Meditation continues at Wat Ram Poeng

Day 14. Been on a bit of a mental holiday the past 2 days, not practicing much, and thinking about everything but meditation. Back on track today though, just did 6 hours tonight. I must admit that today I started dreaming about what I will eat when I get out of here – one meal without rice, that’s all I want!

Buddha in the garden

Add comment September 30th, 2003

Working the system at Wat Ram Poeng

Day 13. I’m starting to know what it feels like to be a prisoner, and it’s taken me 13 days now to begin to work the ‘system.’ 2 days ago one of the monks asked me to speak to a girl who wanted to start a meditation today and had some questions. I spoke with her, and then realized that she was going back to Chiang Mai town until today. So I asked her to buy me some supplies that I needed. Today the items were sitting at my doorstep with a receipt of what I owed. Brilliant!

Then, yesterday during a walking meditation, I suddenly remembered that my niece Morgan’s birthday will pass on October 10th, and if I stay the full 26 days, I will have missed being able to send her a card on time. Luckily I had already purchased a card in Australia (because they don’t have Barbie cards in Thailand), but I needed to figure out a way to get the card ‘outside.’ Then it hit me, ask one of the yogis who is leaving! There was one guy yesterday in his normal clothes sitting outside of the office, a sure sign of imminent departure, so I approached him and explained the situation, and asked him if I could give him money and the card to post for me. He said sure, not a problem, and off my card went without me ever leaving the monastery.

Today I had an even better discovery. On the far side of the monastery, there is a gate to another road, and just outside the gate there is a shop that sells the Bangkok Post! Now surely I would not be so bold as to buy a copy and carry it back through to my room, but I can definitely work into my schedule a daily ‘stroll’ where I can thereby fit in a quick glance at the headlines and at least know what is happening in the world. This is so exciting. I love finding ways to work the system! I can now understand how things manage to get done from the inside of a prison. Of course I have the free will to leave whenever I want, but during meditation you are not supposed to leave at all, and anyway it’s more fun this way.

I should be purely focused on my practice and not even thinking about such things, but I must admit that I am starting to get bored and not trying as hard anymore. I swear that this afternoon I am going to force myself back into focus. But it’s been a nice little break of diversions!

Cats get roof rights at Wat Ram Poeng

Add comment September 29th, 2003

Vipassana Meditation Day 12

In my next life I want to be a dog in a monastery….or maybe a cat.

(To see the dog pics, hit the’more’ button and you will see what I mean! The cat pic will be in the 9.29.03 entry.)

Today I saw 3 monks in a phonebooth. No joke! I took it as a sign that there is still much more to learn from this experience. After all, have YOU ever seen 3 monks in a phonebooth? I didn’t think so.

I also learned something from Phra New, the monk in charge of the Foreign Meditation Office. I was complaining to him about all the foreigners who don’t take this retreat seriously and are always talking. He explained to me that they are like lotus flowers under the water. They are still beautiful with potential, but still in the water and not in the sun yet. Be kind to them, not angry, and forgive them for not seeing their own potential to gain from this practice. Maybe they will see it this time, maybe not, but we must give them the chance. Wow, he is so right!

What a life

Dog meditation

Rising, falling, rising, falling….

Add comment September 28th, 2003

Free yourself from suffering through meditation

Day 11. Feeling good. I can be focused. Must stay calm in the breath and present in the mind.

The Eights Precepts (for all meditators):

I undertake the precept to abstain from killing living beings.

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking what is not mine.

I undertake the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I undertake the precept to abstain from harmful speech.

I undertake the precept to abstain from taking alcohol and drugs.

I undertake the precept to abstain from taking solid food between noon and dawn.

I undertake the precept to abstain from singing, dancing or any kind of entertainments, also from the use of flowers, perfume and anything that tends to beautify a person.

I undertake the precept to abstain from using high or luxurious beds and seats.

Add comment September 27th, 2003