Come Practice: Information and Policies
Purpose and Instruction
Karuna Meditation Center, is located near the town of Kamala on the island of Phuket, Thailand, and has been designed for retreatants wanting to practice in retreat for any length of time. The name, Karuna, means ‘compassion’ in Sanskrit.
Karuna Meditation Center is geared toward flexibility and can accommodate individual or group retreats. It is located near beautiful Kamala Beach in Southern Thailand, a country whose culture and ambience reflect the benefits of more than a thousand years of Buddhist values. The emphasis at this center is on giving clear, detailed meditation guidance in fluent English in an environment Western people find comfortable, and in a part of the world that understands and supports meditation as an integral part of life. It is particularly convenient for those who wish to practice for periods of time not usually offered as group retreats such as 3 weeks or 6 months, for example. Individual retreats can be arranged for any length of stay and any time of year.
Beginning to advanced meditation instruction is available to individuals in English, in the Theravadan, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions. During group retreats, instruction is given in accordance with the announced topic of the retreat. The schedule of group retreats is posted here.
Retreat Policies
The seriousness of your individual meditation retreat is up to you. On the meditation center site itself, certain policies and rules are in place to establish an environment that supports the meditation practice and promotes consideration for others. While you are on site, you are expected to follow the appropriate conduct. Whether you do so when away from the retreat premises during your individual retreat is a matter for you to decide.
Certain conduct is helpful to meditation and other conduct is detrimental to it. Since the time of the Buddha these retreat rules have proven to be beneficial when kept and harmful to the retreat when broken. Therefore, during group retreats, all retreatants are expected to maintain their conduct in accordance with these policies at all times, on site or off. These policies of conduct are:
• Functional silence
• No killing, even of insects, mosquitoes and spiders
• No intoxicants such as alcohol or drugs
• No sexual contact between retreatants, including married couples and established partners
In addition, smoking is not permitted on the retreat premises, and laundry may not be hung to dry in a publicly visible place. Other rules and policies may be implemented from time to time as required.
It is assumed that those who come here are seriously interested in their own spiritual practice and will be considerate of others and respectful toward the people and things which are here to assist them, such as teachers, Buddha images, etc. Anyone who persists in disrupting a group retreat or acting in ways that are disrespectful or inconsiderate of others may be required to leave.
If you have serious physical or mental health issues, these must be addressed before arriving at the center. It is not acceptable to arrive here and then begin to look into these matters, as that is not the purpose of this center.
Retreatants are asked to provide a name and phone number of someone who can be contacted in the event of an emergency involving them, such as a serious illness or road accident in which they are injured.
Accommodations
Several types of accommodation are offered, all subject to availability. While we do have a few rooms at the retreat center itself, bungalows, apartments, and sometimes individual rooms are usually located a short walking distance from the meditation hall. These vary enormously in what they include and how they are arranged, so the descriptions below are intended to give a general idea rather than a guarantee of what can be expected in a specific place. We will make every effort to secure for you the type of accommodation you prefer. However, the island is very crowded during the high season (November through February) and it may not be possible to arrange exactly what you request. We ask that you give us as much advance notice as possible if you plan to come during that time.
Shared room: A shared room accommodates two people, each with their own bed. The bath is also shared with a maximum of 3 other people.
Private room: A private room accommodates one person. Some have private baths, and in some, the bath is shared with a maximum of 2 other people.
Private bungalow: A limited number of private bungalows are available, especially during the ‘off’ season. All have private baths. Some include a small kitchen. These are small, free-standing houses. A minimum stay of one week (7 nights) is required.
Apartment: A small number of apartments, with private bath, kitchen and bedroom(s) are available. These are not separate houses, but rather are units in a larger building. A minimum stay of one week (7 nights) is required.
Meals
All accommodations include vegetarian breakfast and lunch. In addition, a light snack of fresh fruit and bread or crackers is offered in the late afternoon (5 p.m.). Those who require a more substantial evening meal or who need meat in their diet can visit one of a large variety of local restaurants during that time.
Special Diets: We regret that it is not possible for us to accommodate every type of special dietary need. Although milk, eggs and butter are served, they are not usually an integral part of the meal and can be avoided by those who prefer a strict vegan diet. However, if you are gluten-intolerant or have other special dietary needs, we recommend that you confer by email with our staff. It may be necessary for you to bring some supplies with you or purchase them locally to supplement what is offered.
Severe Allergies: It is vital that we know before your arrival if you have a severe food allergy that would cause you serious discomfort or require medical attention if you inadvertently ate it. For example, some of the curries here may be prepared with nut flavorings or coconut. For your safety and protection, we need to know about such things in order to avoid them if they are dangerous to you.
To discuss specific food situations, contact us before you book your stay.
Prices and Payment Policy
A deposit of 50% of the total cost of your stay is required in advance and can be made online at the www.meditate-Thailand.com website using Paypal. This deposit is non-refundable. The balance is due upon arrival, in Thai currency. To make your planning easier and minimize the impact of currency exchange fluctuations, we use a standard exchange rate of 33 THB per USD for purposes of payment in Thailand in Thai currency. Your home currency can be exchanged at the airport in Bangkok or Phuket, or at either of the two main banks in Kamala. There are also various other local shops that offer currency exchange.
Credit cards: Unfortunately, we are unable to accept credit card payments in Thailand. If you prefer to pay by credit card, there are two options. Either you can use the website facility to pay in full online before you arrive, or you can use your credit card at either of the banks in Kamala to draw cash and then pay in cash. When drawing cash on a credit card at the bank, you must have your passport with you. Rates:
Shared room: $30/night
Private room: $40/night
Bungalow: $45/night (7 nights minimum)
Apartment: $45/night (7 nights minimum)
Long-Term Stays: If you plan to stay for one month or longer, please contact us about your specific accommodations. It may be possible to arrange a special rate for a long-term stay.
Refund Policy
Deposits are not refundable. If you are unable to come at the time you originally plan, it may be possible to apply your deposit to a visit at a different time. It cannot be transferred to another person but may only be used by the person who originally paid it.
If you are asked to leave the retreat due to disrespectful or disruptive behavior no refund will be given, no matter how many unused days may have been paid for.
If you choose to skip any of the meals and eat elsewhere, no rebate can be given for the meals you elect not to eat.
Daily Schedule:
The meditation hall is open at all times, day or night, and anyone is free to enter and practice whenever they wish to do so in addition to the scheduled times.
| 5:15 - 6:45 am | First Meditation Session |
| 6:45 - 7:30 am | Breakfast |
| 7:30 - 8:30 am | Free Time |
| 8:30 - 10:00 am | Second Meditation Session |
| 10:00 - 11:30 am | Free Time |
| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Third Meditation Session |
| 12:30 - 1:15 pm | Lunch |
| 1:15 - 3:30 pm | Free Time |
| 3:30 - 5:00 pm | Fourth Meditation Session |
| 5:00 - 5:30 pm | Fruit and Tea Break |
| 5:30 - 6:15 pm | Free Time |
| 6:15 - 7:45 pm | Fifth Meditation Session |
| 7:45 pm - 5:15 am | Night Time Rest |
Total daily meditation time is 7 hours, and the longest session time is 1½ hours. We have found this schedule to be very workable, even for beginning meditators. To maximize the benefit of your time here, we encourage visitors to attend all the scheduled meditation sessions unless there is some serious reason to be absent, such as a medical emergency.
Facilities and Environment
Karuna Meditation Center is located in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the town of Kamala, on Phuket Island in Thailand. The town is small; nearly everything is within walking distance of everything else. However, people here are accustomed to having guests from other countries, and have learned how to provide what we need. Internet facilities, food markets, international banking including ATM and cash withdrawal on credit card, laundry services, pharmacy, and medical services, professional Thai and Swedish massage ($10/Hour) are available within a 15-minute walk.
Water in town is well water, and is safe to drink right from the tap. This means that ice cubes and raw salad vegetables in restaurants are also uncontaminated and safe to consume.
One of the world's most beautiful beaches, Kamala Bay on the Andaman Sea, is also within a 15-minute walk and there are many beautiful places in the near vicinity to visit either before or after your retreat. In most cases, no advance bookings are required and there are many travel centers in town to assist you in your choices.
After your retreat, you can arrange many different types of tours through local travel agencies, or spend some time at the local tourist attractions. In order to maximize the benefit from your meditation experience, we recommend that you refrain from such distractions during your individual or group retreat.
The meditation center is not located within a tsunami zone.
There is a Buddhist temple, or Wat in Thai, located in-town right on the beach, for those who are interested in a visit. Although there is a substantial Muslim minority, Thailand is primarily a Buddhist country, and most local practitioners follow the Theravadan tradition of Buddhism.
Logistics
Visas
A Word of Caution: The visa information given below was in effect at the time of posting. However, the Thai government has the right to change the policies at any time. Please make sure you contact the Thai consulate in your area by phone, or visit the Thai government’s website, for current information and additional policies that may be in effect for specific countries.
Visa upon arrival (30 days) is available to all U.S. citizens, Australians and most Europeans and may be extended twice for a total of 90 days. Sixty-day visas are available from Thai embassies and consulates in many cities for a small charge (about $35.00) and may also be renewed twice for a total of 180 days and granted an extension of a further 30 days for a total of 210 days.
NOTE: It is necessary to leave the country for a very short time (an hour or so) and return in order to renew these types of visa. Organized tours for this purpose are available for about $60 US (1800 THB) per person. The tour takes a full day. Therefore, if you’re coming for a 30-day retreat, it’s best to get a 60-day visa ahead of time rather than having to take a day away from the retreat to extend your visa, since most 30-day retreat participants prefer to arrive a few days in advance to recover from their travels before the retreat starts. Many also choose to remain as tourists for awhile after the retreat. The penalty for overstay is about $17.00 USD per day, payable upon departure.
Air Travel
The nearest airport is Phuket International, located about 40 minutes from the retreat center. Sometimes people prefer to travel through Bangkok for various reasons. Domestic air carriers have more restrictive baggage and weight policies than international carriers. Most Thai airlines allow one bag, weighing not more than 15 kilos (33 lbs). If you come into the country at Bangkok, be aware that you may need to pay an extra-bag and/or overweight charge before your baggage can be accepted by an in-country airline.
If you notify us in advance of your flight information, we will make every effort to meet you at the airport and bring you directly to your accommodations, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. In addition to your arrival time, we will need to know whether you’re arriving directly at Phuket on an international flight or are taking a domestic flight for the final leg of your trip. International flights are met at a different place than domestic ones.
If you are unable to arrive between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., we suggest that you book a hotel either near the airport or in the town of Kamala for your first night. Airport taxi drivers are unfamiliar with Kamala and therefore have trouble finding many places in town. Since we are in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of town, your driver will probably not be able to find the center, especially at night.
Driving
To drive here legally, you are required to have an international driver’s license or permit. If you plan to drive here, even on a motorbike, it’s best to get this license before you arrive. They are available through many sources, valid for differing lengths of time, and at different prices. To find the option that suits you, a Google search on ‘international driving license’ will yield quantities of information. All international driving licenses are based on having a valid license to drive issued by some authorized agency, usually a government. If you don’t have one of those, you can’t get an IDL.
During certain times of the year, the police set up roadblocks and routinely collect fines, currently set at about 300 THB ($10) from almost every foreigner who drives past them. There is no limit to the number of fines you can be assessed in a single day’s unlicensed driving. In the US, a one-year international driving permit is available from AAA for $15.00.
Innoculations
Please check the CDC travel website for current information about inoculations you may need before arriving.
Suggested Attire
The meditation center is located in a Buddhist neighborhood. Out of courtesy to local standards of modesty, we ask that our visitors dress modestly and conservatively. Very short skirts or shorts, tight clothes, low necklines and string-type straps over the shoulders are considered offensive by our neighbors and should be avoided except when actually on the beach. As a guideline, the body should be loosely covered from shoulders to below the knees when on the streets in the neighborhood, although short sleeves and even modest sleeveless tops are fine.
In the meditation hall, the same rules apply. The space is air-conditioned so although the climate is tropical, indoors you should be quite comfortable.
What to Bring/What to Avoid
To Bring
Meditation Cushion: We have mats to protect your ankles from the hard floor, but you will need to bring your own meditation cushion or Zen bench. If you’re a beginning meditator and don’t have one, a large variety can be found online, and many Asian bookstores and imports shops also stock them.
Shawl: A lightweight shawl or cover-up might be needed in the meditation hall. The space is air-conditioned, but the temperature varies from place to place within the room, and what’s considered comfortable varies from person to person as well.
Towels: Bring your own toiletries and towels. Sheets, pillows and bed coverings are provided.
Rain Gear: Bring a folding umbrella or raincoat, particularly if you come during April through November. It rains often and hard, usually for short periods of time, even during some of the months that are not considered the “rainy season”.
Bathing Suit: There is a beach about 15 minutes’ walk from the meditation center and even closer to most of the off-site accommodations. If you have any interest in swimming or sunbathing during the mid-day break, bring a bathing suit – and plenty of sunscreen.
Insect repellent: If you’re outside, mosquitoes can be a hazard, especially after dark. There is no malaria here, but dengue fever occasionally occurs. For most people, dengue fever isn’t serious, but until you get it, you don’t know how it will be for you and when it’s bad it can be very bad indeed. Best not to take the chance.
To Leave Behind
There are no hard and fast rules ‘prohibiting’ certain things, but in the interests of a deeper meditation experience for you and others who might be visiting at the same time, we suggest leaving the following items at home:
Scents and Scented Products: People react differently to smells in the vicinity. What pleases one may be unpleasant to another. In fact, what pleases you today may be less pleasant on another day even to yourself. For this reason, we ask that you do not use any perfumes, colognes, aftershave lotions, or other toiletries or laundry products that have a noticeable smell. Likewise, we ask that you not use incense, potpourri, scented oils or candles, or anything else which puts a scent into the environment anywhere near the meditation hall and communal eating area. For those who are staying in the Karuna building itself, that includes refraining from using such things in your room and in the bathroom, as we know from experience that smells anywhere in the building permeate the entire space.
Music: We don’t recommend bringing iPods, Walkmans or other sources of music, as music can often be a distraction. If you feel strongly that music is necessary and of benefit for your stay, headphones are required in any area where the music could be overheard by others. In general, unless you have a private bungalow, bring headphones if you bring music.
Books: Again, even books about meditation can detract from the actual experience while you’re practicing intensively. If you want to bring a book or two, bring something that will inspire you to greater dedication to your meditation practice.
Cell phones: Cell phones are sometimes necessary while enroute, and can be handy before and after your retreat. While you’re here, though, we recommend that you turn them off and leave them off. Your stay here is an unusual opportunity to leave the ordinary world behind and devote yourself entirely to spiritual practice. That purpose is easily defeated if you let the world find you through your phone.
Register Online
Click here to register online.
