Meditation retreats offer a chance for people of all ages to dive deep into their minds, experience personal growth, and find a greater sense of connection within themselves and the world around them. From the Phuket Island in the south to the northeastern province of Saraburi, Thailand boasts a range of meditation retreats that welcome both local and international participants.
Embarking on a meditation retreat in Thailand can be an incredible journey into mindfulness and self-discovery. These retreats focus on a type of meditation called Vipassana, which has its roots in ancient Buddhist traditions. While Vipassana meditation can be challenging, the rewards are well worth it. By practicing mindfulness and exploring their minds, participants can gain clarity, insight, and inner peace. Here, we explore five meditation retreats in Thailand that specialise in Vipassana meditation.
5 meditation retreats that teach Vipassana meditation in Thailand
Techo Vipassana Meditation Retreat
Techo Vipassana Meditation Retreat is surrounded by the peaceful scenery of Saraburi, a province that is renowned as one of the world’s best wellness and mindfulness destinations. There are three different meditation courses with different lengths for students to choose from, open to Thais and non-Thai speakers alike. Techo Vipassana Meditation Retreat is considered a leader in meditation teachings as it has had the chance to welcome multiple global leaders like Dr. Robert Goldman of A4M, Taekwondo champion Silvio Simac, and Ernie Reyes Sr., to name a few.
Techo Vipassana Meditation Retreat is located in Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi.
Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage
Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage arranges a 10-day silent meditation retreat starting on the 1st and ending on the 11th of every month. The retreat encourages participants to withdraw from the buzz of daily activities and devote their time to meditation and contemplation. This means that all phones, tablets, and laptops have to be deposited before entering the retreat. During the program, participants will get to train their minds, develop concentration, mindfulness, and awareness through Vipassana meditation and mindful breathing (or Anapanasati).
Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage is located in Chaiya, Surat Thani.
Dharana Phuket Meditation Center
This five-day meditation retreat in Phuket stands out because of its nicely balanced program. Described as a ‘holiday of the heart,’ the retreat at Dharana offers time to learn about your true, authentic self as well as time to relax and switch off amid the tropical environment. The program has three variations, all of which include morning excursions, guided meditation, teaching, and private instruction sessions. It’s similar to doing a meditation retreat in a temple, but far less intense.
Dharana Phuket Meditation Center is located in Chalong, Phuket.
Dipabhāvan
A retreat at Dipabhāvan delves into meditation and Dhamma, with an aim to build understanding of the three meditation techniques and the basic principles of Buddhism. While the meditation instructions allow participants to practice mindfulness, the Dhamma Talks provide a comprehensive explanation of why we meditate. Dipabhāvan is founded by Venerable Tan Ajahn Poh, the leader of Suan Mokkh, so the teachings will be quite similar.
Dipabhāvan is located in Koh Samui.
Dhamma Kañcana
Dhamma Kañcana is one of the Vipassana meditation centres to offer courses taught by S.N. Goenka, the Indian teacher who passed on the knowledge and techniques to the founder of the International Meditation Centre in Myanmar, Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Established since 2006, Dhamma Kañcana continues to lead a 10-day course based on the practice of Vipassana Meditation and “to see things as they really are.”
Dhamma Kañcana is located in Sangklaburi, Kanchanaburi.
[Hero and featured image credit: Techo Vipassana Meditation Retreat]
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In spite of her name, Paint can't really paint or even draw. Life, for her, is a journey in search of good chocolates, fries, chicken wings, and the implication behind her fat cats' split personalities.