anyone tried it ? ..meditation - samathi

[pumpjack]

just seen a poster in pattaya , meditation classes at mindpower centre,  its 230 dollars for 3 day course.    i suffer from sleep depravation and anxiety and also drink a lot becasue i cannot get to sleep or have a racing mind.

 

anyone tried,  is it helpfull.   230 dollars seems steep for a 3 day course and maybe i wont even learn to relax in 3 days.   i just want to relax,  dont want learn about buddism whatsoever or join the monkhood.

[tfc]

Plenty of temples are free but if you aren't interested in Buddhism then you can try progressive relaxation:

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=progressive+relaxation&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab&gws_rd=cr&ei=MT7ZV5zUEYS30gSEoZLgDQ

 

The first link has a 4 page PDF on it.  I've done it in the past when I was working corporate and couldn't wind down for sleep and I'd be asleep before I'd finished the exercise (asleep in about 5 minutes usually). 

 

 

[Johnniey]

Meditation in Pattaya, that spiritual Mecca of Thailand -  lol  - run a mile.

 

I tried a 10 day course in Suan Mokh in the 90s. This is the best Buddhist meditation IMHO.

 

The following was the best ever though for quitting drinking and stopping those racing thoughts -  Raja Yoga.

 

NEVER pay for meditation as it won't be real.

 

 

[pumpjack]

where can you do raja yoga ? 

[Oxx]

Just stumbled across a free meditation course in Pattaya at http://www.willpowerinstitute.com/courses/

 

A 3 day course sounds a very dodgy idea.  For someone new to meditation 30 minutes can seem too much.  It's something one needs gradually to build up.

 

And given the OP's alcohol issue, might I suggest a self hypnosis CD or .mp3 such as http://rachaeleccles.com/hypnosisstore.html#!/Drink-Less-Alcohol-Self-Hypnosis-MP3/p/33981219/category=8683032 or http://www.selfhypnosis.com/downloads/overcome-alcohol-addiction/

 

It's nothing creepy.  It simply gets you in a very relaxed state and gives you opportunity to dwell on the reasons for your drinking.  You can listen just before falling asleep.  It should stop the mind racing, and let you fall asleep easily (if you don't actually do so whilst listening).  After a few days you should find yourself drinking less - though apparently, for some people it takes a bit longer.

 

Incidentally (and as you probably already know) drinking to help you sleep is a very bad idea.  The quality of the sleep will inevitably be poor, so you won't wake refreshed.

[pumpjack]

On 16/09/2016 at 10:33 AM, Oxx said:

Just stumbled across a free meditation course in Pattaya at http://www.willpowerinstitute.com/courses/

 

A 3 day course sounds a very dodgy idea.  For someone new to meditation 30 minutes can seem too much.  It's something one needs gradually to build up.

 

And given the OP's alcohol issue, might I suggest a self hypnosis CD or .mp3 such as http://rachaeleccles.com/hypnosisstore.html#!/Drink-Less-Alcohol-Self-Hypnosis-MP3/p/33981219/category=8683032 or http://www.selfhypnosis.com/downloads/overcome-alcohol-addiction/

 

It's nothing creepy.  It simply gets you in a very relaxed state and gives you opportunity to dwell on the reasons for your drinking.  You can listen just before falling asleep.  It should stop the mind racing, and let you fall asleep easily (if you don't actually do so whilst listening).  After a few days you should find yourself drinking less - though apparently, for some people it takes a bit longer.

 

Incidentally (and as you probably already know) drinking to help you sleep is a very bad idea.  The quality of the sleep will inevitably be poor, so you won't wake refreshed.

 

 

thankyou Oxx  i will check it out

[Sheryl]

Actually 3 days is quite short for a meditation course...too short, and the fact that they charge is reason to shy away.

 

You can get an authentic, nonsectarian meditation course for free at number of sites in Thailand, see link below. It does take 10 full days, however, as that is the minimum time in which one can learn the technique. And to benefit from it you need to then practice it at home after the course ends.

 

https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/locations/directory#TH

 

The technique taught in the places listed above does come from the original teachings of Buddha, but it is completely nonsectarian and you will not need or be asked to become a "Buddhist" to study it. Plenty of atheists and persons of non-Buddhist religions do so. You will, however, have to follow a basic code of morality which includes abstinence from alcohol, drugs etc during the 10 day course. You can find more details about this technique and the code of conduct during courses here  https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/about/vipassana

[pumpjack]

thanks sheryl,

      

  it was the willpower centre in pattaya who were charging me for the 3 day course. 

[trd]

It's all very well saying shy away if you have to pay for it but everyone has to make a living. It's different for the temples because they are funded by donations from the community and can offer teachings for free. Everyone needs money.