Back at my desk on Monday morning after “Temple 4,” my fourth silent meditation retreat and third at Wat Umong, a serene temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. For those curious about Wat Umong’s rules and policies, I’ve created an AI transcription here. This post shares my experiences and insights from this transformative retreat, held on July 28, 2025.
Deepening My Practice
As my fourth retreat, I noticed my meditation skills improving with each experience. The more you practice, the clearer and more nuanced your understanding becomes. Reflecting on my previous three retreats (Temple 1 in Shenzhen, China, and others), I can feel the progress in my focus and mindfulness.
Re-Reading To See the Truth
During Temple 4, I revisited To See the Truth by Venerable Pramote Pamojjo, which I first read during Temple 3. This insightful book is available on the official website, as a free PDF, or on Amazon. I’ve also summarized it and provided a backup PDF on my blog at MikesBlogDesign.com/toseetruth. Re-reading this book deepened my understanding, and I highly recommend revisiting meaningful texts.
Key takeaways from To See the Truth:
- Three Core Principles of Buddhism: Everything is impermanent, nothing lasts forever, and we have no ultimate control over phenomena.
- Separating “You” from Mind and Body: The five aggregates (form, consciousness, feelings, memory, and mental phenomena) are tools, not your true self.
- Two Types of Meditation: Samatha (calming the mind) is foundational, but Vipassana (observing the aggregates as separate from “you”) fosters true mindfulness and liberation.
Learning Dependent Origination from Mae Chee Win
During the evening chanting sessions, our host, Mae Chee Win, a wise and inspiring nun, recommended studying Dependent Origination (Paticcasamuppada) to deepen our understanding of Buddhism beyond meditation. After the first night’s chanting, she shared books on this teaching, which explores how suffering arises through twelve interconnected links. My friend Chris, who joined me, was equally inspired. I’ve written a detailed AI blog on Dependent Origination at MikesBlogDesign.com/do.
My interpretation, after multiple readings, is that Dependent Origination redefines life and death. Unlike the conventional view of one life from birth to death, this teaching suggests we “live and die” in countless moments daily. Each encounter—such as meeting someone in a coffee shop—follows the twelve links (from ignorance to aging and death), forming a fleeting “self” that arises and ceases. Suffering stems from attachment to desires, like enjoying a meal that ends or clinging to impermanent relationships. Recognizing this cycle encourages living fully in the present, cherishing each moment without grasping.
Profound Moments in Long Meditation Sessions
The retreat’s core was its meditation sessions, lasting 1 to 2 hours. I also fasted for three days, which intensified my focus and made the meditations more vivid. One session, possibly my longest since Temple 1, felt transformative. I frequently reached Samatha, a state of mental calm, by focusing on my breath, and pushed toward Vipassana, observing my thoughts and emotions in the third person.
Some sessions brought tears as I processed deep questions: Why pursue ambitions like building a business empire? Is it greed? I reflected on sacrifices and letting go of people in my life. In one vivid moment, I visualized holding my own decaying body, a powerful reminder of impermanence and rebirth. These experiences were deeply personal but profoundly clarifying.
Why You Should Try a Meditation Retreat
I wish I had stayed longer than three days and plan to try a seven-day retreat soon. A three-day retreat, like the one at Wat Umong, is accessible and affordable, costing about 750 baht (~$21 USD) for three days. Learn more about Wat Umong at my AI blog about it. The retreat enhanced my daily meditation practice, revealing that afternoon sessions suit me better than morning ones. I’m now considering adding a second daily session to maintain this clarity.
Learn More About Wat Umong Read My To See the Truth Summary Explore Dependent Origination Temple 1 experience (Shenzhen, China) Temple 2 experience (Chiang Mai, Thailand) Temple 3 experience (Chiang Mai, Thailand)