Meditation 3 days and 3 nights

OMB! (oh my Buddha!) I did it.
I chose to do my introduction to meditation at Doi Suthep temple because of its  beauty and location.
It is 1,000metres from sea level on a mountain side set in the forest.
It's a 14km drive up a winding road, once there, the view  is very impressive, on a clear day you can see all of Chiang Mai and beyond. And very clearly see the airport and runway
The temple is over 600 years old.


I was to be at the IBC (international Buddhist Centre) office for my introduction at 2.30pm.
There were 5 others starting at the same time, a couple from Spain 2 male friends from Holland and a guy from Germany. That was all I found out about them as the next 3 days we did not speak to one another again.
 The monk gave us the basics of how to sit and walk whilst meditating and then we were led to the accommodation blocks.

Male and female were in separate blocks, we each had a room that had no more than a bed inside.
There were loos, showers and sinks at the end of each block of 5 rooms, very basic but functional.
One of the rules was that we had to dress in white cotton,  I had bought mine from the night market.

The view from the shower room

At 4pm dressed in our white attire, we had our opening ceremony from the Dharma (the teacher of Buddha) which involved chanting, incense and candles.
He told us that when we sat we were to close our eyes and concentrate on our abdomens saying inwardly 'rising' 'falling' with each breath.
When we walked, to focus on lifting each foot, starting with the right slowly from the heel through to the toes, bringing it forward and down heel through to toes, taking up to 6 seconds between each step, and inwardly saying, right foot farward, left foot forward. He said it wouldn't be easy to stay focused as our minds are like a monkey, forever moving, we have to aknowledge it time it wanders off and bring it  back again                                                                               
6pm was time for 'chanting' we had to follow as best we could from the words in a booklet, some of the words were 24 letters long'  I kid you not!
During the chants we had to prostrate 3 times.
7-9pm was in the meditation hall to practise our newly learnt techniques.
By now day had turned into night and the nocturnal insects and creatures sang (or was it chanted) their night time harmony.
It was calm, still and very relaxing.
Everyone was now in the meditation hall, some sitting, some walking, you could hear a pin drop. I sat on a cushion as comfortably as I could, closed my eyes and focused on my abdomen as instructed, 'rising' 'falling'
After 15 mins of sitting I began my walking, right foot followed by left managing to take 5 seconds in between each, it dawned on me how strange I must look.
My thoughts wandered...
I imagined a friend calling me, the phone would ring loudly and break the silence.
She would ask me what I was doing, I would reply ' I am on top of a mountain with a load of cranks dressed in  white pyjamas walking around in slow motion'
The friend would ask who they were, I would reply ' I don't know, no-one is speaking to one another' - what a surreal situation.
I went to my room, and set my alarm for 5.15am we were to be in the meditation room for I hour Dhama talk at 5.30am, there is no preening to be done, just wash and go, there aren't any mirrors here thank goodness!
I managed to fall asleep by 9pm feeling very content.
I was awoken at 5am by my eager neighbour, I slept well, the only sounds were of the night calls from the forest, as dawn broke, they were replaced by birdsong.
We had our lesson from the Dharma and breakfast at 7am, it was rice, carrots and mushrooms in a broth, edible but not that tasty.
Meals are to be taken in silence so as not to distract you from your thoughts, never before have I eaten with people and not spoken.
I managed to go back to bed and get another one and half hours of sleep before meditating from
9-11am.
By doing it in 15 minute segments it makes it easier to concentrate and not ache too much. I surprised myself by  how much Ienjoyed it, it's so peaceful and calming.
The sitting is made easier by using these block cushions, you sit astride them and kneel on the flat cushion

The group includes 2 couples, I watch one of them with interest, they have been here a while. It must be strange to be so close to someone and yet have no contact, I will never know why they chose to come here and spend many silent days together.
11am and lunchtime (monks don't eat after noon) we had to read aloud from a script of how food was for nourishment and health of our bodies and nothing else. You were not to over indulge or use it to satisfy anything other than hunger.
It was tasty, consisting of the proverbial boiled rice and 3 vegetable dishes with pulses and tofu for protein, no meat, they are of course strict vegetarian.
This was to be our last food until 7am tomorrow morning, 20 hours and counting.....

After lunch it was time to relax, I went to my cell like room and lay on my 'firm' bed.
It's so quiet, I can see the tree tops if I leave the door open.

The rooms are in rows of 5 and a way down lots of steps from the main temple complex.
They are set in the forest, at night time there are a few low lights to see the path and steps leading to them from the meditation hall.

It is bizarre passing my fellow mediator's, they don't even make eye contact, they are like ghostly figures cutting through the darkness. It struck me that this is the first time in my life that I have been in a group of people without speaking with them, when this ends I won't even know their names.
Not only do the sounds change at night time but so does the view. It becomes even more dramatic.
From the balcony of the meditation hall there is a clearing among the trees with a wonderful view over Chiang Mai. At night it is a wonderland of lights, this scene can usually only be viewed from an aircraft so high up are we.
It may not be 5* accommodation but the setting and scenery more than makes up for it.

On the left is the chanting Hall and right a photo high up with the clouds

I sneaked some popcorn and a 2 finger kitkat in with me, when I went back to my room for the last time today having spent the afternoon and evening meditating and walking around the grounds, I had

half of the kitkat and half of the popcorn, surely Buddha won't mind?

And so, my first full day is complete. I have enjoyed it, it's very calming and restful, it's nice having nothing to do but not being stressed by that.
It's tranquil and peaceful, very rarely experienced.
9pm and once again I am ready for sleep, another 5am start tomorrow.
I was awoken by rain just before 5am, I love the sound of it at the best of times but here it was especially soothing, a different sound as it hit the leaves on the trees.
The Dharma lesson this morning was telling us to view our life as a film, we were not the actors but the directors of it, thus, having control over what happens in each scene.
7am breakfast, this morning it was egg noodles, cauliflower and a crunchy green veg.
I went back to my room and practised a laying down meditation that Dharma had spoken about this morning. Rest your hands on your abdomen and silently speak 'rising' 'falling' 'lying' whilst focusing on your 3rd eye (eyes closed), within 5 minutes I was fast asleep, wonderful!
I awoke for the second time today at 9am and went to the meditation hall, a few of the others were there sitting, eyes closed or 'moon walking' eyes looking at the floor. It was so relaxing meditating to the sounds of the rain, it wasn't cold but the air was fresh and made a change from the heat I have experienced since arriving in Thailand.
11am lunch time, boiled rice and 3 vegetable and tofu dishes.
Each day between 1-2pm the Dharma speaks with each person in turn to see how they are getting on. He gives you a little more to focus on while doing your meditation. During my chat I asked what to do with negative thoughts that came into my mind, he said I must not be angry by them as this will give them energy, instead let them be and replace them by thinking of something that makes me happy like sunshine.

The rest of the afternoon was made up of meditating and walking around the grounds. This has been so much easier than I imagined it would be, a luxury to spend time in a calm, peaceful and beautiful environment.

Surprisingly I haven't missed talking, instead enjoying the stillness.
Neither have I missed the trappings of modern life, tv, internet, music, mobile, shopping and not thought of or wanted alcohol. There is no temptation here so making it easier I suppose.
I have enjoyed being surrounded by nature and alone with my thoughts and for once not being stressed or unhappy by them. the only 'luxury' I brought with me was a note pad and pen so I could write down my thoughts and feelings.

Tonight was special, there was a ceremony at the temple to mark the Kings birthday, he is highly revered in Thailand.
It was a magical experience, many monks chanting and lay people paying their respect to Buddha by lighting candles and incense and praying.

After some 30 minutes of the monks chanting (which time I managed to take some photos) they walked around the Golden Pagoda 3 times as with tradition clutching a flower and incense. We followed and did the same. To be 1,000 metres above sea level on top of the highest temple in Thailand under a moon lit sky participating in a ceremony such as this was an honour and a wonderful experience.

Afterwards some of us went back for our last meditation of the day, I was really getting to enjoy it!
Before bed I ate the other half of my popcorn and kitkat telling myself that if I were here longer I would abide totally by the rules and not snack.
Although I didn't have to attend the Dharma talk at 5.30am this morning (it being my last day) I chose to go. His message today was reiterating the 5 main precepts of Buddha.
Don't kill any living thing
Don't lie
Don't steal
No sexual misconduct (one partner is enough for everyone)
Don't abuse drugs
He also said that happiness must come from inside and not from material things giving an example of a man who buys a new car.
At first, he is happy as every one is looking at him with admiration, but in time the car gets old and now people are looking at the new model, in time, the car also breaks down and is no longer shiny, the happiness was only short lived.
At 8am it was the closing ceremony for 4 of us who had spent 3 days at the retreat.
The Dharma told us we should try set aside half an hour every day for meditating, pointing out that we shower the outside of our bodies every day so why not cleanse the inside too?
We must remember that we are our own best friend and therefore if we are unhappy or angry we are not a good friend to have for ourselves.
He is a wonderful inspirational man, I would like to have popped him in my rucksack and taken him with me.

The meditation hall

In all, it was a great experience, and I can see how, if I were to be here longer I could totally get into the zone. It hasn't massively changed my life  but I would like to hope that I can remember what the wise man said and practice the meditation as it really is so very calming.
I am really pleased  I did it and in such a lovely location.
I would definately go to another retreat and next time I would stay longer, my friends will be amazed!!

A last walk up to the temple and to see the amazing view below and then, it was back into the outside world and the hustle and bustle, with the familiar greetings 'Hello taxi' 'Madame tuk tuk' 'you want masaaage'.
I will reply 'not today thanks', I am going to my room to meditate'
And later, I will go out for a slap up meal and a beer or two........