Meditation/Buddha/yoga retreat advise

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bagpussuk
bagpussuk

Hi. I’m intending to visit Thailand in December/January for 3-4 weeks.

I’d like to visit a temple and stay a few days to meditate with reasonably strict rules... no phones/limited meals/regular meditation and yoga.

The only thing I’d prefer not to do is shave my head, though I’d do it if need be.

Hopefully somewhere in the north of the country for 4-7 days. I would consider 10 day courses as I know they are popular.

Once or twice daily yoga would be great too.

I do meditate currently.

Thanks all :)

Edited by bagpussuk
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bayman
bayman
In response to #0

You can check Vipassana courses. If you have never attended, you will be required to take the 10 day new student course. Lodging and food is free. They will only ask for donations. I believe the one in Bangkok is for Thai speakers only but there are 9 centers in Thailand.

https://www.dhamma.org/en/maps#TH

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anachack
anachack

Why? Do you think you will be a better person if you do this? Or do you think meditation will help you overcome your problems? Or do you have the Hollywood notion that it will be peace, incense sticks, and chanting?

These are not questions for you to answer. They are questions to ask yourself because you cannot answer a lifetime of questions with a few hours of searching and if you do not know why you want this you will not find the answer in a temple.

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bagpussuk
bagpussuk
In response to #1

Thanks. I have seen these but they seem to refrain from practicing yoga and they are also pretty full into the new year.

Thanks :)

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bagpussuk
bagpussuk
In response to #2

Please respond only if you can add value to my question or suggest something useful.

Have a super day :)

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anachack
anachack

Yoga is not a Buddhist practice

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westwood
westwood

I'm not as cynical as #2. I have a friend here on Koh Samui who does as you would luke to do but on the mainland. I can see if he is willing to give me details. I will send you a PM either way in the next day or so.

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anachack
anachack

I didn't realise it was cynicism. Bagpuss in your OP you wanted to mix yoga with a temple retreat. I was trying to be helpful and point out that the two do not co-exist. The Temples are for Buddha and yoga is not a Buddhist tradition.
There are Temple retreats - though they are commercial enterprises not Buddhist Temples and there are Yoga retreats.

If you want to retreat to a real Thai Temple you will have to shave your head. You can retreat to other temples like Japan and India where they do not shave their heads and you will possibly find other temples where they practice Yoga but that would be a Monk thing not a Buddhist thing.

If I came across as cynical I apologise but I was trying to convey that you will not find what you are looking for in a Thai Temple. You will have to look elsewhere or settle for something different in Thailand.

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