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Meditation in Northern Thailand
This page lists the Temples in Central Thailand where you can learn meditation, click the links for other parts of Thailand you maybe interested in.
Learn Meditation in Bangkok
Learn Meditation in Southern Thailand
Meditation in Isaan
Learn Meditation in Central Thailand
So you want to learn to meditate in Thailand, Thailand has many Wats that we as non speaking Thais can attend and stay at to learn to meditate, you will need to be able to speak English though, from Temples in Bangkok to retreats in the Thai forests, you are sure to find one that suits your needs in your quest to learn meditation.
Some of these Temples listed below also have famous Thai Monks residing in them to help with tuition of meditation, also most of these Temples allow people to visit first to see if it is suitable for them, some may be considered a bit too basic for a farang to stay at, but you really shouldn't be expecting hot water baths, air-con and king sized beds, you won't see much of that in these Temples.
Listing of Thai Temples that have Meditation Courses
Meditation Lessons in Northern Thailand
Wat Umong
MEANING OF NAME :
"Monastery with tunnels"
OTHER NAME :Suan Buddha Dhamma ("Garden of Buddha's teachings")
ADDRESS :Tambon Suthep, Amper Muang, Chiang Mai 55000
WEBSITE :http://www.watumong.org/
DIRECTIONS :Located 3.5 km west of Chiang Mai. Easiest way is by tuk-tuk or bicycle. Or, take a city bus #1 or songtaew west 2.5 km on Suthep Rd. (_not_ the same road to Doi Suthep Temple) to Wang Nam Kan, then follow signs south 1 km to the wat. Chiang Mai is 700 km north of Bangkok and the most important city of the north. Frequent bus, train, and air services connect Chiang Mai with Bangkok and other major centers.
TELEPHONE :0-5327-7248 (call only from 830 a.m. to 4 p.m.)MEDITATION SYSTEM :
Anapanasati, similar to teaching at Suan Mokkh. One is free to use one's own meditation techniques.
TEACHING METHOD :Teachers are available for questions. Talks in English are given every Sunday 3-6 p.m. at the Chinese Pavillion near the pond. A library/museum has many books in English and other foreign languages.
TEACHERS :Phra Khru Sukhandasila, abbot (Thai; age 56) Phra Santitthito (Santi) (German; age 50) is no longer at Wat Umong; he now takes care of a large forest center in Australia as abbot and residen teacher Wat Buddhadhamma, Ten Mile Hollow, Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales.
LANGUAGE :One should be able to speak some Thai. Other senior monks, including the abbot, speak a little English.
DESCRIPTION :Peaceful, wooded grounds of 37.5 rai (15 acres). You can feed the fish, turtles, and ducks in a large pond. "Talking trees" have words of wisdom in Thai and English. The wat is famous for its ancient tunnels and large stupa. Other attractions include a Buddha field of broken sculpture, a fasting Bodhisatva, a Spiritual Theatre of paintings similar to those at Suan Mokkh, reproductions of ancient Buddhist sculpture of India, and a library-museum. This last building offers many books on Buddhism and other philosophies as well as a collection of historic objects and Buddhist art.
SIZE :monks 45-75 novices about 10 nuns about 8 laypeople about 10
DAILY ROUTINE :A bell is rung at 4.00 am. Monks and novices are encouraged (and laypeople welcome) to attend chanting at 4.30 am. and 5.00 pm. Monks and novices go on pindabat after morning chanting, then eat together in a wooden sala.
Because discipline, practice, and schedule are left up to each person for the most part, self-motivation is especially important. Laypeople on a short visit can follow 5 precepts; longer-term visitors should observe 8 precepts.
FOOD :Monks eat once or twice a day from food collected on pindabat. Nuns normally cook their own food. Laypeople can also arrange meals at nearby shops or take from monk's leftovers.
ACCOMMODATIONS :Individual kutis in separate areas for monks/novices,nuns, and laypeople. Kutis, somewhat closely spaced, have screens and electricity; some also have attached Thai-style bathrooms (Asian- and some western-style toilets) and running water.
WRITE IN ADVANCE? :Yes, write or enquire well in advance. Only a small number of kutis are available for laypeople.
OTHER INFORMATION :The monastery, one of the oldest in the Chiang Mai area, may date as far back as 1300 A.D. Legend tells that a king built the brick-lined tunnels for a clairvoyant but sometimes eccentric monk named Thera Jan; paintings dated to about 1380 once decorated the walls.
You can enter the tunnels to see the small shrines inside (a flashlight is useful). The adjacent stupa was constructed about 1520 over an earlier stupa (1400-1550).
The monastery eventually fell into disuse, though Japanese troops were said to garrison here during WW II. Since 1948, the Thai prince Jao Chun Sirorot, now in his 90s, has been active in rebuilding and reestablishing the monastery.
In 1949 he invited Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (founder of Suan Mokkh in southern Thailand) to come and live here. Duties kept Buddhadasa Bhikkhu from coming. Instead he sent Ajahn Pannananda and other monks to help set up and run Wat Umong.
For entertainment there is this small complex which includes a snooker hall.
Wat Ram Poeng
MEANING OF NAME :
"Monastery in memory of" (King Yod Chiengrai established the monastery in 1492 in memory of his father.)
OTHER NAME :Wat Tapotaram ("Monastery of ascetic practice") and Northern Insight Meditation Center
ADDRESS :Tambon Suthep, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 550000
DIRECTIONS :Located 4 km southwest of Chiang Mai. Easiest way is by tuk-tuk or bicycle. Or, take city bus #1 or songtaew west 2 km on Suthep Rd. to Phayom Market (also called Suthep), then go south 2 km to the wat (can take tuk-tuk or songtaew). Wat Umong is only 1 km to the northwest.
TELEPHONE :0-5327-8620
MEDITATION SYSTEM :Intensive vipassana meditation based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Mahasi Sayadaw techniques are used.
TEACHING METHOD :Instruction and advice are given during daily interviews. Dhamma talks in Thai are presented on the night before wan phra.
TEACHERS :Prasuprommayanna Thera (Ajahn Tong), abbot (Thai; age 68) Ven. Luang Paw Banyat Akkayano, vice abbot and head of foreign section (Thai; age 78) One or 2 English-speaking teachers assist.
LANGUAGE :The vice abbot and assistants speak English.
DESCRIPTION :Buildings are closely spaced on the 15-rai (6-acre) grounds, with some trees and grass. The central stupa dates back to the founding of the wat in 1492. The glittering new building serves as the Tripitika Library; it contains collections of the "Three Baskets" of the Theravadan scriptures in Thai, English, Sanskrit, Sri Lankan, Burmese, Mon, Korean, and Chinese languages.
SIZE :monks 60-70 novices about 20 nuns 60-70 laypeople 40-60 (roughly half are foreigners)
DAILY ROUTINE :Meditators are encouraged to try to practice 20 hours a day, lying down to sleep only at night. Meditation generally follows a cycle of kraap (bowing), walking, and sitting. Individual interviews take place daily (except on wan phra) in early afternoon. Practice typically begins at the 4.00 am. wakeup. Meditators have freedom to determine the schedule that works best.
FOOD :Adequate; vegetarian can be requested and is generally available. Rice porridge and a vegetable are served at 6.00 am., then the main meal at 1030 a.m. Monks and novices go on pindabat.
ACCOMMODATIONS :Individual rooms with electricity and Thai-style bathrooms (bathing from jars; Asian- and a few western-style toilets) with running water.
WRITE IN ADVANCE? :Recommended, because the centre is often full. If all rooms are full, you can sign up on a waiting list. Alternate accommodations may be available too. Writing, or better visiting, in advance enables you to reserve a space.
Busiest times are the tourist season (Oct.through March) and the Rains Retreat (3-month period beginning mid- or late July). Preference is given to those planning on staying at least 26 days for the whole course and those who have practiced here before.
OTHER INFORMATION :The course takes 26 days to complete; a stay of onemonth is a bit better. Because practice is individual, you can arrive and begin at any time. Meditators may be accepted for shorter periods if space is available. Eight precepts are observed. Traditional white clothing is worn. Teachers allow some socializing, though care should be taken not to talk about or disturb others' meditation.
A small foreign library has books in English and a few other languages, Dhamma talks on tapes, and books and tapes for learning Thai. The library is available to meditators who have finished the 26-day course and to outside visitors.
The wat is popular with both westerners and Thais. Like Wat Umong, this monastery fell into disuse sometime after its founding. During WW II,Japanese troops occupied and badly damaged the site.
Reconstruction of the viharn began in 1971. In 1974, Prakrupipatkanapiban, the abbot of Wat Muang Mang and head teacher of a meditation school in Chiang Mai, came here and stayed; he's the current abbot and now has the name Prasuprommayanna Thera. Meditation courses at Wat Ram Poeng began in 1975.
Tham Thong Meditation Centre
MEANING OF NAME :"Tong Cave"
ADDRESS :Tambon Ban Pae, Amper Chom Thong, Chiang Mai 502400
DIRECTIONS :Located 86 km southwest of Chiang Mai. Take a bus from Chiang Mai toward Hot; ask to be let off at the stop for Tham Tong (23 km past Chom Thong, between KM posts 82 and 83). Follow the gravel road 1.5 km west to Ban Pae, then turn left 2 km on a small paved road to its end at the meditation centre. You may have to walk in from the highway as local transport is infrequent.
MEDITATION SYSTEM :Vipassana based on methods taught by Mahasi Sayadaw. The centre is a branch of Wat Maha That in Bangkok; the same meditation system is used. One can also use one's own techniques.
TEACHING METHOD :The teacher provides instruction for new arrivals, then interviews as needed.
TEACHERS :Ajarn Suchin Vimalo, abbot (Thai; age 52)
LANGUAGE :The teacher does not speak English. Visitors need to know basic conversational Thai. A few nuns speak English, but may not be available (especially for male visitors).
DESCRIPTION :The center covers about 30 rai (12 acres) on both sides of a narrow, wooded valley. A peaceful setting with running stream, caves, and mountains. The land and surrounding mountains belong to the Forestry Department.
SIZE :monks 7-40 novices 3-10 nuns 15-25 laypeople 10-40
DAILY ROUTINE :Wakeup bell is at 3.30 am.; the meal and some chanting is at 8.30 am. One also helps with sweeping and cleaning work. Except for the meal, the entire day is free for individual meditation practice in solitude.
FOOD :Adequate quality; one meal at 830 a.m. of food offered by the meditation centre. (Newcomers may also be offered a rice porridge earlier in the morning for the first few days.) Monks, novices, and nuns eat from alms bowls but do not go on pindabat. Laymen can eat with the monks and novices; laywomen and nuns have their meal together in an adjacent room.
ACCOMMODATIONS :Individual kutis (in most cases), fairly close together, or rooms; most have electricity, screens, and Thai-style bathrooms with running water (bathing from tanks; Asian-style toilets).
WRITE IN ADVANCE? :Recommended. The centre is often full during the Rains Retreat and times of other retreats.
OTHER INFORMATION :This is a meditation practice center with strict discipline. Visitors must be highly self-reliant and self-motivated. Laypeople wear white clothing and follow 8 precepts. Time should be devoted to meditation and all-around mindfulness. Socializing, reading, and writing are discouraged.
Chom Tong Insight Meditation Center
MEANING OF NAME :"Holy Relic Monastery on the Glorious Golden Hill"
OTHER NAME :Chom Tong Meditation Center
ADDRESS :Tambon Ban Luang, Amper Chom Tong, Chiang Mai 50160
DIRECTIONS :Located 60 km South-West of Chiang Mai. Easiest way is by blue bus from South (Chiang Mai) Gate. Or, take a yellow songtaew (also from Chiang Mai Gate). Buses go directly from NE bus terminal in Bangkok to Chom Tong Meditation Center, every evening.
TELEPHONE :053-826-869
WEBSITE :http://www.sirimangalo.org http://watchomtong.sirimangalo.org e-mail : watchomtong@sirimangalo.org
MEDITATION SYSTEM :Satipatthana Vipassana (Insight Meditation in line with the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness) based on Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw's teaching.
TEACHING METHOD :Students meet with a teacher once per day, on an individual basis, and are given individualised instruction based on their practice. As Chom Tong is a training center, meditators are required to follow instructions as given and practice wholeheartedly.
TEACHERS :Phra Rajapromajaan, abbot and head Vipassana Meditation teacher for Northern Thailand. English-speaking teachers change, but are generally available year-round.
LANGUAGE :English and Thai. In the absense of English-speaking teachers, English-speaking translators are always available.
DESCRIPTION :Located behind the main temple grounds in Wat Chom Tong, the meditation center is quiet and peaceful, with trees covering most of the grounds. Well spread out over approximately 20 acres and constantly growing, it is slowly turning a sleepy rice field into a forest monastery complete with international meditation training center. A meditation hall, meditation garden, and smaller gazebos around the center give a variety of meditation possibilities.
SIZE :monks 40-80 novices 10 - 30 nuns 30 - 40 laypeople 100-120
DAILY ROUTINE :A bell is rung at 4 a.m. and practice starts before breakfast. Breakfast is at 6 AM and Lunch at 11 AM. Reporting is either in the morning or evening. Meditation is conducted individually, at one's own pace. Meditators are asked to observe 8 precepts during their stay.
FOOD :The Kitchen at Chom Tong is fully functional to support international dietary needs. Expect normal Thai dishes without spice and vegetarian alternatives at every meal. For special dietary needs, help can be sought by the foreign department, and generally Soya milk is offered as a gift in the evening by one of the foreign nuns.
ACCOMMODATIONS :Individual kuti (hut) in separate areas for men and women. Kutis are all spacious and modern-style with screens, electricity, fan, bathrooms with western-style toilets, and shower.
WRITE IN ADVANCE? :Yes, please write or enquire well in advance by phone or email. The large number of kutis (120+) are quickly filled by both Thai and International meditators.
OTHER INFORMATION :Wat Phradhatu Sri Chom Tong Voravihara is a Royal Historic Treasure, and contains the Holy Dakkhinamoli Buddha Relic; legend has it that the Lord Buddha came to teach the people on the hill near the monastery. The Meditation Center was founded over ten years ago, and is currently headed by Phra Rajapromajaan (Ajaan Tong Sirimangalo), founder of Wat Rampoeng Tapotaram.
Wat Thaton
OTHER NAME :
Vipassana Meditation
ADDRESS : WAT THATON VIPASSANA MEDITATION CENTER TAMBON THATON, AMPHUR MAE AI CHIANGMAI, THAILAND 50280 TELEPHONE :(053) 459-468 , (053)-459-309
WEBSITE :www.wat-thaton.org
ABBOT :PHRA RATPARIYATIMETHEE
MEDITATION MASTER :PHRA SRI SITIMETHEE, DEPUTY ABBOT OF WAT THATON
CONTACT PERSONS : PHRA RATHA PANYAVUDHO (VAYAGOOL)email: meditation@wat-thaton.org
CAPACITY :20 persons (Recommend booking two weeks in advance). We request new students stay for a minimum of 7 days for their first retreat.
DESCRIPTION :The retreat is widely open for both beginner and experienced meditators. On the retreat, all meditators are requested to keep silence at all times except when giving meditation reports.
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
MEANING OF NAME :
"Royal Monastery of the Beneficent Angels, Containing A Holy Buddha Relic"
OTHER NAME :Wat Doi Suthep
ADDRESS :Tambon Suthep, Amper Muang, Chiang Mai 50200
TELEPHONE :053-295-012
E-MAIL/WEBSITE :doisuthepinfo@gmail.com http://www.fivethousandyears.org/
DIRECTIONS :Located above Chiang Mai City. The easiest way to Doi Suthep is to rent a Red Truck taxi for 150-300 baht. The cheaper way is to take a taxi to the Chiang Mai Zoo (Thai: Suan Satt) and wait for a shared taxi there to go up the mountain (only during daytime hours.
MEDITATION SYSTEM :Satipatthana Vipassana (Insight Meditation in line with the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness) based on Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw's teaching
TEACHING METHOD :Students meet with a teacher once per day, on an individual basis, and are given individualised instruction based on their practice. As the center at Doi Suthep is considered a training center, meditators are required to follow instructions as given and practice wholeheartedly.
TEACHERS :Teacher under Taan Ajarn Tong (Phrarajapromajaan) of Wat Chom Tong.
LANGUAGE :English and Thai. English-speaking teachers, advisors and staff are always on hand to assist meditators in whatever way possible.
DESCRIPTION :Doi Suthep is a famed for its serene and peaceful environment, giving visitors the impression that there really might be angels guarding its pristine beauty. Close enough to be seen from Chiang Mai City, and with a breathtaking view of Thailand's Northern Capital, the monastery is quiet and peaceful, with ancient trees, birds and the occasional fog covering the grounds. The meditation center is fully functional and growing always. For current information on the facilities and pictures of the center please see the website above.
SIZE :monks 20 - 30 novices 5 - 10 nuns 3 - 5 laypeople 20 - 30
DAILY ROUTINE :Wakeup is at 4 a.m. and practice starts before breakfast. Breakfast is at 6:30 AM and Lunch at 11 AM. Reporting is either in the morning or evening. Meditation is conducted individually, at one's own pace. Meditators are asked to observe 8 precepts during their stay.
FOOD :Wat Doi Suthep is fully functional to support international dietary needs. Expect normal Thai dishes without spice and vegetarian alternatives at every meal. For special dietary needs, help can be sought by the foreign department, and drinks are available for the evening.
ACCOMMODATIONS :Individual rooms in separate areas for men and women. Kutis are all modern-style with screens, electricity, shared-bathrooms and shower.
WRITE IN ADVANCE :Yes, please write or enquire in advance by phone or email.
OTHER INFORMATION :Wat Phradhatu Doi Suthep Rajavoravihara is a Royal Monastery, home of the Vice-Monastic Chief of the Chiang Mai Province. The Meditation Center was founded in 2004, and is run under the guidance of Phra Rajapromajaan (Ajaan Tong Sirimangalo), founder of Wat Rampoeng Tapotaram and current Monastic Chief of Wat Phradhatu Sri Chom Tong.