My Transformative Journey at a Thai Meditation Retreat

JUN 21, 2024

Have you ever had a dream you woke up and thought you would always remember, but never did?

I want to share a similar experience but in reality.

Waking up in the dark, I lost track of time. A troop of frogs was singing, accompanied by a crowd of unknown insects applauding all night. Soon, I realized that I was in a meditation retreat in Thailand. It was 4:45 AM.

All these small things are part of our natural life, which we often miss while assuming that we are at the highest hierarchy in the animal kingdom. These vivid experiences would not have happened if I had not read the story “Maybe I Am Wrong.” I was fascinated and curious about the wisdom that monks live by and why people from all over the world come here to become monks.

What is it that lures everyone to take a sip of this mysterious experience?

Before the retreat, I was hiking alone to a waterfall and having fun with my friend. There, I had a feeling that soon everything would seem completely opposite to my current life. I wasn’t quite sure and worried that something could go wrong, literally anything.

When I arrived at the retreat center, everything seemed to slow down. There was no need for rushing, chasing, changing, and most importantly, no need for always thinking about what’s next in life. It felt like time was abundant here.

Soon, I attended the first meditation session, which lasted one hour and included chanting and meditation. When the monk walked into the meditation hall, I sensed an incredible amount of peaceful energy channeling into the environment, making everyone calm and present. It dawned on me that this was the energy I had always been seeking.

Being present in motion creates happiness.

Experiencing the first chanting session was also incredible. It felt diluted with endless sounds from the natural environment outside—dogs barking, birds whistling, roosters crowing, and geckos clicking. I had never heard so many sounds while meditating.

The next day, following the same practice, the endless roosters woke me up like a broken snooze alarm that had been going off for hours. After the morning meditation session, we went on alms rounds, experiencing life as monks by getting food from local villages barefoot for an hour walk. This blew my mind because you never know where life might lead you.

The moment soon became idle when the local people heard the bell (which we rang to announce our approach). Once settled, the locals bowed and kneeled on the ground, seeking monk chants to bless their daily lives. Meanwhile, the village dogs dutifully protected the locals as outsiders like us came along.

Afterwards, I could sense that a man’s desire for wanting soon becomes excessive. This led me to think about how we often ask for more in life when we already have so much in our daily lives, and it is so easily forgotten.

Observing the monks during their meditation and chanting rituals was a transformative experience. They radiated an immense sense of peace and purity. The chants, spoken in the ancient language of Pali, were mesmerizing. Every action they performed was calm and deliberate, embodying a simplicity and tranquillity that deeply resonated with me.

The life of a monk truly isn’t the same when you read about it in books compared to actually experiencing it.

This reminds me of what Buddha said:

“Ehipassiko,”

meaning, “Don’t believe me, but come and practice the teachings for yourself. Only through your own experience can you prove whether something is true or not.”

Until you experience it, it’s never the same as you might imagine. It’s a powerful example of deep reflection on life.

So, what are we chasing in life? Happiness? Wisdom? The peace of calmness? To let go of everything?

That being said, I will leave you to find your answers.

Remembering the quote from “Maybe I Am Wrong,”