Top 3 Free Meditation Retreats in Thailand

Meditation retreats at Buddhist temples are gaining more and more popularity among tourists who prefer mindfulness to unnecessary distractions. No wonder, as going for a meditation retreat not only helps you recuperate from the city life stress but also teaches you to become more knowledgeable and aware of how to deal with all that stress.

After I have discovered meditation retreats in Asian countries, I no longer starve for 2 hour roasting under the hot Sun on a beach, reading glamorous magazines and drinking fancy cocktails. I realized that any sort of vacation that doesn’t help you re-connect with your inner self is not a real vacation as it doesn’t provide real relaxation and real happiness.

Why are Meditation Retreats the Best Way to Spend Vacation:

• You pay only for the flight ticket + a donation. Usually, people leave at least $100 donation as their gratitude. A donation is not required, however, most temples and monasteries live off from the donations. They buy food, utensils, and all the necessary supplies for your convenience. So, it is highly recommended to express your gratitude in a form of donation.
  
• You get to enjoy the beautiful views and landscapes, as temples are usually built in quiet and peaceful areas, far away from any distractions. You can contemplate over the beauty of the nature and feel connection with the Earth.
  
• You don’t have to spend any money on food. Temples usually provide free meals 2-3 times a day, which eliminates another distraction for you – the cooking.
  
• You get to spend time among wonderful, thoughtful, mindful, and kind people. Even if you don’t talk to anybody, the energy that you gain from the team meditation is priceless. This is a great chance for you not to waste any energy on arguing, judging, and experiencing any sort of negative emotions. You learn just TO BE, alone or among other people.
  
• You raise your vibrations by meditating meditating upon the idea of belonging to a group as a WHOLE and being a part of it. Upon arrival, participants are usually assigned to do a certain type of labor or a communal work. You will learn how doing a simple physical job makes a great impact on the community if you put your mind into it. It will definitely make you a happier person.
  
• You will learn to stick to a healthy schedule. Going to bed early and waking up before the sunrise to pray and meditate – what can make a better impact on your life and health?
  
• You will detoxify your body by eating vegetarian food. Your body will feel much lighter, your mind will think much clearer than before, as we all know that feeding ourselves with meat has negative effects on our bodies. Sometimes a nice vegetarian detoxification is absolutely necessary.

Are you convinced yet? Then here are top 3 FREE places in Thailand where you can have your needed rest for the mind, soul, and body.

1. Khao Tham Insight Meditation Center, Koh PhaNgan, Thailand
   
   This meditation center provides monthly meditation retreats for tourists at no charge in the beautiful forested hills above Baan Tai, on Koh PhaNgan. You don’t need to pre-register online for the retreat in advance. You can just drop by the temple and register in person on the 10th day of each month. In-person registration is available from 8:30am to 4:00pm on the first day of the retreat.

The retreats are held by experienced teacher, Phra Dr Marut Damchaom who has been teaching meditation as a monk since 1974. The retreat is held in 2 languages: English and Russian. You can find more information on their website.

2. Dipabhāvan Meditation Center, Koh Samui, Thailand

Following the Buddhist traditions, Dipabhāvan meditation center provides the teachings at no charge for the participants. It is located in the South-East of Koh Samui where you can enjoy the beautiful sea and mountain landscapes covered by coconut trees here. This center provides 2 main courses for beginners and experienced participants. Course 1 starts on 11-18th, and Course 2 on 20-27th of each month.

The courses are held in English, Thai, and Russian languages. You can book your staying for up to 6 months in advance via the booking form that you can find on their website. Make sure you let them know about any changes in your booking by sending them an email at booking@dipabhavan.org.

3. Vipassana Meditation Center

Vipassana meditation was taught for more than 2500 years in India. The Vipassana meditation techniques are based on the teachings of S. N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Vipassana meditation is held all over the world, not only in Thailand. So, if you want to experience it in other countries, visit their website and choose the country you’d like to visit.

Vipassana meditation retreats are completely free, however, due to a large number of people who want to participate, you have to pre-register at least 6 months in advance. It’s quite hard to find free spots in the most popular Vipassana centers,however, once you find the location and time that works for you, you will never regret you’ve taken this chance. You can find more information on their website

Remember, no matter which temple or meditation center you choose for your free meditation retreat in Thailand, your main purpose should be the DESIRE to develop spiritually and learn the real essence of the world, and not just to save money. If you do have that desire, you are sure to get real happiness from your free meditation retreat in Thailand!