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My Happiness Retreat In Khao Lak


Le Meridian Khao Lak

It was easy to see why the 5-star and very luxurious Le Meridian Resort was selected for the Happiness Retreat in Thailand. Set in acres and acres of landscaped gardens, and situated on a beachfront, it was conducive for meditation. The resort was pretty much secluded, since it was situated in Khao Lak (which was not on the more popular and crowded Phuket Island). In the night, the resort was awashed with sounds from the crickets in the gardens. In the day, while sitting on the verandah of our room, we could catch the chirpings from the birds. This being the rainy period, the resort was not fully occupied with tourists either. Instead, it heralded a quiet charm, perfect for relaxation for both body and mind!

Ajahn Brahm
Ajahn Brahm Taken During The Happines Retreat

It’s been 2 days since I came back from The Happiness Retreat. The retreat was organised by the Buddhist Fellowship in Singapore, with guided meditations led by Ajahn Brahm, the abbot of the Boddhiyana Monestarty in Perth. When I first found out about this event, I did not hesitate in signing up, as I have been a follower of Ajahn Brahm’s talks for more than 7 years now. If you have not heard about him, then read this biography found in Wikepedia about who Ajahn Brahm is. He is gaining much popularity nowadays, as the author to the book Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung and as one of the few Western monks taught in the forest Thai meditation tradition by Venerable Ajahn Chah. A few days of intensive lessons on How to be Happy taught by a monk, renown for his wit and practical wisdom, would most certainly be a rare treat!

What had also attracted me to signing up for this trip was the opportunity to bring my kids. It was the first time that Buddhist Fellowship had opened up its retreat to families. It would be perfect, I thought, for I could listen to Dharma talks and go on guided meditations, whilst my kids have the option of spending their time at the Kids Penguin Club of the Le Meridian Resort, where the retreat was conducted; or if appropriate, to listen in to the talks. I was looking forward to the trip that even my husband’s subsequent cancellation of his plans to join us, in lieu of business meetings, did not deter me from going ahead with my plans.

I was in for a surprise on the place that I was going. In my eagerness to book the trip, I omitted finding out more about the location that I was going. Not that it mattered any way. Well, en-route, I found out that Khao Lak was one of the worst places that were hit by the tsunami in year 2004. The effects of the devastation were still felt to this day. Although much has been rebuilt, we could still see ruins of many buildings left standing. I was also told that parts of Khao Lak never saw the return of family clusters since the tsunami.

The Happiness Retreat

Ajahn Brahm was his usual self during the Retreat. He interspersed several jokes and stories, in between life lessons. Much of what he taught had a central theme: Meditate for Happiness. He also touched on anger, jealousy, worry and fears – emotions and thoughts that obstruct our way to happiness. Ajahn Brahm highlighted the importance of present moment awareness and about Being in the Now. He skillfully introduced how meditation can help us cultivate inner joy and also, taught us the basics of meditation.

Lessons on happiness did not just end with talks and guided meditations. Some of us also went on an optional trip to an Orphanage, which was set up to accommodate kids left behind in the wake of the tsunami. The trip turned out to be an enjoyable one for both my kids and I. I was impressed with how clean and organised the set-up was. Although the Orphanage was built to house 30 kids, they were already accommodating 50 kids. We had arrived at short notice but the orphans were able to quickly put up a puppet show for our benefit. It was hard to tell that behind their lovely smiles, were painful memories of the tsunami that had swept their parents away!

Taken with Kids from the Orphanage
My kids having a photo taken at the Orphanage in Khao Lak

Needless to say, I was also pleased to find out for myself that the donations I have made via Buddhist Fellowship had gone directly to helping these orphans. The saddest thing would have been to discover that our donations have gone pretty much to paying for the admin costs of managing a charitable foundation, as is frequently the case. I thought it would be nice to visit the Orphanage again either next year or sometime in the near future, to see the new extension wing that it is hoping to build to accommodate even more orphans.

Happiness Enlightenment?

The Happiness Retreat was overall a happy one. For a while, it did not appear so. What was supposed to be a time for peaceful sanctuary was interrupted by my kids bickering over small issues. I started to bemoan that the retreat, meant to help me cultivate calm and stillness, was being ruined by two kids fighting over who got to brush their teeth first (don’t laugh but this really happened!) one night or who took the red color pencil the next night.

However, my frustrations and disappointment soon dissipated. I decided that to be a happy mommy, is also to practise patience. My kids had acted no differently, be they in Singapore or Thailand. Being so close in age, they experience sibling rivalry somewhat. They can fight and then, kiss and make up, several times a day. I could hardly hold them so tightly to their promises to be good during this trip.

If anything, it was my expectations of how my retreat should be like, that was creating even more problems. Since I have decided to bring my kids along on this trip, I should be reasonable in not expecting a 100% bicker-free trip. As soon as I made a conscious decision to be at peace and be happy, I was able to view things in good humor.


My daugther: An Angel for Now?

It was also nice to be expose my kids to another side of life. What my kids could clearly see for themselves during the visit to the Orphanage was that they did not have to share a bedroom floor with 49 other kids. I had to explain to them what the tsunami was and how the kids lost their parents. I wanted to impress upon them that there was much to be grateful for. Neither should they take for granted their toys, happiness and each other. They nodded their heads in agreement. And that – for the time being – was good enough for me!

No…I did not manage to attain Enlightenment in the last 7 days. Neither did I come home with a halo over my head. But I am happy that I got to enjoy a couple of good meditation sessions; one of which I intend to write about in my next post. I believe that it contains an important key to paving the way for cultivating present moment awareness; and ultimately, leading to inner joy and wisdom. If these are what you are looking for as well, stay tuned!

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Evelyn

SaiF - June 16, 2008

Hey Evelyn!

This really looks like a super FUN happiness retreat.

You know what’s funny?

I just posted a video on happiness and 1 minute later I got your E-mail about this.

Anyways, I really think that part of happiness is loving everything you have and not taking them for granted like you said! =)

I’d like to invite you, Evelyn and anyone reading this to take 3 minutes and watch the Simple Secrets To Leading A Happy Life here.

To Constant & Never-Ending Improvement,

SaiF
The World’s First Teen
Personal Development Video Blogger

Yogi Zen Dude - June 16, 2008

That is cool that you brought your kids. Will be a joy to see the ways what they learned there bloom forth in the days, months and years to come.

Quite an exercise in staying in peace for you, by bringing them with you. I know you gathered different insights that are very valuable to you for staying in a space of compassion with your kids that our yours to use now for sharing even more love with them, which is what we long to do.

Many Blessing’s My Friend !!!****** =)

Vered - June 16, 2008

It’s really hard to stay calm when the kids bicker and fight. I think that my kids’ seemingly endless fights with each other are one of the main things that interfere with quiet and harmony in our household. But you are SO wise to be patient with them. I need to be more patient too!

Joe - June 16, 2008

Actually, someone checked, and even though with Ajahn Brahm there it would be 6 stars, the Le Meridien Khao Lak is 4 stars, not 5 stars.

Dr James D Swann - June 16, 2008

Evelyn my dear,
I’m so glad you were able to go to the retreat and hear Ajahn Brahm and his enlightened words. He definitely has a gift of delivery and keeping your attention, as well as informing you in such a delightful way. His voice is almost melodic and very comforting, which allows for an open and immediate digestion of his talks. You must tell us more, so that we may all benefit from your experience there. Much blessing, light and love to you.
James

Evelyn - June 16, 2008

@SaiF, will be checking out your video in a minute.

@Yogi Zen Dude and Vered, it would be nice if my kids can grow up to be compassionate, peaceful and responsible adults. I guess the most important to me is that I must walk the path myself.

Evelyn - June 16, 2008

@Joe, with such luxurious surroundings and comfort, I would have thought that the Le Meridian Khao Lak is 5 star. You are right…that not it mattered. I would have gone anyway because Ajahn Brahm is there and that makes it 6-star. I’ve always known meditation retreats to be held in the deep forests. Well, at least the ones that my mother-in-law, who was a Buddhist nun, attended before she passed on. So anything better than staying in a kuti, a little hut and often with no attached toilet facilities, is luxury to me!

Were you there too? Do write to me, as it would be nice to connect with like-minded friends on the same journey.

Evelyn

Evelyn - June 16, 2008

@Dr James, I am so happy to find out that you enjoy Ajahn Brahm’s talks too. His entertaining stories keep me awake. For some reasons, whenever I used to attend talks of other religious faiths, I just kept falling asleep.

I enjoy Ajahn’s teachings very much because he dwells so much into the topics of the mind. And getting clarity after having lived in doubt and worry for so long, is so very important for me. His talks hold so much practical wisdom; that they benefit even those who are non-Buddhists.

With metta,
Evelyn

Bita Seow - June 17, 2008

Hi Evelyn,

This is such a beautiful blog! So touching! I’m really glad you came and enjoyed yourself. My daughter had just written over the weekend that she was missing your 2 girls already!

Metta
Bita

dhanachandra - June 17, 2008

Dear Evelyn.. It is really cool to hear about your experiences and your trip. I can imagine the whole scenario of the trip along with your kids well.. you have done a great job by taking your kids along with you for this trip where they are exposed to certain stages of other kids’s life moreover they get to know about the sorrounding & the people. I’m sure this trip serve them as educational trip as well as family trip

Evelyn - June 17, 2008

@Bita, thanks to you…Buddhist Fellowship allowed families to attend retreats together. Let’s keep in touch!

@dhanachandra, thank you for your kind feedback. It is wonderful for my kids to have the opportunity to see the world. And it doesn’t have to be Disneyland all the time.

Akemi - Yes to Me - June 17, 2008

Evelyn,
The photo of the retreat look wonderful. Good thing you are taking great care of yourself!

Hunter Nuttall - June 18, 2008

Evelyn, thanks for sharing the story of your retreat. I was away for a few days recently, to go to the beach. Your trip sounds a little better though!

Offshore IT Outsourcing - January 20, 2009

One can find true Happiness with kids… I my self have visited Le Meridian. Its really a nice and calm place.

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