Address

Pre-registration recommended!
Northern Insight Meditation Center
Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram), Tambol Suthep, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Tel: +66-53-27 86 20 | Fax: +66-53-81 01 97
E-mail: watrampoeng@hotmail.com

Location

The Insight Meditation Center is some kilometres northwest of Chiang Mai (close to the airport). On the grounds there are a beautiful old stupa, smaller clusters of buildings with individual cells for meditators, bungalows, kitchen and dining hall as well as some other buildings.

Tradition

Theravada, Vipassana meditation in the Mahasi tradition.

Teacher and Abbot

Ajahn Suphan, an expert for Abidhamma. Friendly atmosphere. Meditators receive very helpful and clear instructions for practice in daily interviews.

Technique and Schedule of Retreat

Intensive meditation practice. Meditators practise in their rooms or at a location of their choosing. All meditators receive individual instructions. During the retreat, the four foundations of mindfulness (observing the body, feelings, mind and mind objects) are practised. All arising phenomena are noted mentally. Initially, the primary object of meditation during sitting is the rising and falling of the abdomen and during walking the movement of the foot. Each period of meditation begins with a mindful prostration, followed by walking meditation and a sitting period. Walking and sitting periods are of equal duration. Beginners start with 10 minutes and gradually increase to an hour.

Language(s)

Interviews in English or Thai.

Duration of Courses and Dates

An introductory course is about four weeks (26 days). Since courses are individual, there are no particular dates. Retreats start 16
 following an opening ceremony. Persons who have already taken a course at the center can participate in 10-day courses.

Accommodation

Women and men live in pleasant small single rooms in separated quarters. Thin mattress on concrete or wooden floor. If this is too hard, bring sleeping pad. Blankets can be borrowed. A sleeping bag is particularly useful during the cooler season.

Shopping

Items of daily use (toothpaste, chocolate, coffee, Coke and laundry detergent) can be bought in a small shop at the Wat. Meditation pillows and digital alarm clocks can be bought in Chiang Mai. White clothing sometimes can be borrowed.

Food

Breakfast (6 a.m.) and lunch (10:30 a.m.) are varied and of good quality. Breakfast consists usually from rice and various vegatable dishes. At the noon time there is one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian meal, with plenty of side dishes, rice vegetables and tee for drink. There is plenty of soy sauce, brown sugar and spicy red chillies. After noon no meals should be taken (drinks such as milk, tea, coffee, and yoghurt are permitted). Drinking water is filtered and therefore potable (to be safe, bring own disinfectant, or boil). At 5p.m. there is a warm soy milk for drink.

Medical Care

Very good by Asian standards. The closest clinics are in Chiang Mai. The region is not considered malaria area, but in other parts of Thailand malaria is endemic. Hygienic conditions in the Wat are good.

Costs

Donation.

Rules

Participants commit themselves to observe the eight silas (moral precepts). Clothing should be white, comfortable, and decent (no shirts or tank tops). Wake-up call is at 4 a.m.

Climate and Best Time To Go

November to March.

Note

A warm jacket is useful during morning meditation. Good conditions, intensive practice, and expert individual instruction.