Inspired by the experiences of a new friend we met in Cambodia, we went straight to North Thailand for an 8-day Vipassana meditation retreat at the Watchomtong temple. It was probably one of the hardest but also the best experiences we’ve ever had. The first few days were the hardest because by the rules we should not talk or interact with others, no entertainment including even reading or writing to minimize distractions. We got up at 4am and had 2 meals per day with 19 hours of fasting window. The boredom, hunger and tiredness was overwhelming and I questioned why I did this to myself…
However, once the effects started to take off it is just magical what our brain could do when we are being mindful. It’s hard to describe the feelings of getting valuable insights everyday about life and ourselves, and noticing the tiniest details become extraordinary. My favorite moment is every morning walking around the lake with a warm mug of coffee to see the sunrise. It’s different everyday. The colors of sky slowly change as the sun begins to raise from the clouds and far mountains. The morning air is cold but refreshing, making it extra precious to feel the warmth of coffee down to my throat and chest, as a calming sense of belonging and gratitude arises. I will never forget one afternoon after a fruitful meditation session outdoor, sitting on the cushions I felt so clearly the tender sunshine on every inch of my skin, the gentle wind in my hair, the smell of newly washed laundry and cheerful singing of the birds… the sensations were so vivid and delightful as if I never noticed them before.
It’s shocking and even upsetting to realize how my mind is always thinking, drifting and wanting… but by training the mind there are ways to improve it for better instead of falling into the same patterns. At the end it was hard to leave the retreat but as our journey continues we will try our best to stay mindful and conscious of our body, mind and feelings. 🙏 We managed to get some nice photos on the last day before we leave but also felt oddly ashamed to use phones again.😅