YBAT

International Retreat

Friday January 9th – Sunday January 11th

YBAT International Vipassana Retreat

At the new purpose built Retreat Centre

(not far from Don Muang Airport)

Vipassana (Insight) Meditation weekend Thai style, for International meditators, with clear instructions, and a systematic approach at one of Thailand’s most active meditation organisations. If you have been thinking to rekindle your meditation practise, or just find out what meditation is all about, this is a sharp but gentle jumpstart to taking control of the stresses of the mind, and delve deeper into the mind than is possible in day to day life.

YBAT (In Thai – Yuwaphut)

YBAT is a well reputed Thai organisation that brings Vipassana meditation to regular to people. Their primary centre is in Thonburi, but has been expanded to three more locations, as well as expanding the Thonburi premises with facilities that can sleep hundreds on for meditation retreats. Their activities run year long, with many thousands of retreatants passing through on retreats ranging from an afternoon, to several weeks long. Click here to link to some pictures of the Centre.

Meditation

This January YBAT II, the beautiful new facility out past the old Don Muang Airport, will host an international

retreat for English speakers, with British Bhikkhu Phra Cittasamvaro. Meditation style is Mahasi Sayadaw based mindfulness meditation with both sitting and walking techniques. Suitable for all levels of experience, beginners will be given some extra opportunity for one-to-one guidance if needed. Sitting meditation will cover three basic meditation exercises of Samatha (concentration), Samatha-Vipassana (concentration-Insight) and pure Vipassana (Insight). Mindful walking meditation techniques in the spacious and beautiful grounds interspace group sitting.

Schedule

The retreat begins 8:30 am on Friday 9^th, and finishes 3:30 pm on Sunday 11^th

Two meals are served in the morning, and at 11am (plenty of vegetarian choice), with hot and cold drinks at various intervals. Retreatants are asked to follow the basic 8 precepts as a code of conduct while in the Centre, and to put aside the distractions of mobile phones and computers for the duration.

Daily schedule will vary between group sitting/walking meditation, meals, Dhamma talks, some chanting and meditation instructions, with time available for Q&A. Sat &Sun will be early rising to make use of the cool and quiet pre-dawn period, which is considered auspicious.

Regular meditators will be familiar with the kind of schedule. Beginners need not worry – in the context of the retreat, there should be no problems with the schedule and pattern of activities. YBAT has been running retreats for many years, and have picked out the most appropriate approach.

What to Bring

We will mail you more details nearer to the time. But generally you won’t need to take much along. If you have a favourite meditation cushion that might help, since Thais rarely use them. Most other things will be provided at the Centre. Food is always plentiful, with good choice.

Please bring white clothes to wear so far as is possible. Most large temples, or shops close to temples,  sell cheap, loose white clothes in various sizes.

Update: YBAT confirmed there is no cost for the retreat. Donations can be made after if you would like to facilitate for others who come after.

Participants are asked to attend the full retreat. Finishing time will be 3:30pm Sunday 11th

The whole retreat will be conducted in English only. (Thais can use Thai in Q&A sessions if necessary).

The retreat is organised by YBAT as part of their ongoing efforts to bring Vipassana to the International community, both of Thais (who mostly study abroad) and Westerners. To make things easier you can register via littlebang, or else you can contact YBAT directly in Thai.

If you would like to attend please provide the following details via the CONTACT page:

other questions can be asked below or via the CONTACT page.

YBAT II Centre in Pathumthani can be contacted in Thai:
at tel: 02-986-6404 and press 112
or fax: 02-986-6404 and press 111.

Location:

YBAT 2 (Sakaa Pathumthani)
19 Moo 16, Tambon Klong 3, Ampur Klong Luang,
Changwat Pathumthani, Bangkok 12120

 email (in thai) ybat02@ybat.org

Website (in Thai) http://www.ybat.org/index2.htm

YBAT II is about 30 km north of Don Muang Airport. The nearest landmark is Wat Dhammakaya – from there it is easy to find your way.   Should be about 250 baht in a taxi from Bangkok. All my maps have North at the top! Click on the pictures for larger view

 

 

The map above from YBAT can be printed and given to the taxi driver. It is fiarly high resolution so give it a minute to download. The 

 

clearest route is to go to WAt Dhammakaya and then take the road alongside the canal. Note that North is to the RIGHT hand side.