Thailand Meditation Retreat News

Every year participants in Karuna Meditation Center Thailand’s three-month Rains Retreat take a long, deep, introspective look at the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. This is the same time of year that the Buddha took a few months to continue his meditation, even after enlightenment, and is a tradition followed in Southeastern Asia by many monks, nuns, and lay practitioners to this day.

The environment in the center is expressly set up around creating a relaxed, conducive atmosphere to meditation and quieting the mind. The daily schedule has plenty of meditation time as well as breaks that allow meditators to not feel so pent-up; one can go to the beach, get a massage, or just sit quietly and comtemplate the teachings during the three-hour afternoon break. Meals are healthy, light yet satisfying, and suited to western tastes and include the flavors of Thailand.

In the three months of retreat, practitioners will explore extensively the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as given in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta:

• Mindfulness of Body (kaya)
• Mindfulness of Feelings (vedana)
• Mindfulness of Mind (citta)
• Mindfulness of Objects of Mind (dhammas)

Meditations will follow the Mahasatipatthana and Anapanasati Suttas, and the final month will be specially devoted to the last two foundations (mind and objects of mind) by way of study and practice of Mahamudra as presented in the classic text, The Ocean of Definitive Meaning, by the Ninth Karmapa.

The length of retreat is a perfect amount of time, as many practitioners find that it takes some time, more than just a few days, to settle their minds and bodies into retreat, and the order of meditations is suitable to this. By the last month of retreat, the mind and body is sufficiently calmed and focused to be able to look deeply during meditation.

Although attending the entirety of the retreat is highly recommended, we understand that, due to practical constraints, some students may not be able to come for the whole retreat. If you are interested and would like to come for part of the retreat, contact us and we can discuss and make arrangements.

Even if you are unable to make this particular organized retreat, the center is open to retreatants wanting to come to practice for any amount of time the rest of the year. We have found meditation in Thailand to be a particularly good experience for practitioners who want to  come and practice in a Buddhist country but with English-speaking teachers.

Here are some responses from recent retreatants:

“This year’s retreat was so great! Genla’s [Michael's] instructions were developmental so that you could clearly understand each step. The meditation sessions were so valuable with his … instructions. The opportunity to walk on the beach was also a meditation. The neighbors neaby the center were warm and friendly. If you are seeking a place to more thoroughly explore mindfulness, this is the place!” - Shirley

“A life-changing experience for which I am profoundly grateful. I had expected it to be much more difficult…but to my surprise I relished the silence and the practices. Genla’s teachings are so understandable - I get it! But now I have to practice.”

“I had a great rereat experience. The teachings were awesome, the community was supportive, and the chance to quiet down and do some real “looking” into the mind’s nature has been motivational for my continuing dharma practice.”

“[The] environment was very conducive to practice. Not many outer distractions, and [I] felt very safe and welcome in town. It was obvious that a lot of effort and thought was put into the entire retreat in general, and into the teaching in particular. Truly an experience of a lifetime, a gem whose value cannot be measured.”

Here are some photos from the 30-day meditation retreat this past May. 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.