Brucenkhamen

I have heard of a drug induced experience opening someone's eyes to what is possible and inspiring their practice, Sam Harris is an example. Still its not the experience itself that is important, its the skill, the letting go, and the wisdom developed in the process that is important. The risk is instead of that all you get is addiction.

A drug induced experience isn't comparable with an experience that has resulted from years of dedicated practice, even if they have a similar quality, because while the former creates a dependency on the drug the latter is only dependent on the skill developed to create it. If that skill created it once it can create it again, or further develop so that it becomes the norm.

The present exists, but it is a relative concept, relative to past and future. What I think you're musings are pointing to though is that "the present" is a relative concept that is dependent on how we experience it and how we measure it. We experience our reality in a constant flow of moment to moment change and it is impossible to really say that this moment is in the past, that moment is in the present, and here comes the one in the future. The teaching is not about metaphysics but about understanding the true nature of your experience.

I don't see how meditation could cause brain damage, meditation is a mental activity and the brain is a physical organ. Could software damage hardware? maybe if it switched off the cooling fan I guess but otherwise I think its a good analogy. While mediation should result in not getting entangled or distracted by thought its purpose isn't the end of thought. Thinking subsides in the 2nd jhana but the mind is still active I'd expect, just in a non verbal way. Meditation, particularly mindfulness, is an active use of the mind. When done right it should be a good way to keep the mind and brain active, even when relatively quiet it takes effort to keep the mind from going all over the place so I don't think you should expect it to result in an inactive atrophied mind or brain.

If you've just been around BKK and judging by your description then it's likely most temples you will have visited will be oriented towards tourists. Forest monasteries in regional areas couldn't be more different. Having said that its common in Thai culture to value ostentatious displays of wealth and not realise the contradiction with the Buddhas teaching.

That's a silly question. Its quite reasonable to ask if your post is on topic if there doesn't appear to be relevance.

Is there a relevance to Buddhism in Thailand?

A thread about string that resurrects every year or ten? I think we are being strung along. I hope he has untied it by now, no need to tie yourself in knots over a piece of string.

On the surface it does look like they are packaging as a commodity something that is freely available elsewhere and aiming it at tourists. It might be a good experience fort you but I think it would be better to do retreats as a layman at places like those you've already mention, Wat pah nanachat, or Wat Suan mokh. I don't think there is much point thinking about a temporary ordination unless you've found a monastery or teacher and want to spend more time there.