Daily Timetable

     

Please note: All items on the timetable are mandatory. If you do not attend, you will be asked to leave.

 

6:00am Rice offering to the monks. 
7:00am Breakfast
7:50am Morning Dharma talk, and meditation class.
10:30am Lunch offering to the monks.
11:00am Lunch
12:50pm Afternoon Dharma talk and meditation class.
4:00pm Cleaning and helping in the monastery.
5:00pm Free time.
5:50pm Evening Chanting, meditation and Dharma talk.
8:00pm Meditation on your own, or have tea, coffee, hot chocolate and relax.

​

6:00am Rice offering to the monks. 

A rice offering is made to each monk. This small ceremonial offering is a beautiful insight into traditional Thai Buddhism, as well as generating good karma for everyone who participates.

​

7:00am Breakfast

A classic Thai breakfast. Normally rice and vegetables, along with some fresh fruit. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are available. The breakfast is vegetarian; no barbeque! 

​

7:50am Morning Dharma talk with an Ajan, and meditation class.

Morning class follows a format of a talk on the Dharma, given in both Thai and English. After the talk, there is 40 minutes of walking meditation, 40 minutes of sitting meditation, and 15 minutes of lying down meditation. 

These are three of the four postures for meditation taught by the Buddha. (The other being standing meditation.) 

​

10:30am Lunch offering to the monks, and Dharma talk by Ajan Luang Ta.

A ceremonial food offering to the monks, and a short Dharma talk from our abbot, Ajan Luan Ta. A more formal food offering to the monks, displaying the ceremony and respect that Thai monks are shown. Making this offering gives good karma to the participants, as well as being a beautiful insight into Thai Buddhism and culture.

Ladies offer food by placing it in front of the abbot. He cannot take it directly from a lady.

Gentlemen offer food directly to the monks. The item should be raised off the floor, and only lowered once the monk has touched it. 

​

11:00am Lunch

A vegetarian lunch. Welcome!

Lunch would normally consist of several dishes and rice, as well as fresh fruit. It is varied, so may have soup, noodles, baked goods, desert, etc. 

Lunch is the last meal of the day, although some fruit or biscuits are sometimes available in the afternoon.

​

12:50pm Afternoon Dharma talk and meditation.

A similar format to the morning class. A talk given by a monk on the Dharma, in both Thai and English. Then walking meditation, sitting meditation and lying down meditation.

The Ajan (teaching monk) will be available to answer any questions after the class. 

​

4:00pm Cleaning and helping in the monastery.

The monastery always needs a little upkeep. Cleaning and helping may involve raking leaves, putting away plates, cutting up fruit, picking fruit, feeding the fish, cleaning around your dorm or kuti, setting up the Dharma hall, and so on. Everyone needs to help a little.

​

5:00pm Free time

Your time to read, have a quiet conversation, meditate, drink hot chocolate or relax.

​

5:50pm Evening chanting, meditation and Dharma talk.

Chanting books are available in English or Thai. Evening chanting lasts around 45 minutes, then there is a 40 minute meditation, and a short talk by the abbot.

​

​

Accommodation

​

Tam Wua offers small singe-person kutis (huts) for men, kutis for ladies, three male dorm buildings, three female dorm buildings, as well as tents for men in our camping area. 

​

There is generally a waiting list for kutis, which are given out based on length of stay. However, people displaying a serious commitment to their practice and to the monastery will be given preference. The singe-person kutis exist to provide a more private space for meditation, contemplation and Dharma study. The kutis are a privilege, not a space for chatting or a private space for misbehaviour.

​

Strictly no male visitors to female kutis, or female visitors to male kutis.  

​

Dorm space is always available. Please be respectful of your neighbours when staying in a dorm or kuti.

​

Each guest is provided with bedding when they arrive. 

​

​

Costs

​

Staying at Tam Wua is free, but you can leave a donation. All costs are covered through donations, and all work is done by volunteers. Please leave your donation in the box located in the small Dharma hall near the monk dwellings. 

​

​

Conduct and behaviour

​

Tam Wua is a Theravadan Buddhist monastery in the Thai Forest tradition. While visiting, your behaviour should reflect this. We try to provide an atmosphere that is friendly and welcoming to beginners and those with little or no experience with meditative retreat, while not creating obstacles for those who wish to practice in a more disciplined manner. 

​

While at Tam Wua, guests are under the Eight Precepts, which are as follows:

 

1. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from taking life

2. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from taking what is not given

3. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from unchastity

4. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from false speech

5. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from intoxicants which cause a careless frame of mind

6. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from taking food at the wrong time

7. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from dancing, music, visiting shows, flowers, make-up, the wearing of ornaments and decorations

8. I undertake [to observe] the rule of abstinence from a luxurious or high sleeping place.

 

Tam Wua will show some flexibility; for example eating fruit or biscuits in the evening, or wearing jewellery isn't an issue. But be aware of the behaviour that is expected from you. Please show respect to the monks, the monastery space, and the practice of others. We have zero tolerance for drug use, stealing and sexual activity.

​

Generally, ask yourself: Is my behaviour appropriate for a Theravadan Buddhist monastery? Is it harmful to the practice of another person?

​

​

Etiquette with Buddhist Monks

​

Thai Buddhism holds that monks should be respected as if they were the Buddha himself. The gesture done most often when interacting with monks is the palms-together “Onchali”.