Keeping your bearings in a metropolis like Bangkok can be challenging. Nevertheless, you can discover peace of mind via Buddhist meditation at a retreat or center dedicated to the grounding practice. As crazy as it seems, there are places of tranquility amid the chaos of this megacity. If you need a moment to re-calibrate or want to learn about the skill of meditation, visit one of the following locations. You will surely leave feeling refreshed and revitalized, ready to tackle anything life throws at you!
One of the oldest temples in Bangkok, the well-known Wat Mahathat, may be found near the Grand Palace. It was constructed to hold a relic of the Buddha. Still, it has since become home to the most significant monastic order in Thailand, a Vipassana Meditation center, and the world's first and oldest Buddhist university. Daily, three English-speaking monks lead lessons in guided meditation. Longer study durations are also possible, with the center providing room and board.
The Yogatique Building is home to this humble studio, which is part of a more extensive network of over two hundred urban meditation and rural retreat centers managed by the charitable Shambhala Mandala Association. The practice is centered on the Shambhala ideal, which originates in Buddhist teachings but offers direction relevant to contemporary issues. The Shambhala tradition was developed by a monk named Chögyam Trungpa, who took instructions from many Tibetan Buddhist schools and integrated them with his observations of Western culture. The Shambhala Centre is where people of all experience levels can come and meditate together and attend lectures, seminars, and other educational programs. Any planned program is open to walk-ins; however, pre-registering online is recommended to guarantee a spot. Classes are offered at no cost; however, donations are welcome.
While this program is yoga-focused, it does involve some meditation. "Goddess Yoga Teacher Training" denotes a range of yoga practices intended to channel or awaken goddess energy. Enhance your spirituality alongside your physical exercise. Here you can train your mind, heart, and spirit to learn the secrets of one's feminine strength.
One of India's oldest practices, Vipassana Meditation has almost 200 centers dedicated to its study and practice around the world. Vipassana is usually taught in intensive 10-day residential courses where students learn the practice's origins and fundamentals from experienced teachers. Applications for the center's signature 10-day course and shorter periods of one and three days for alums can be submitted online. All programs are entirely donation-based, including all meals and lodging. Be sure that English classes are offered by checking their timetable.
This community center hosts a wide variety of programs, both in English and Thai, and it has lately taken over the popular Meditate with a Monk Mondays from the Little Bangkok Meditation Centre. It also brings together members of the local mindfulness community once a month for a ceremony known as Theravada Puja, which is performed daily in Thai temples and is the standard introduction to Buddhism. The session lasts half a day and features a guest speaker; visitors are encouraged to attend and observe. In the past, we've covered things like Karma, Sense Desire, and Kilesa, as well as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Middle Way Meditation Institute is in six different nations. The organization organizes retreats at the POP House (Power of Peace) in Bangkok, Thailand, which is dedicated to studying the Middle Way Meditation and is located just outside the city in a tranquil and natural setting. The Dhammakaya, a place of inner peace and enlightenment, is the goal of this practice. The three-day retreat is designed to help complete novices learn the basics of meditation and the Buddhist idea of mindfulness. Conscious living is encouraged through yoga and other activities, and meditation sessions are led by a monk who offers advice on overcoming individual challenges. Retreats of longer duration are available nationwide at the organization's various centers for a registration fee of 4,000THB (about 130USD).
From November through February, the first week of each month, this little center on Bangkok's outskirts provides meditation retreats in English, German, and Thai. Retreat goers receive a comprehensive education in Buddhism, from the basics of bowing and chanting to engaging in mindful work and paying attention to the eight Buddhist precepts in the company of seasoned monks. Mc Brigitte, a Buddhist monk, recognized as an "exceptional woman in Buddhism" by the United Nations in 2009, created the initiative.
You may take your meditation practice to the next level by scheduling a float session. The Dream Pods at Bangkok Float are the most advanced in the world, and you can only find them at Bangkok Float, the city's only float center. The pods are filled with skin-temperature water and about 700 kilograms of Epsom salt, allowing the floaters to float effortlessly while blocking out all external stimuli. Without the stresses of Earth's gravity, heat, touch, sight, and sound — which account for 90% of neuromuscular activity — the mind can focus on more stimulating activities, such as meditation. In addition, scientific research shows that the longer you float in water, the lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol and the higher your levels of the feel-good chemicals dopamine and endorphins.
Located in the Khlong Luang neighborhood to the north of Bangkok, this temple was established in 1970 and has since become well-known as the most rapidly expanding temple in the Dhammakaya Tradition (Vijja Dhammakaya). Many structures, which have the temple's signature austere aesthetic, have been added to the grounds since the temple was first established. The massive Sapha Meditation Hall, which can seat 150,000 people, is open to the public and may be seen on a tram tour of the vast temple grounds. Also noteworthy is the Dhammakaya Cetiya, which features around one million Buddha figurines.
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