.
If we wish to develop meditation practice, Budda taught that one needs proper conduct, right instruction regarding meditation, as well as correct view or understanding. These are called the Three Trainings of Conduct, Knowledge, Meditation and Wisdom. The common sense wisdom of "doing no harm" is precisely the foundation needed for one's meditation practice, protecting oneself and others from conflict and disturbance. More specifically, there are five negative actions that should be avoided: killing, stealing, lying, intoxications and sexual misconduct. The wisdom that arises naturally from calm open awareness informs one's conduct and meditation practice in turn, so the three trainings are interdependent.
For beginners, prior experience of meditation is not necessary. Most meditation sessions at the monastery are guided by the abbot, Ajahn Luangta. Luangta speaks English and is an experienced meditator in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is necessary for Intermediates to go through the basic course before attending the intermediate level.