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BUDDHISM... A PATH TO LIGHT

Code :NS.TH.MT-BKK05

Type :INDIVIDUAL BASED

Price :From 5360 baht / person

 

 

 

  •  Why book with NS Travel?

    This program has being designed with care by Local Buddhism specialists. You will not go to the core but will have a serious approach of Buddhism – Special rates are given for groups or longer retreats

BUDDHISM... A PATH TO LIGHT

        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.
 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
 
  • Ideal program for small groups (from 2 to 6 persons).
  • Accessible on request only
  • This program is strictly tobacco and alcohol free.
  • Costs go mainly to the logistic of the program (guide, transportation, organization) Part of costs is given to the temple as donation (for maintenance and social actions).
  • Such a program is not a ‘traditional tourist program’, in other words, it doesn’t go about ‘a holiday experience’ but about a ‘cultural & spiritual retreat’. Candidates are therefore asked to understand that life conditions are the one of a monastery and not the one of a hotel.
  • The temple hosting you (Wat Khao Wong) in Saraburi is a meditation orientated monastery, fully recognized in Thailand for this noble function. Wat Saket is a royal temple, whose abbot is the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (acting as)
  • This special program is not to compare with the long retreats organized in famous temples like ‘Wat Suan Mokkh’ http://www.suanmokkh.org
  • More information about Wat Khao Wong will be found on the following link:
  • http://www.watkhaowong.com
  • All rules of Wat Khao Wong have to be strictly respected, read them carefully. No one is obliged to join, so we want to make clear that this program remains firtsly a ‘spiritual experience’.
  • NSTRAVEL is striving to develop ‘off the beaten tracks’ and ‘highly cultural’ programs. We are proud to present Thailand as its best and not as a ‘product’. Buddhism is to us a highly venerated cultural aspect of our country and therefore we think appropriate to give our customers the possibility to approach it, through a fully organized program. Our purpose is not to go to the core. Specialized monasteries exist for deep and long meditation stages. We chose for a rather comprehensible and generalist program able to bring general answers the general questions

PROGRAM

DAY 1:

MEALS: - / L / -
- 09:30: (Approximately) 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 2:

MEALS: B / L / -
- 05:30: Morning chanting & short session of meditation
- 07:00: Breakfast
- 08:00: Collective debate about meditation
- 09:30: Individual meditation exercise
- 12:00: Lunch
- 12:30: Rest in rooms
- 14:00: Meditation in the garden with animated debate
- 17:00: Evening chanting & short period of meditation
- 18:30: Silent walk in the garden
- 21:00: Night chanting – Overnight
 
 

DAY 3:

MEALS: B / L / -
- 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
 

CODE

 

PROGRAM / PERIOD

 

PRICES PER PERSON ( 1/11/2011 - 31/10/2012 )

JOINING

1PAX

2PAX

3PAX

4PAX

5PAX

6PAX

NS.TH.MT-BKK05 

01/NOV/11 TO 31/OCT/12 

 N/A

21170 

11690 

8525 

6945 

5995 

5360 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

INCLUDED
* Transfer by a/c vehicle from your hotel in Bangok to Wat Saket Maha Wora Wihan
* Private transportation from Bangkok to Saraburi and back
* English licensed speaking guide during the whole program (translation - questions/answers)
* Accommodation and meals as per program
* Kit of white medicant clothes
* Entrance fees to visited places
* Donation to both monasteries
*
*
*

EXCLUDED
* Tips to guide
* Meals not included in the program and beverages not included during meals
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

REMARKS

* Main part of the costs go to infrastructure (guide + vehicle) - The rest is given as donation to both temples in order to help them with the logisitc and maintenance costs
* No discount to kids is given on this program
* rates for private program (blue columns) are given per person (from 1 to 6) traveling together
* rates for joining-up program (green column) are given for person joining-up existing group
* n/a = not available
* o/r = on request