How to relax and study meditation in Thailand

You need a rest, and it’s time to slow down a little (at least for a bit).  Have you thought of having a meditation and relaxation holiday in Thailand?  You could be a single person, choose to take a relaxation and meditation holiday with your friends, or take the whole family along, the choice is yours.

Why include meditation and relaxation in your next Thailand holiday:

• Meditation is one of the most important aspects of Buddhism, and seeking inner peace through meditation is a growing worldwide area of fascination
• Meditation is a safe way of balancing your physical, emotional and mental states
• Physicians recommend meditation as a way of relaxing from the stresses of everyday life
• Meditation can lower your blood pressure, relieve insomnia, help asthmatic patients breathe more easily and improve exercise performance in those suffering from angina
• Buddhist temples are the ideal place to meditate and also appreciate Thai art and architecture as well as specialist meditation centres
• There are two main branches in Buddhist meditation: Samatha (calmness, concentration) and Vipassana (insight)
• Other branches include Metta (living kindness) which is a form of practice as an antidote to ill-will and fear
• Meditation on the parts of the body leads to lessening of attachments to our bodies and those of others, and a reduction of sensual desire.  Another benefit is that painful sensations can be more easily endured.
• Meditation for old people who are suffering can help those who practice it to be more watchful and reduce their fear and confusion as we grow weaker with old age
• Sati, or mindfulness, is the key to Vipassana meditation.  Vipassana means “to see things as they really are” and was taught by Buddha as a universal remedy for universal ills
• The objects of Vipassana meditation are the position of the body at the present moment, with all sensations, emotions and thoughts that arise from the contact between body and mind and the environment
• Vipassana is based on the four foundations of mindfulness: the mindfulness of body, the feelings, the mind and of mind-objects
• Vipassana is a process of mental purifications through self-observation, focused on the interconnection between mind and body
• Benefits of Vipassana meditation include the ability to calm down and look within, in order to develop both wisdom and freedom. Successful practices can lift depression, cure many stress-related illnesses, and add a little joy to one’s life