My first real stop was for a 10−day retreat at Wat Rampoeng in ChangMai. Of course, in spite of my literally 6 emails, they didn't know I was arriving. The monk in the foreign office was not happy with me but he rushed me through all the necessary information and then dumped me into a room. He also set me up with my "uniform". Both women and men wore all white. The women also had to were some sort of white sash. I couldn't figure out why but later on I found it useful to distinguish the old women from the old men.
Let’s say my housing was a modest room. The bathroom was "interesting". It had a toilet that you had to fill a bucket to "flush", no sink just a faucet, a shower hose mounted on the wall, a very powerful sink sprayer mounted right next to the toilet (Thai bidet) and cold water. I was told to rest and to meet the "interpreter" at 7pm. At about 5pm the speedy angry monk returned and gave me more of a tour. At 7pm, I met up with CoonSeeLee. She gave me a beverage (loaded with sugar of course) and some ritz type crackers. She then sent me back because I was tired. I loved her. The next morning we met and she taught me how to do walking mediation. It was VERY specific. It took a lot of concentration. She also taught me how to do the bowing thing, also very specific. At one in the afternoon, I was to do the "opening ceremony". Basically I just repeated everything she said and handed things to the "Master" Ajahn Suppin. It was a bit nerve-wrecking, like being in some sort of Catholic Service like a baptism, or wedding, never really sure if you are doing or saying the right thing and not know what to do next. After this point I was suppose to really follow the rules: no eating afternoon, although any icky sweet beverage was alright, no talking, report to the Ajahn once a day and up and meditating at 4 AM. I have to say I was shocked and utterly annoyed about the amount of chitchat. What was that about? It was weird. I felt these people were not at all serious, almost like they were posers. Maybe this was just another stop on their trip? I tried hard not to talk. I felt rude. The westerners were basically on our own to practice. The Ajahn started us out at 15minute walking/sitting sessions for 5 or 6 hours a day and gradually worked our way up to 45+ minutes for as many hours you could find in a day. When I left I was up to 40 minutes for 10 hours a day. I think the shorter sessions were useless. It never really allowed you to get into it. Because of the "communication" problem, I only really ended up doing 7 days. I never really got that wonderful peaceful state. There are many reasons: not long enough, jet lag, overwhelming unfamiliarity of the cultural, and new methods. The new walking method I think was great because before I often wondered in walking what was I really suppose to be doing. The new sitting meditation wasn't so great. Basically, it started out the same old same old, "rising falling rising falling" but then it went on to including "sitting" and finally two touch points in the sacrum. The first night I did the two points, it was great. But then for the next few days, I struggled. I was having asthma problems and the concentrating on the touch points was interrupting my breathing. I do not like anything to interrupt my breathing. It flips me out. I expressed my concern to Ajahn Suppan and basically he said that the breathe meditation will help my asthma. Well, that’s all well and good but what am I suppose to do now when it is flipping me out? I might go back again since I won't be overwhelmed with all the strangeness. I am surprised to report that I actually did all the chanting and bowing. Anyone who knows me knows I don't do it but I felt it was cultural and when in Rome do as the Romans do. Once I looked at it that way, it was ok. Now I will even bow when I go into a temple. Hell, I do the sign of the cross in a Catholic Church.
