What Happens During a 26-Day Vipassana Meditation Retreat? How to attend?
A 26-Day Vipassana Retreat in Chiang Mai: A Journey Within
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding a moment of stillness feels like a luxury. But in a quiet corner of Chiang Mai, at Wat Ram Poeng, time slows down, offering a rare opportunity for deep self-reflection. Every month, this temple opens its doors to foreign practitioners for a Vipassana meditation retreat, an experience that can last from 7 to 26 days.
In 2024, I completed the full 26-day retreat, a journey that was both challenging and transformative. Here, I share my reflections on what it was like, what I learned, and how you can attend if you’re considering taking this step.
What It Was Like
Wat Ram Poeng is nestled at the base of Doi Suthep, about a 20-minute drive from Chiang Mai’s Old City. Established in 1492, the temple was initially built as a tribute to a nobleman and later evolved into a center for Vipassana meditation training. Despite its small size, the temple grounds are rich with history, adorned with numerous shrines and an ancient chedi that dates back over 500 years.
The retreat follows a strict regimen—no talking, no internet, no reading, and no writing.
Here’s a common schedule:
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4:00am: Wake-up Bell
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4:20am — 6:30am: Morning Clas and Meditate
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6:30am — 7:30am: Breakfast
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7:30am — 10:30am: Meditate
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10:30am — 11:30pm: Lunch
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11:40pm — 1:00pm: Reporting
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1:00pm — 5:00pm: Meditate
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5:00pm — 6:00pm: Soup
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6:00pm —9:00pm: Meditate
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10:00pm: Sleep
The core practice revolves around sitting and walking meditation, sharpening awareness through breath observation and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness: body, feelings, mind, and mental objects.
What I Learned
Meditation is not a drug
It might seem at times that meditation doesn't bring any peace or happiness at all; this is why it must be stressed that meditation isn't a drug. It isn't supposed to make you feel happy while you do it and then return to your misery when you are not.
Meditation is meant to effect a real change in the way one looks at the world, bringing one's mind back to its natural state of clarity. It should allow one to attain true and lasting peace and happiness through being better able to deal with the natural difficulties of life.
The basic technique of meditation that we use to facilitate this change is the creation of clear awareness. In meditation, we try to create a clear awareness of every experience as it occurs. Without meditating, we tend to immediately judge and react to our experiences as “good”, “bad”, “me”, “mine”, etc., which in turn gives rise to stress, suffering, and mental sickness. By creating a clear thought about the object, we replace these sort of judgements with a simple recognition of the object as it is.
Embracing Boredom
One of the most profound lessons was learning to coexist with boredom. After three days in silence, I confided in a monk about my struggle to describe my feelings. He replied, “It’s normal to find it hard to describe.” At first, I didn’t understand. But as the retreat progressed, I realized that the 26 days mirrored life itself—moments of peace, moments of discomfort, and everything in between.
During a three-day determination, boredom became an unavoidable presence. Initially, I resisted it, seeking ways to distract myself. But once I surrendered to it, I discovered a strange sense of enjoyment in stillness. As I wrote in my notes, “If we cannot enjoy boredom, how can we fully embrace life?”
The Awakening of the Body
Extended meditation brought heightened physical awareness. My body ached—my back, my shoulders, my knees—everywhere. Reporting my discomfort to the teacher became a daily ritual. But over time, I noticed my body adapting, my endurance strengthening.
One evening, I had an extraordinary experience. During meditation, I felt my body dissolve, as if it were spreading outward like water. Startled, I asked the teacher about it. He explained that this was a form of “letting go.” Just as we release mental attachments, we can also release bodily attachments, cultivating a deepened connection with ourselves.
Reintegrating into the World
For 26 days, I hadn’t touched my phone. When I finally held it again, it felt foreign in my hands. Logging back into apps seemed unnecessarily complicated. A flood of unread messages awaited me, yet it took only minutes to respond to them all. The experience reinforced a realization: most of what we consider urgent in daily life is not as important as we think.
It took me over ten days to fully readjust to normal life. But even now, I continue to practice daily mindfulness, carrying with me the peace I cultivated at the monastery.
How to Attend
If you’re interested in experiencing a Vipassana retreat at Wat Ram Poeng, you can register in advance via email or phone. The temple publishes monthly schedules, and slots are limited to 50 participants per session.
📞 Phone: +66 821 857 701
📧 Email: wrp.vipassana@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://www.watrampoeng.com/en
Final Thoughts
In a world where distractions are endless, taking 26 days to sit in silence may seem daunting. But the practice of Vipassana is not just about meditation—it’s about learning to be with yourself, understanding your mind, and cultivating inner peace. Whether or not you embark on a retreat, I encourage you to take a few moments each day to simply breathe, observe, and be present. It may just be the greatest gift you give yourself.