Thailand Meditation Retreat News

Prajna is Sanskrit for wisdom.  There are three aspects of wisdom for a Buddhist point of view…

The first is the wisdom of learning. This is the idea of studying the teachings of the Dharma in book form or in listening to the teachings as propounded by an experienced practitioner - a member of Sangha. At Karuna, we offer this in the form of daily meditation teachings, given in English in an easy-to-understand manner. We also have a Dharma library where you can read more about your meditation practice or about Dharma in general. Additionally, we have a library of MP3 teachings given by teachers in the past.

The second Prajna is the wisdom of contemplation. The Buddha admonished all of his students to not take his word on any matter. Rather, he suggested it is better to treat his advice in a manner similar to a goldsmith who is checking the authenticity of a lump of yellow metal. Cut it, polish it, melt it… whatever it takes to prove that the metal is truly gold.

The Buddha’s idea was that we, as practitioners not merely take the teachings as a form of dogma, a set of religious beliefs that are inscrutable or not subject to inquiry or investigation.  Conversely, the teachings should be very practical and easy to understand by any one who earnestly follows the methods of liberation as propounded by the Buddha. This is the idea of contemplation.

A serious practitioner must spend some time analyzing the teachings - breaking them down into their component parts. Looking at the nuts and bolts of what the Buddha taught. Then re-assembling the teaching into a coherent whole and inquiring - “Is this my experience?” and “Does my life experience line up with these ideas?” In short - one must be a ’street smart’ student of Dharma.

You will have ample time, space and tranquility at Karuna to go deeper into the teachings and verify their authenticity - acting in the manner of a goldsmith - and working with the second prajna.

From this point, from this position of contemplation, one can begin the inner journey - the third prajna - that of meditation. People who meditate are known in Tibetan as “nang-was” - translated as “inside people.” Not agoraphobes or hermit-like shut-ins, instead people who find the journey of introspection fascinating and revealing about their position in life and the world - their existence. Those who delight in the introspective life. As Professor Robert Thurman calls them - psychonauts - explorers of the inside space.

At Karuna, you will have ample opportunity to investigate the inner experience. We have multiple meditation sessions scheduled each day and these provide the space and time to look more deeply within. In essence, practicing the third wisdom and harvesting the resultant insight that develops from the total process of wisdom cultivation, invloving all three prajnas.

We welcome you to Karuna and encourage you to discover the path to wisdom and resultant compassion available to us all. Contact us to arrange your meditation retreat.

The primary reason for a visit to Karuna is to meditate. That might seem obvious, so let’s unpack it a little bit.

Our mission is to provide crystal-clear instruction, for both beginners and those with experience, based on the heart of the Buddha’s teachings on liberation and enlightenment. We rely on our personal experience and our teaching comes from our hearts, as weathered and seasoned meditators who have faced much, are frank and honest, and have a realistic approach to Dharma practice as a life’s work.

We do this, in English, through a daily Dharma talk with a guided meditation. We also have an MP3 library which is available to you, and there is also a library of Buddhist books covering a wide range of topics, especially meditation practice.

If you are not yet a meditator, no big deal - we work with beginners every day. If you have been meditating for 100 years and are feeling stuck or like your practice has stalled, no big deal - we have been there , too. If you are intimidated by the perceived level of practice we offer, (”12 hours is a lot for me…”) and worry that we might have a meditation scorecard to rate you like some piece of pop music on a countdown…

We don’t

You’ll find no judgment here. No comparisons. No ranking. No competition…. just friends on the path.

We encourage you to sit frequently, to gently push yourself in the practice, to overcome obstacles, to gain confidence - no matter the level of your practice - all the while becoming familiar with your being and applying the methods of the instructions to your own experience. Just as the Buddha taught.

FOR BEGINNERS:
All of this is to assist you in developing your own meditation practice. We have 7 sessions throughout the day. Only one of these has guided instructions and teaching. This is intentional so as to offer you room to develop your own practice.

Development of a commitment to - and discipline in - your own practice is an absolutely essential skill if you wish to progress further in Dharma. Enlightenment takes some work & effort - but this is not heavy lifting - more like a gradual acceptance of our situation, a gentle development of mindfulness and distanced observation of arisings, an easing towards the cultivation of wisdom and an appreciation of the attendant happiness, peace and joy available to us in each present moment of mindfulness.

Usually, this doesn’t happen in a flash. As with any personal shift, it is the result of a directed, intentional effort towards change using effective techniques applied consistently over time. So learning to practice on your own is indispensable to your longer-term spiritual growth and development - to your own achievement of Buddhahood. Karuna can be seen as training for your continued practice after you leave.

We point out the way once a day, every day, and leave you to your own to sit with the instructions, finding areas for clarification and allowing for experiential confirmation of what is taught. This is directly in line with the teachings of the Buddha. We feel like we are similar to the monks of old, in that we help each other as companions on the path: encouraging, clarifying, supporting and smiling a lot. And we sit., and sit, and sit…. quietly, happily, at times with struggles, but always with a firm intention and understanding of what we are up to.

FOR THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE:

You have some mindfulness, you have concentration - perhaps some tastes of wisdom… You now need space and time to move deeper - to firmly plant the flag of your being on the side of joyful mindfulness, cultivating stability there… Karuna is perfect for you.

Karuna serves as a platform for the recognition of deeply ingrained habitual tendencies and provides the space for you to re-organize your being. The structure of the center provides the foundation for consistency of meeting and overcoming these arisings. As they are met, seen, worked with and transcended, one moves further and further along the path.

Being among serious, long-term practitioners who are in the “trenches” of their own reorganization is invaluable in this endeavor. We share our struggles, tips, techniques and failures with other openly and honestly and always in the spirit of mutual benefit.

If you have never attempted a 30, 60, or 90-day (or longer retreat), it is time to engage in your practice in the best way possible - a longer, deeper, foundation-shifting period of practice.

I encourage you to re-structure your life so that you may join us for some deeply engaged practice time.
As a beginner, you may find that you are a serious practitioner. As a serious practicioner, you may find that you need to reconnect with beginner’s mind. Either way, Karuna is a perfect place to make your own discoveries. You’ll find we are seriously interested in assisting you with profound change and moving towards total Enlightenment.

We don’t take any unnecessary sidetracks or engage in any “timefillers” in practice. This is your life, and it is time to get down to the business at hand.

How much time do you have? Let’s get started.

In Metta - Thomas

Karuna Meditation Center has moved.

We are located in a roomier building in a more serene location in Nakatani Village, about 3 km. south of Kamala, along the main road. Nakatani village is 50 meters from the Naka police checkpoint - at the base of the last hill climb before heading down into Kamala. Once in Nakatani, drive to the first large building on the left, just past the guard hut and community office.

In addition to meditation, yoga, vegetarian meals, and spacious comfort, when you visit Karuna Meditation Center, you have the chance to go swimming in the pool, visit our private, tranquil beach, stroll thorough our forest meditation path, or soak up some sun on one of our numerous outdoor dining patios. The center also has rooms for overnight stays.

Meditation sessions happen all day, and we have a guide for drop-ins, so you are welcome to join us anytime. Teaching about Buddhist philosophy and meditation happens M - F starting about 3pm and generally lasts for two hours. Group yoga classes are held each day at 11 am and last for about 90 minutes.

For more details, email info@meditate-Thailand.com or see the Contact Us page on this site for map and directions. You may also call 082 803 0153.

We welcome you to our new center.

Karuna Meditation Center is happy to be offering two regularly-scheduled events that are open to the local community on a drop-in basis.

Daily Meditation & Talk

Every day except Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. there is a guided meditation followed by a brief talk about a subject relevant to meditation and daily living, followed by open discussion.  The event ends at 5:00 p.m.  There is no fee but donations are welcome.

Yoga & Meditation

Every Monday and Thursday morning, at 10:00-12:30, there is a group yoga session, followed immediately by a one-hour meditation session.  The yoga is taught by an excellent teacher with plenty of experience and a great sense of humor. The meditation session is not a guided meditation, so if you need instruction before the session, contact us (sarah@meditate-thailand.com) ahead of time to arrange a time.  There is no charge for meditation instruction; we ask a donation of 150 baht to help cover the cost of the yoga instructor.

We’re working on getting a map posted.  Meanwhile, email me if you want to come, and I’ll send you a map and directions.

“Staying at Karuna Meditation Center has been such a wonderful experience.  As a beginner to meditation, I have now been blessed with a solid foundation for my practice.  I would normally find it hard to sit still for five minutes.  I have been able to take a step back and observe instead of trying to control, and being in such a beautiful natural setting, how could you not switch off that ‘busy switch’?  Thank you for the resources and advice you have given me!”

– Naomi, Sydney, Australia

Naomi was a visitor at the center from March 5-9, 2009

Concurrently with other activities at Karuna Meditation Center, a three-year retreat is being held for a small group of practitioners who have dedicated this period of their lives to the study and practice of Buddhist meditation.  Special regular teachings are given to this group.  Recently, a teaching was given on “The Four Efforts”.

The Four Efforts were discussed by Geshe Chekawa, a 12th-century Tibetan master, who commented on four things as being of great importance to each meditator in each session.  These are:

1.  Does the intention of the practice align with the motivation for practice?

2.  Understanding and having confidence in the method.

3.  Knowing and recognizing the variety of effects that practice can produce.

4.  Accepting the results of your practice.

The teaching that was given explains these four points in detail and discusses how they relate to meditation and to life.  To download a .pdf file of the transcript of this talk, click Four Efforts (PDF).

May 1 through July 31, 2009
Every year, when the summer monsoons made the roads of northern India impassable, the Buddha suspended his traveling teaching routine and took his closest followers to a protected location where he gave them intensive instruction and guided their practice for 90 days.  This event became known as the Summer Rains Retreat.  In the spirit of this original practice as established by the Buddha, we are holding the first Annual Summer Rains Retreat at the Karuna center in Thailand, beginning May 1.
The practices of the retreat are as laid out by the Buddha himself in the Mahasatipatthana Sutra:  The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Mindfulness of Body-first month; Mindfulness of Vedana-second month; Mindfulness of Mind-third month; Mindfulness of Object of Mind-third month), The Seven Factors of Awakening (practiced throughout the retreat), and The Four Noble Truths (practiced as the Four Immeasurables, at the very end of the retreat).  There will be live instruction nearly every day, and frequent opportunities for meditation interviews.

You can attend all or part of this retreat.  Contact info@meditate-Thailand.com for details  .Registration deadline is April 1; payment deadline is April 23.  The retreat is limited to 22 attendees at any one time, so don’t wait; email now.

Updated:  25 February 2009

We are happy to present to you the Heart Sutra as it is presented in our prayer books.

The Heart Sutra

Thus I have heard. Once the Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagriha at Vulture Peak Mountain, together with a great gathering of the sangha of monks and a great gathering of the sangha of bodhisattvas.

At that time the Blessed One entered the samadhi that expresses the dharma called “profound illumination.” And at the same time noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, while practicing the profound prajñaparamita, saw in this way: he saw the five skandhas to be empty of nature.

Then, through the power of the Buddha, venerable Sariputra said to noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, “How should a son or daughter of noble family train, who wishes to practice the profound prajñaparamita?”

Addressed in this way, noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, said to venerable Sariputra, “O Sariputra, a son or daughter of noble family who wishes to practice the profound prajñaparamita should see in this way: seeing the five skandhas to be empty of nature.

“Form is empty; emptiness is also form. Emptiness is no other than form; form is no other than emptiness.

“In the same way, feeling, perception, formation, and consciousness are empty.

“Thus, Sariputra, all dharmas are emptiness. There are no characteristics.

“There is no birth and no cessation. There is no impurity and no purity. There is no decrease and no increase.

“Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no formation, no consciousness;

“No eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;

“No appearance, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no dharmas;

“No eye dhatu up to no mind dhatu, no dhatu of dharmas, no mind consciousness dhatu;

“No ignorance and no end of ignorance up to no old age and death, no end of old age and death;

“No suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering, no path, no wisdom, no attainment, and no nonattainment.

“Therefore, Sariputra, since the bodhisattvas have no attainment, they abide by means of prajñaparamita. Since there is no obscuration of mind, there is no fear. They transcend falsity and attain complete nirvana. All the buddhas of the three times, by means of prajñaparamita, fully awaken to unsurpassable, true, complete enlightenment.

“Therefore, the great mantra of prajñaparamita, the mantra of great insight, the unsurpassed mantra, the unequalled mantra, the mantra that calms all suffering should be known as truth, since there is no deception. The prajñaparamita mantra is said in this way:

“Tadya ta, ga-te ga-te, para ga-te,

para sang ga-te, bodhi so ha.

“Thus, Sariputra, the bodhisattva mahasattva should train in the profound prajñaparamita.”

Then the Blessed One arose from that samadhi and praised noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, saying, “Good, good, O son of noble family; thus it is, O son of noble family, thus it is.

“One should practice the profound prajñaparamita just as you have taught and all the tathagatas will rejoice.”

When the Blessed One had said this, venerable Sariputra and noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, that whole assembly and the world with its gods, humans, asuras, and gandharvas rejoiced and praised the words of the Blessed One.

Here are some photos from the 30-day meditation retreat held in May, 2008. Enjoy!

Rainbow Around the Sun.

This was a wonderful sight to see in the middle of a silent retreat.

In Sesssion

Meditators during one of the daytime sessions.

One of the many flowers outside of the center’s building.

Meditators pose for a group photo after it’s all done.