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The forest temple of Wat Suan Mokkh is internationally renowned as a place of meditation, but is also worth visiting in its own right. The temple is centred on the Golden Hill: scrambling up between trees and monks' huts, you'll reach a hushed clearing on top of the hill which is the wat's holiest meeting-place, marked by nothing more than a stone Buddha with the Wheel of Law. At the base of the hill, the outer walls of the Spiritual Theatre are lined with scenes from the life of the Buddha. Inside, every centimetre is covered with colourful didactic painting, executed by resident monks and visitors. The anapanasati meditation retreats are led by farang and Thai teachers over the first ten days of every month at the International Dharma Heritage, 1km from the main temple. These retreats are serious undertakings, intended as a challenging exercise in mental development: conditions are spartan, there is a rule of silence, and the day begins before dawn. Sleeping quarters are segregated and meditators help with chores. The B1200 fee includes two vegetarian meals a day and accommodation; bring a flashlight. Each course has space for about 100 people - enrol at the information desk in Wat Suan Mokkh (tel 077/431552 or 431596; www.suanmokkh.org) on the last day of the month. Wat Suan Mokkh is on the Chumphon-Surat Thani bus route (hourly). Trains pull into Chaiya train station, 6km north of the wat; songhthaews run from the station to the wat.
Serenety at Suan MokkhAlix Txe says "I am what Ajan Pho calls an old friend. I have been coming to Suan Mokkh over the last 4 years. In fact, most expats living in Thailand, or
throughout Southeast Asia make it an annual ritual to come to this meditation centerto return to the serenity that our minds can erach at Suan Mokkh.
While traveling through the region, I highly recommend YOU to make a dearlty stop here and experience what meditation can reveal in your life. Not only do we get to learn about the real wodnering of ourselves, but we gain much insight into the Buddhist way of life in Thailand.
This is a great plus as we travel and gain a deeper understanding of the Thai culture overall. But above all, we gain a deeper knowledge of our own self, our choices, pur decisions, that we can take on forever through our lives.
These are my short thoughts on my experience of Suan Mokkh. Frankly, one cannot quite write what meditation truly is becuase meditation is not something to be talked about, but something to be experience. SO take your time NOW, while you are HERE to gain some insights from this place.
With much love and kindness..... ALIX"
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