Luang Loong seemed to read my mind during individual directions and afterwards.

Luang Loong Meditation Center Retreat

January 21, 2009 - January 29, 2009 
Chiangmai, Thailand

 

January 21, 2009 (Day 1)

12 p.m.: After arriving in Chiangmai, Na K picked me up from the airport and took me to Na P’s shop.  Pa K took me to 7-Eleven to buy snacks and drinks to donate to the wat.  Afterward, we drive back to the airport, and I met Pa K.  She took me to eat lunch and explained the meditation center.

3 p.m.: We arrived at Luang Loong Meditation Center, which is in a forest up on a mountain. For the rest of the afternoon, I settled into my room and rested.
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A picture of my individual room, which had its own bathroom too.

6:30 p.m.: We went to the “bod” to “sob alohm” and to receive individual directions.  For me, I was directed to walk “cua yong noh, si yong noh” (right foot forward, left foot forward) for 15 minutes.  My sitting directions were reciting “pong noh, uup noh” (rising and falling of the stomach) for 15 minutes.  I was told to alternate between sitting and walking, resting for a short time between sets. Luang Loong told me to meditate between 8 and 10 hours a day (or more than 6 hours and less than 14 hours).  After Luang Loong talked to everyone, we did evening chanting.

 

The “bohd”

Na T taught us how to “waih plat” each morning.  Outside, I lit 16 incense sticks and 2 candles and poured water on a tree, a routine I would do each morning and night after leaving the “bohd.”

After taking a freezing cold shower (Chiangmai was cold at night and there was no heated water- I learned to take showers during the afternoon), I meditated 1 set of walking and sitting.

9:30 p.m.: I went to bed.  


January 22, 2009 (Day 2)
 
4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: I participated in morning chanting, during which Luang Loong chanted faster than I have ever heard before.  Luang Loong and the others at the wat would be out for the day to go meet his teacher at another wat.  Pa K and I stayed to meditate because we did not want to waste time.

7:15 a.m.: Helped prepare and ate breakfast. Afterwards, I meditated but was very sleepy.

11:00 a.m.: Ate lunch, which was made by the person Pa K hired to make lunch for the week.

12 p.m.- 6 p.m.: During this time I meditated according to the previous night’s instructions.  I found that my back hurt a lot during sitting meditation. 

6:30 p.m.: We went to the “bohd” to receive individual direction and do evening chanting.

My walking directions: “Cua yong noh, si yong noh” (right foot forward, left foot forward) for 20 minutes.My sitting directions: “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh” for 20 minutes.  “Nang noh” was sitting awareness, during which I was supposed to imagine myself as a triangle.

Afterwards, I meditated according to Luang Loong’s directions.

10 p.m.: Slept


January 23, 2009 (Day 3)
 
4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: Morning chantingAfter morning chanting, I meditated but felt very sleepy. 7:15 a.m.: Prepared and ate breakfastAfterward, I meditated and had a good session.  The meditation felt easy, and I felt very peaceful.

11 a.m.: Lunch. Other people were talking, so I left to go outside to avoid gossip and to try not to talk.  

12 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Good afternoon of meditation.  According to Luang Loong’s explanations, I kept following my wandering “ji” (unconscious mind) with “sathi” (conscious mind).  When thinking about other things, I would think “kit noh” and the thought would fade away.  I felt tired in mind after meditating for 6 hours.

6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting.
My walking directions: “Yok noh, wang noh” (lifting, placing) for 25 minutes.My sitting directions: “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh,” 25 minutes.
I asked Luang Loong about my back hurting.  He said to place a pillow between my back and the wall.  I tried this when I went back to my room and meditated, but I still felt pain and felt sleepier. I decided not to use the pillow. 

10:20 p.m.: Slept
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January 24, 2009 (Day 4)
 
4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: Morning chanting

7:15 a.m.: BreakfastAfter breakfast, I meditated alternating walking and sitting (I got through 2 rounds).  My back did not hurt, and I did not feel any pain.  My body felt heavy, as if rooted to the ground and separate from my mind. 

11 a.m.: LunchI meditated one round before Na P and Na K visited.  They brought food to “towai” and met Luang Loong.

6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting.
My walking directions: 3 steps  “Yok noh, yang noh, yeap noh” for 30 minutes.My sitting directions: Same as yesterday for 30 minutes.
Luang Loong talked about a leaning forward sensation, but I have not felt it yet.  He said to meditate until 12 a.m., which means sleeping for 4 hours.

My questions to Luang Loong:
Q: Is this “samata” or “vipassana?”
A: This is vipassana, which is indirect/ from the outside observing. Samata is directly running into it.

Q: What is the meaning of “bathibat/bathibatum?”
A: Both mean ‘to practice.’

Q: How do you let go of emotions?
A: You “kamnot” (realize) them… Say ‘emotion-“noh”’ and let go of the emotion each time. For example, “anger-noh” and drop the anger.
Afterwards, I meditated. Right before 12 a.m., my head fell forward on its own during sitting meditation like Luang Loong prompted would happen.

12 a.m.: Slept


January 25, 2009 (Day 5)
 
4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: Morning chanting

7:15 a.m.: BreakfastAfterward, I meditated.  While sitting meditation, my body leaned forward and closed on its own.  Luang Loong described this as “sathit”’ busy following “ji,” leaving the body alone.

11 a.m.: LunchDuring afternoon meditation, I felt lazy at times. The pain during sitting meditation changed places around body, jumping around my legs and back. My body closed and leaned forward again.

6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting.
My walking directions: 3 steps for 35 minutes.My sitting directions: “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh, tuk noh (touching right side of lower back above butt)”, then “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh, tuk noh (touching left side of lower back above butt)” for 35 minutes. 1 “tuk noh” for each set, not in a row.  
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The white dots are “joots,” points sure your “ji” meets “palang” (power), releasing adrenaline and endorphins in the body.

Luang Loong’s teachings:
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Laziness arises from:
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1) Stopping meditation. It is hard to start again and
2) Stopping early. It is hard to go past that point again (If you stop meditation after 30 minutes when you are supposed to do 35 minutes, it will be hard to pass 30 minutes the next time).

January 26, 2009 (Day 6)
 
4:20 a.m.: Woke up (slept through the bell and Pa K woke me up)

4:30 a.m.: Morning chanting

7:00 a.m.: Prepared breakfast

8:30 – 11 a.m.: Meditated. When sitting in one set, I felt really good.  There was no pain and I felt a jerking forward sensation. Luang Loong described this as a moment where we realize we die each moment, and the next present moment arrives.

11 a.m.: Lunch

12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Meditated 6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting.

My walking directions: 4 steps  “Yok son noh, yok noh, yang noh, yeap noh” (Lifting heel, lifting, moving forward, touching) for 40 minutesMy sitting directions: “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh, tuk noh.” Adding 2 more “joots” (lower boot), totaling 4 “joots.” 
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Luang Loong seemed to read my mind during individual directions and afterwards.

10:45 p.m.: Slept

January 27, 2009 (Day 7)
 
4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: Morning chanting

7:00 a.m.: Prepared and ate breakfast

9:00 a.m.: I went with Pa K to “bid katan,” and stop “sin 8” because she was leaving that day. 
10:00 a.m.: Prepared lunch. Pa N came to visit.

11:00 a.m.: LunchI meditated in the afternoon but there was construction outside and it was noisy.  I had a lot of thoughts and emotions that I were hard to control.6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting
My walking directions: Same as yesterday for 45 minutesMy sitting directions: 6 “joots”- add outside of legs at knees in back, for 45 minutes.

Luang Loong’s teachings:

Your attitude will affect your meditation.
Think 45 minutes is short and doable and it will not be long and tedious.
The four elements of the body are water, earth, fire, and wind.

11:30 p.m.: Slept


January 28, 2009 (Day 8)

4 a.m.: Wake up

4:30 a.m.: Morning chanting

7 a.m.: Prepared and ate breakfastAfterward, I did sitting meditation, and I cleaned my room.

11 a.m.: Prepared lunch

12 – 6 p.m.: Meditation, cleaned bathroom, walked around wat

6:30 p.m.: Individual directions and evening chanting
My walking directions: 3 steps  “Yok noh, yang noh, yeap noh” for 45 minutesMy sitting directions: 4 “joots” above and below butt “Pong noh, uup noh, nang noh, tuk noh.” 

This is the meditation that can be done at home too. 

Luang Loong’s teachings:

-When we wish for something, we should wish at our own “ji” and boon.

-Problems are there for us to solve.

Luang Loong told me to meditate harder that night.

January 29, 2009 (Day 9)

After morning chanting, “bid katan” and Pa N picked me up at about 7:00 a.m. 

My thoughts and the teachings I learned are in the attached Word file. It's might be a little hard to read, because there is quite a bit of Thai-English (I can't write or type in Thai haha). I felt really good and calm after the retreat though. Not only did I learn about mediation, I learned about how to deal with problems that arise in life. Apparently my face started getting pink on Day 3 and by the end of the retreat it was very pink!

On the night before I was leaving, we were taking pictures outside the near the Buddha statue. This picture was taken by a friend. It was the first picture that was taken, and she noticed that gold circle to my right. It is very bright and clear, and quite large!

Even after taking many more pictures, the gold circle never appeared again! Luang Loong said it must be an angel, and that something is telling me to go back to the meditation center in the future.

I shared my "boon" with all of you everyday :)