OVER VIEW

Since 2 or 3 decades, Buddhism has been appealing to more and more people in Western countries. Suffice it to see how many books on the topic are on display in western libraries, to understand how much people wish to know about it.

Most commonly, people believe it is a religion having Buddha for God, Dalai Lama for pope and monks for priests. But this is not exactly so… Buddhism is not a religion neither has God, nor pope.

Buddhism is a teaching [DHARMA] which was given about 2500 years ago by an Indian prince, who became ascetic. Thanks to deep meditation, he understood the real nature of everything, transcended himself, got free from all kind of attachments, rid of suffering and reached the ‘enlightenment’.

In simple words, Buddhism teaches human beings to see life and universe as they are and not as we’d like they were. It helps people not to fear and not to feel distress. It helps people to find true happiness.

It is difficult to explain Buddhism in some lines. Many shades, currents or interpretations make the subject rather foggy to Westerners.

We try, during this program, to lift the veil on what one could regard as a mystery. We explain as well how monasteries are organized, what the daily life of a monk is and what duties of monks are, in Thai modern society.

We approach as well difference between ‘Buddhist philosophy’ and religious practices. We point out the remains of animism or popular beliefs (that are often assimilated to Buddhism) and finally give the main keys to meditation.

We only put some elements on the table, so that one can understand and appreciate better what Thai Buddhism is. Our role is merely limited to put light on a way. We will never whatsoever bring you to it. Buddhism is not a religion and we don’t practice proselytism.
 

DAY 1
- 09:30: (Aproximately) Pick-up in main hotels downtown Bangkok
- 10:30: Arrival in ‘Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan’ – Visit of the temple – Lunch in local restaurant.
- 12:30: Short explanations about:
- The life of Buddha?
- How Buddhism was introduced in Thailand?
- How is a temple organized?
- What is a monk’s day to day life?
- What are the main differences between Theravada and Mahayana?
- What are the main differences between Buddhism and other faiths (animism, etc)?
- 15:00: Departure for Saraburi (+/- 2h00 by car)
- 17:00: (Approximately) Arrival in Saraburi – Welcome at Wat Khao Wong (Meditation centre located in an idyllic countryside landscape)
- 18:30: Explanations about life in a temple, rules to respect & praying or chanting practices
- 21:00: Night chanting – overnight

DAY 3 : 
DAY 3
- 05:30: Morning chanting & short session of meditation
- 07:00: Breakfast
- 08:00: Main debate with monk(s) about each one’s experience
- 12:00: Lunch
- 13:00: Farewell to the Wat
- 14:00: Journey back to Bangkok
- 14:30: Stop at Praphuthabat to visit of the historical site
- 17:30: Arrival at Wat Saket

End of program