Wat Thaton International Meditation Centre

Will you be travelling through Thailand, Summer 2010?

Visit Wat Thaton and the International Meditation Centre where you can practice Vipassana meditation for 7-10 days under the direction of Phra Ratha Panyavudho!

The Wat Thaton International Meditation Centre opens up during the Rainy Season period in Thailand. This coincides with the “Buddhist Lent” season (I think), and many monastics reside in one place to deepen in their studies, meditation and practice.

This past summer, I visited Wat Thaton, about 3 hours north of Chiang Mai city in Thailand, to participate in a 7 day Vipassana retreat experience. It was a memorable, valuable and enriching time. Upon receiving approval to participate as a retreatant, I practiced for most of the day “sitting and walking” and “observing” myself. That’s it! But, if you’ve ever been in retreat, you know this is only the beginning! When dem thangs starts to come up, that’s when the rrrrreal retreat begins! I was housed in a “kuti” (little hut with bathroom) and spent the morning, day, afternoon and night practicing in a large meditation hall. (See picture above.)

Ratha was a well-attuned, friendly guide and kind host to us farang retreatants. He shared with us his own experiences and encouraged us to actively explore and fearlessly inquire into the nature of our experiences, thoughts and habits. Observing and watching our own reactions, moment to moment, gave me a great deal of “stuff” from which to continue to practice with…

How fortunate to travel so far away, seemingly, and in the middle of some beautiful “nowhere” place in Thailand (no where because I didn’t really know where I was!?) and to meet the fruit of sangha, of community here at this meditation centre with like-minded friends also exploring the roots of our shared Humanity.

Upon finishing the retreat, I was at Chatuchak Market looking for luggage, and I “unexpectedly” ran across one of my fellow retreatants  — of all people, of all places!

The visit to Wat Thaton was a week break from my wanderings around S+E Asia and from constantly moving from one place to another.  And how lucky I was to be able to “vacation” differently in finding Wat Thaton.

Thanks Ratha!  Hope to be able to cross paths with you again there in S+E Asia, or here in the US!

May I have the good karma to retreat again in this way!

Countdown to South+East Asia

South+East Asia is coming ’round the corner!

Gentle Birth Dharma Gateway

“You have seen the path, do not fear anymore.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh

May all preparations and details

leading to the departure gateway day

proceed with great ease.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For the time being, moving Summer 2009 postings to:

Suroeste Dharma Journey + Isanghamahal Flickr account

Update: South+East Asia Planning

Praises to Ganesh! (Image from openbuddha.com)

Gentle Birth Journey

South+East

Suroeste Asia

Calm Ocean of the Heart

32nd Sun Dharma Gateway

Summer Solstice 2009 – August 2009

Arriving, arriving…homecoming…

Thank you Dear Friends

…for watering the wholesome seeds within me

that are allowing for this gateway journey to open.

Entering My Inner & Outer Gateways

Picture above: Manjushri’s Cave in Kathmandu, Nepal

Santi,

I realized, again, this weekend that my upcoming travels plans for a self-created South+East Asia dharma homecoming retreat are just around the corner. The last time I checked, I had eight weeks or so. Then, I saw a dear Friend yesterday who will be leaving in a couple of weeks and this made me WAKE UP and SIT UP to know that time’s working with me to get me to work it out! My Kuya has his wedding celebration at the end of the week, then my expository writing training next week, and then at the end of May 2009, we have the Deer Park + World Beat Sangha Strengthenin’ Weekend Retreat collaboration!

All this stuff goin’ on, and all this stuff to do! All this good stuff goin’ on and all this good stuff to do!

Just checked my passport renewal status and I find out, it is on its way! YAHHHOOOOOO! I’ve been checkin’ and nothing’s been coming up. And it had been several weeks already. I worried a bit, but now, all all all good! REJOICE!

Does that mean, I should finally step into the gateway of ticketing my trip…finally!? Why haven’t I gotten my ticket yet a friend asked? I made up a reason or two, which are real. Yet, I know the conditions are here. Tonight, I hope to write back here and say otherwise.

Arrived

Arrived

Home

Home

Here

Here

Touching

Happiness

- – - – - – - – - – – - -

U.S. Passport Application Status

Thank you for submitting your application for a U.S. passport book!

Your passport application locator number is XXXXXXXXX.

We have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you.

You requested delivery by regular mail. Passport Agencies use Priority Mail

This means you should receive your passport on or about XXXXXXXXX.

- – - – - – - – - -

I don’t always check my mail right when I get home, so this morning when I was about to leave for work, I check the mailbox and yes yes yes!  My renewal passport is there!  Happiness!

Ticket plus passport!

Motherland Suroeste Asia, here we go!

ON THE ROAD TO 2012 POEM

the victory has been promised
the prophecy oracle has been cast
do not be afraid to give your life
for the final cause
on the road to 2012

– - – - – - – - – -

Posted with 1320 days until Winter Solstice 2012!

- – - – - – - – - -

Santi Friend,

I got my ticket tonight! Wow, wow, wow!

WOWWW! I’ve been eyeing this ticket for a bit

and tonight, I sat a bit and then sat down to

explore the ticketing details and options and patiently

entering, clicking, reading and re-entering information…

CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR TICKET HAS BEEN PURCHASED!

Om Shree Maha Ganesha Namaha!

Touching happiness for all the conditions that support me

to take this trip for myself, my past, my present and my future.

For all the Ones who have continually supported me…

For all that is being revealed, and all that will continue to be revealed…

For the communications occurring and the ones that are arising…

For the path is rising up to meet us all on this Gateway Year 2009

May you be safe

May you be healthy

May you be happy

May you be at ease…

Smiling to life…

Oh life, is to wonderful

in the present moment.

- – - – - – - – -

Ideas ~ Suroeste Asia

Feeling a little better, but still congested today. Drinking up warm liquids, water and soups. I feel like I should just stay inside for the rest of the day, but I have some small errands to complete.

Really though, wanted to post about some “findings” and possible places to visit as I begin to make my way towards the path that leads to my Summer 2009 trip to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal.) I know it sounds like a lot, and we’ll see what progresses, but I do hope to make it to all these places! May the winds be favorable!

S.E. ASIA POSSIBILITIES

After landing in Bangkok, settling in, touristing, taking it all in…

1) Southern Thailand (Surat Thani)

Suan Mokkh, Garden of Liberation, a practice center inspired by Buddhadasa Bhikku. Ten day retreats at the beginning of the month are held here. Be there towards end of June so I’ll have me a spot for the July retreat period.

2) Head to the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

3) From Cambodia, continue southbound to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and stay at Kechara House (guesthouse) hoping to listen to dharma talks by Loco Lama (H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche) and participate within the dharma activities of the organization.

4) Hoping to get the details from KH to find my way to Nepal and stay at the Kechara Lounge there, hang out around Kathmandu, visit the Boudnath Stupa and other inspired activities.

5) How about Burma? How close it it?

Head back to Bangkok?

REJOICE for the opportunity to take this inner and outer journey!

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map_of_southeast_asia.ht- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

And as I look at this map and try to roughly chart a course, how about going to Nepal earlier and then return to Bangkok through Bhutan and Burma! WOOOOWWW!

May the winds be favorable, the rains seasonable for this journey to manifest safely, easily, protected and guided on the roads and pathways of Southeast Asia.

OR…

How about starting the journey from Kuala Lumpur, then I head  northbound…

Cambodia, Surat Thani, Bangkok, Burma, Bhutan, Nepal and find my way to New Delhi and return home from India!   Wow!

NOTE:  Be realistic here.  Will that be too much of a whirlwind or what?  What about the 10 day retreat at Suan Mokkh?  Plan it out, plan it out, once I return from Suroeste Mexico.  Plan, plan, plan.

Ideas, ideas…

seed plantings…

Happiness for the conditions available to make this journey.

And so it is…

SMILE

South+East

Suroeste

Mexico

to San Cristobal de las Casas, next month

Several attempts to book online and/or call folks on the customer service line but for some reason, those attempts, OR MY LACK OF PATIENCE, did not prove fruitful.

Breathing

Ganesha

Did I pray to Ganesha beforehand?  I don’t even remember?

Mindfulness, remembered

Returning, Beginning Again Anew

This morning, still anxious, still restless (online transactions still not my cup of tea), I used my best Spanish 5-6 high school deciphering skills to move through the transaction, clicking here and there, stopping the process, restarting and beginning once more, changing seats, etc. and now, it’s finally purchased, confirmed and secured!  YAHOOOOO!

Small victories…

And so it is

these travels

south+east

in this side of the world

Las Americas

and then, this summer

to the other side of the world

Suroeste Asia

The joy of leaving and homecoming

…and walking on different lands

and being blessed by the energies and prayers and hearts, smiles and hopes of all the life that vibrates in different parts of this ONE EARTH…

I will be visiting a Dear Friend in a few weeks, catching up again, this time on different lands, a new communication arising from the place that we are in our present/presence moments.

Favorable winds and conditions all around, for these inner and outer travels, connections, re-connections…

All that is good will be revealed…

That which we are seeking, is also seeking us…

Tranform and Offer It Up!

REJOICE!

Celebrating this in-breath with you…

As it enters through our nose and cools the throat

expanding the lungs and further down, the diaphragm raises

…with the exhale, the release, the recognition of one complete cycle

of awareness, awakening to life in this here breath…

Here, here, here…

Now, this moment, yes…

YES.

AND SO IT IS…

in an easy and relaxed manner

in a healthy and positive way

in its own perfect time

for the highest good of all concerned..

Santi,

Jnaseh

. . .