Meditation posture and language as a monk in Thailand
Upvote:3
Answering from the Ajahn Tong (Mahasi-like) vipassana lineage I am somewhat familiar with:
Sitting posture is not a problem. Most people in Thailad, as far as I have seen, practice in the "burmese" posture, having legs flat on the floor (one in front of the other one), but some were sitting in the chair (without leaning) for health reasons.
You will be likely a lay practitioner (on 8 precepts) for some time, before you ordain, but the practice is the same anyway. The most important is that you practice and learn to deal with the situation you have, including back pain, skillfully. That might include some exercise, but also facing the pain in meditation. In fact many people think they have back pain because they have weak muscles (exactly as you say), but it is in fact meditation pain, which is very useful (which does not mean you like it) training for you; it goes away after some time. Your teacher will guide you through that territory while on retreat.
Out of the thousands temples in Thailand, only a minority does meditation, and only a few of them has English-speaking sections (I can recommend, from this lineage, the Chom Tong temple, http://www.northernvipassana.org/about.html; the other ones I know of are Wat Rampoeng and Wat Doi Suthep). You don't need extreme language skills to do Vipassana, just enough to understand the instruction; if you learn Thai in long-term, good, but I would not see it as something to start with. In some centers, there might be yogis speaking your language (French?) which could translate for you.
Before being too far in your plans about becoming a monk, you could do retreats (starting with the 2-3 week "basic course") without long travels to Asia for the start, and then see if the practice is suitable for you; I posted some of the centers from this tradition in Europe in this answer; in France, there is a group organizing retreats regularly which may also help you find a suitable place.
More post
- π Have any historical texts identified whether a reincarnated soul's true identity can be identified?
- π Is the abhidhammic view on mind an externalist or internalist one?
- π What does Buddhism say about success?
- π Past life regression techniques
- π Mindfulness and Pushing Away Emotions
- π Can Buddhism be called as Atheist, Agnostic or Theistic?
- π Where is the sutta that mentions the Five Niyamas?
- π What do Buddhists religious texts say about the environment?
- π "..but don't become attached" Do we have control whether we attach or not?
- π Does the universe ever end?
- π What's the difference between having a view and clinging to a view?
- π Personal practices of meditation
- π How do I practice Buddhism to attain peace of mind and know the inner self?
- π Why emphasise the EBT when anyone who has achieved Arhathood can teach from direct experience?
- π What did the Buddha say about sharing merit?
- π Any praise of shred-paramis by the Sublime Budddha?
- π What were the source documents of the PTS Sutta Pitaka?
- π How can I remove my desire for a relationship/girlfriend?
- π Was the influence of Taoism on Buddhism responsible for the development of Mahayana?
- π What distinguishes Japanese Shingon Buddhism from other types?
- π Is there a free (libre or open) version of Visuddhimagga in a digital text or HTML format?
- π Are actions in computer games bad for karma?
- π How to use meditation to boost logical thinking (or avoiding suffering with unrational scenario)
- π Best books & articles for practicing jhanas
- π Sanskrit and Pali roots
- π Question about Narakas
- π What does it mean to be upright?
- π Does the degree of the victim's sentience correlate with the kamma associated with killing it?
- π Why is it hard to concentrate on Kusala?
- π Is rebirth essential to Buddhist philosophy?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Meditation posture and language as a monk in Thailand
- π Questions regarding meditation posture and movement
- π Meditation and 'not trying to change anything'
- π Strange feelings after meditation and mindfulness practice?
- π Does meditation increase productivity for software developers and related professions?
- π Difference in Buddhist meditation and meditation in other religions
- π Did Buddha practice group meditation with bhikkhus, bhikkhunis and laymen, just like in today's meditation center?
- π Are there Theravada meditation retreats that allow one to work for room and board?
- π How to use Sloth and Torpor as an object for meditation
- π Is a straight spine/spinal posture during seated meditation critical?
- π Time and Frequency of Meditation
- π When and how should someone practice Patikulamanasikara meditation (reflections of replusiveness)
- π Could meditation help with reducing memory and concentration problems? As with ADD or ADHD?
- π Meditation and good deeds vs clarity of mind during death
- π How does a monk address parents and relatives?
- π Near death experience and meditation
- π What is the name in PΔli and Sanskrit for the βbody scanningβ meditation technique?
- π How important are incense and candles to a meditation practice?
- π How is body language linked with meditation success?
- π Skillful ways to induce Rapture and Pleasure in meditation
- π Seeking guidance on avoiding meditation distractions and sluggishness
- π How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- π Meditation and Mouth breathing
- π What meditation practice will allow me to sleep less and focus more?
- π Combining yoga (asanas); qigong meditation and raw vegan diet with Buddhism
- π Quantified Self and Meditation
- π Buddhist meditation for intrusive thoughts and anxiety
- π Meditation to control anxiety and hyperactivity?
- π Meditation and being aware in your sleep while dreaming
- π Difference Between Walking and Sitting Meditation