Micro Retreat at the YBAT facility, Bangkok
Meditation on Emptiness
Friday eve. 26th August – Sunday morning 28th August
at YBAT 1 (Thonburi)
for 13 serious yogis ….
This weekend is fully booked. You can go on the waiting list for a room in case one opens up by putting your details in the form below.
Overview
There is space for only 13 yogis. You should be competent to practise on your own and make use of the time and space. Each yogi has an air-con private room and bathroom.
Booking fee is 300 baht. Only those paid in advance are assured of a space, since there are only 13 rooms we cannot accommodate cancellations. Cost of the retreat is by donation only. please provide the details below at the end of this page.
Pandit Bhikkhu
Forty-two year old Pandit Bhikkhu, who was born in the UK, has been living in Thailand since 1996, and has practiced in several ‘Insight’ meditation lineages. He finished a degree in Psychology from Thailand – and is known for comparisons and the using of tools from both the psychological and meditation sides of the practice. Currently he is finishing a further degree in Buddhist Studies and teaching meditation and psychology in the same university. Since 2007 he has been leading Bangkok’s only active meditation group for English speakers, arranging events large and small on a regular basis under the banner of the Little Bangkok Sangha. Pandit Bhikkhu will walk us through both the concepts and science of mindfulness meditation as well as engage with us in a practice of mindfulness sitting and walking meditation. He will also share tips on how to enhance our practice and mechanisms for accelerating the learning of mindfulness.
Schedule:
Meet at YBAT 1 at 7:30 pm Friday evening (or earlier if you like)
Friday Evening: light evening food served. Dhamma Talk. Meditation.
Saturday: 5:30am rise, sitting/walking through the day. Breakfast, main lunch and light evening meal (usual monastic meals don’t include evening food, but we’ll provide something if you need it) Meditation instructions on Saturday Morning.
Saturday afternoon 2-5 pm, Dhamma Talk by International Thai meditation teacher Ajahn Wimoak, Abbot of Wat Pipphalivanaram Temple in Rayong Province.
(if you are not joining the retreat, you are still welcome to come just for this talk)
Sunday: Early rise, sitting/walking to lunch time. Home after lunch at 12 noon.
Facility:
The YBAT facility in Thonburi should be well known to Thais – known as ‘Yuwaphut’ in Thai this group arrange continual insight meditation retreats throughout the year for tens of thousands of people.
We will be in the brand new Boonyong Wongwanij Building which is spacious, air-conditioned for both sitting and walking meditation rooms, and very quiet. There is a great sound system too, so it is easy to hear. There are plenty of sitting mats, and chairs for those who need them.
The place is very easy to get to – don’t be afraid of crossing the river !! Easiest is to take the skytrain to Wong Wien Yai, and there take a taxi to Petch Kasem 54. The roads are wide and empty on this side of the river, so it should only take 10 – 15 minutes. Perhaps 80 baht taxi fare from Sathorn. On the way back we will arrange car/taxi pooling.
If you take a taxi all the way, it should be very quick on a Saturday morning. You can come via any of the main bridges, from Pinklao, Saphan Phut, Sarthorn, or the extra speedy Rama III. From Central Sukhumvit area should take about 35 minutes, and cost about 140 baht.
All taxis will know Petch Kasem Road. Entering soi 54 go to the end of the soi, and turn right. You will see the big new YBAT facility right in front of you!
YBAT do run occasional retreats in English also, so it is worthwhile getting to know this venue (their main hall can hold 2000 people!) If you are coming from outside Bangkok you can hire a bedroom at YBAT and stay overnight – please let us know via the form below (room rate is about 600 baht/night – we’ll confirm this if anyone wants to book)
Click the map below for an even larger version:
Please make your deposit at any of our events, or contact :