Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Germany e.V.
Ajarnthong Vipassana Meditationszentrum
Jakob - Kneip - Straße 1, 56283 Morshausen Deutschland
Tel: +49 2605 5149669 / Facebook: วัดพระธาตุศรีจอมทอง เยอรมนี
WhatsApp: +66819966644 Phra Chotirat
Course offerings in Germany
3 September 2024 - 18 October 2024
You may join us any day,
Total length of stay may be adjusted between 3 to 19 days for your convenience.
Fill out the Application form
Contact: info@watchomtong.com WhatsApp: +66819966644 Phra Chotirat
Requirements:
Bring two sets of white clothes to wear during your stay
Jacket (Check the weather), socks, personal toiletries
Flip flops or indoor slippers to wear in the building (optional)
Courses offered all on donation based. As there is no costs during your stay, we only ask for a donation you feel fitting to help support the program and future students.
* You may bring in groceries, ingredients, fruits and vegetables to contribute to the monastery to offer to the monks and for yourself as a meditator to cook and prepare during your stay.
Public Transportation:
Deutche Bahn Train last stop in Koblenz/Boppard. 2 options: Local Train or Bus (Löhr Center, Koblenz) to Emmelhausen, then another stop to
Jakob-Kneip-strasse. (Bus 615/620/628/629)
*Please use the DB Navigator (Deutsche Bahn Application) to check your routes, some trains/bus may cancel without prior notice due to maintenance.
Announcement
Welcome to Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Germany,
We now offer courses from August 30, 2024 to October 18, 2024.
Live at a Theravada Buddhist Monastery with the Bhikkus from Thailand. Minimum stay is 3 days up to 21 days.
During your stay, abide by these eight Buddhist precepts.
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Abstaining from killing.
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Abstaining from stealing.
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Abstaining from sexual activity.
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Abstaining from telling lies.
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Abstaining from intoxicating drinks and drugs.
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Abstaining from eating after noon.
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Abstaining from entertainment and beautifying the body.
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Abstaining from using luxurious furniture.
Discover the vipassana meditation technique as it is taught by the original Chiang Mai, Thailand facility.
Gain foundation and insight from practing vipassana meditation so that you can appropriately continue the practice at home and in your daily life.
Live a happier with ease (focus better, manage with stress more effectively, practice mindfulness every day to promote neural plasticity).
The four foundations of mindfulness explained
Acknowledging is the heart of Insight Meditation. It is the continual work of mindfulness to recognize and acknowledge. Insight meditation, through the four foundations of mindfulness, focuses on the body, the feelings, the mind (thought) and objects of the mind. Literally, the four foundations of mindfulness serve as the base of mindfulness. Practically, they are the state of being continually mindful of what happens to the five aggregates (which are: body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness).
1. Mindfulness of the Body is to contemplate bodily action and sensations. This includes, for example, acknowledging or being conscious of the lifting, stepping and placing of the foot during walking meditation, and acknowledging the rising and falling of the solar plexus in sitting meditation.
2. Mindfulness of One’s Feelings is to contemplate the pleasant/unpleasant/neutrality of your experience. That is, to acknowledge happiness, to know how happy one is, or to acknowledge misery, and to know how miserable one is, or to acknowledge the neutral feeling which is neither happiness nor misery.
3. Mindfulness of the Mind (thought) is to contemplate one’s thoughts or to be conscious of the passion, anger, delusion, sloth, distraction, drowsiness, peace, etc. in the thought. While in meditation our minds may think of the past or the future. We then take that thought as the momentary focus of the meditation by acknowledging ‘thinking-thinking-thinking’ before returning our focus to the breath or the foot.
4. Mindfulness of Objects of the Mind is to contemplate mental recognition and other volitional activities. Recognition is to know something when perceiving it. Volitional activities happen when we think about or comment on something. While we think, we must be mindful of thinking. When we are desirous, angry, slothful, restless, or doubtful as a result of thinking or external stimulation, we must be mindful too.
Where to meditate?
Wat Chomtong Germany has a hall on the first floor that can host up to 50 people. It is a place for chanting and practicing meditation and conducting ceremonies. The third floor (under construction) can accommodate up to around 100 people for teaching meditation and has four private meditation rooms.
Daily schedule for meditators
4:00 - 5:00 Meditate
5:00 - 6:00 Prepare breakfast for the bhikkus/ meditators
6:00 - 7:00 Morning Chanting
7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast/ help wash/ clean.
8:00 - 10:00 Meditation session
10:00 - 11:00 Prepare lunch for the bhikkus/ meditators
11:00 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 13:00 Help wash/ clean. You may relax mindfully, but meditators are not allowed to sleep during the day.
13:00 - 16:00 Meditation session
16:00 - 18:00 Mindful break. Tea/ Cocoa
18:00 - 19:00 Evening Chanting
19:00 - 22:00 Meditation session / report, receive guidance from the meditation instructor.
22:00 Rest
*All other times may be used for mindful prostration, walking meditation and sitting meditation in your room or in the main hall.
*The schedule may change according to the monastery or your assigned meditation instructor.
Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Germany e.V. (2022 - 2023)
Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong, Germany (monastery branch) Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo is located on Jakob-Kneip 1, Morshausen, Hunsruck, Rheinland-Pfalz. Watchomtong Germany, is under the patronage of the disciples of Phra Phrom Mongkhol Vi. (Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo) and all Buddhists Thais and Internationals disciples led by
Phra Srisilpajan Dr. (previous secretary of Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo). Intent to build a monastery as a memorial and to commemorate Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo and use as a Vipassana Meditation Center based on the four foundations of mindfulness. Therefore, the Thai Temple Association Committee was established in accordance with the Federal Republic of Germany law.
Venerable Phra Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo (1923 - 2019)
The Center of Vipassan Meditation Thailand at Wat Chom Tong was founded by Phra Prom Mongkol Vi (Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo) in 1992 and is the main Vipassana Meditation Center in Chiang Mai province and the most commonly sort centre for training from people across Thailand and the globe.
Ajahn Tong is one of Thailand‘s most revered meditation teachers and is respected by religious leaders across many faiths around the world. Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo is the previous Abbot of Wat Chomtong temple as the Principal of the Vipassana Meditation Center has founded his Vipassana practices in over 60 centres around Thailand and the world. Practicing since 11 years of age, Phra Ajahn Thong Sirimangalo devoted his life to developing and perfecting his unique form of Vipassana Meditation and Mindfulness practice in the closest traditions to the teachings of the Buddha.
At the age of 96, Phra Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo passed away on December 13, 2019. His body is situated in Kuti Hatainares in a glass coffin for disciples to pay respect. Where the opening, closing, and wan gon ceremony are also conducted.
Never absent from mind of all his disciples, his presence is felt throughout the halls of the monastery, revered by visitors and his honourable teachings continue to touch each and every student under his learned disciples.
Daily routine กิจวัตรประจำวัน
06:00 - 07:00
Morning chanting
06:40 (Buddha Day Only )
Bhikku recite Patimokkha (vinaya)
07:00 - 08:00
Breakfast
08:00 - 10:00
Practice meditation (morning round)
10:30 (Special Occasion)
Chanting / dana recieving- When disciples visit.
11:00 - 12:00
Lunch time
13:00 - 16:00
Meditation session
16:00 (Changes may occur)
Meditation report
18:00 - 19:00
Evening Chanting
19:00 - 22:00
Meditation session
Yearly Events at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Woravihara
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Candlelight Procession
The candlelight procession is to walk around important sanctuaries such as temples, viharas, or Buddha images in order to commemorate the virtue of the Triple Gems on important days three times in a clockwise direction. The candlelight procession is organized on every important day in Buddhism, such as Makha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day, and Visakha Bucha Day, in remembrance of the Lord Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
Dhamma Sermons
The Dhamma sermon is a method of propagating Buddhism that the Lord Buddha has always practiced. The life of the Buddha and nowadays, teaching the Dhamma or preaching is still the main way of teaching. propagating Buddhism and preserving Buddhism The goal is to benefit and bring happiness to the gatherings. For this reason, the monastery hosts a Dhamma sermon at every important monastery event, such as Makha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Songkran, the temple opening anniversary, etc.
Songkran (April)
The temple organizes the Songkran Festival during the month of April every year for Thai people in Germany. To celebrate Thai New Year's Day, which is an old Thai tradition that has been inherited from the past, with activities such as making merit, offering alms, listening to dhamma sermons, and pouring scented water on the Buddha images, monks, and the hands of the elderly to receive blessings from them. That is beautiful, gentle, caring, and filled with an atmosphere of gratitude, fun, warmth, and respect, using "water" as a medium to create good relations.
Establishment Anniversary
-----To Commemorate the establishment of Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Woravihara Germany
Mother's Day (August 12)
Mother's Day is an important day. In many countries around the world, Mother's Day activities are held to honor mothers and motherhood. In Thailand, Mother's Day falls on August 12 of every year, which coincides with the Royal Birthday. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. On this occasion, the monastery has organized a celebration to commemorate His Majesty's benevolence. Organize activities for Mother's Day for children to show respect and love. Gratitude towards mother and benefactor: organizing such activities to encourage children to remember the grace of the mother who gave birth, who is a highly benefactor, by providing children with the opportunity to ask for forgiveness from the mother, washing their feet as an expression of gratitude.
Vassa Candle offering
Vassa candles have been around since the time of the Buddha. Buddhists will uphold the tradition of bringing candles and offerings provided to monks during the Buddhist Vassa ceremony to wish for oneself to be intelligent and sharp-minded, like the light of a candle, because in the past the monks did not have electricity. The villagers therefore cast a larger candle in order to offer the monks a spot to illuminate the performance of various duties. It is a Buddha worship for 3 months. The Buddhist community often organizes parades, bringing Vassa candles to offer to the monastery joyfully with Thai music and Thai traditional dance. Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong has a tradition of offering Vassa candles every year. On the eve of Vassa.
Kathina ceremony (October 20)
The Kathina Ceremony is the offering of a Kathina garment to Bhikkus who have stayed in one temple or place for 3 months in order for the monks to accept a new garment. Each temple can accept Kathina garment once a year. It must be done within the time specified in the Kathina ceremony, which is one month after the end of the Vassa (rain retreat). It is considered a big offering to the specified bhikku because it can only be done once a year. Being qualified according to the Buddha's permission for bhikku who have stayed the entire three months during Vassa. Wat Phra That Si Chom Tong, Germany, conducts the Kathina Ceremony every year.
Memorial Day (December 13)
Wat Phradhatu Sri Chom Tong, Germany, was built as a memorial to commemorate Phra Phrom Mongkhon Vi (Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo) and as a place to practice vipassana meditation. On this Graditude Day, specifically to commemorate the day he passed away, the event is organized to make merit through almsgiving, practice vipassana meditation, and allow the faith group to make merit for their relatives who have passed away. According to Buddhist principles, in order to show gratitude, there are activities such as making merit, giving alms, giving dhamma sermons, and practicing meditation collectively. The event will be held in December every year.
New Year's Eve Chanting Dec31
Chanting on New Year's Eve is a tradition that Thais have continued to practice since the reign of King Rama III, who used to perform New Year's chanting during the Songkran Festival (Thai New Year). It corresponds to the universal principle, which is January 1st of every year. It is an initiative to practice good deeds at the beginning of the year. Kicking off the new year by having precepts, cleansing the mind from practicing meditation, listening to a dhamma sermon, and offering almsgiving on the 1st of January in the morning.
The four foundations of mindfulness explained
Acknowledging is the heart of Insight Meditation. It is the continual work of mindfulness to be aware and acknowledge. Insight meditation, through the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, focuses on the body, the feelings, the mind (thought) and objects of the mind. Literally, the four foundations of mindfulness serve as the base of mindfulness. Practically, they are the state of being continually mindful of what happens to the five aggregates (which are: body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness).
1. Mindfulness of the Body is to contemplate bodily action and sensations. This includes, for example, acknowledging or being conscious of the lifting, stepping and placing of the feet during walking meditation, and acknowledging the rising and falling of the abdomen in sitting meditation.
2. Mindfulness of One’s Feelings is to contemplate the happiness/suffering/neutrality of your experience. That is, to acknowledge happiness, to know how happy one is, or to acknowledge misery, and to know how miserable one is, or to acknowledge the neutral feeling which is neither happiness nor misery.
3. Mindfulness of the Mind (Thought) is to contemplate one’s thoughts or to be conscious of the passion, anger, delusion, sloth, distraction, peace, etc. in the thought. While in meditation our minds may think of the past or the future. We then take that thought as the momentary focus of the meditation by acknowledging ‘thinking-thinking-thinking’ before returning our focus to the breath or the feet.
4. Mindfulness of Objects of the Mind is to contemplate mental recognition and other volitional activities. Recognition is to know something when perceiving it. Volitional activities happen when we think about or comment on something. While we think, we must be mindful of thinking. When we are desirous, angry, slothful, restless, or doubtful as a result of thinking or external stimulation, we must be mindful too.
General Rules for Meditators
1. Meditators are not allowed to talk about their personal meditation practice or experience. Do not discuss or compare your meditation practice with each other. Your experience is your own, and may not be the same as others.
2. No reading—this includes Buddhist books. No writing (letters, diaries, etc.). No listening to music, podcasts, spotify. No telephone calls during your practice (unless emergency), as it can prevent you from progressing in insight meditation. Mobile phones are permitted for use as an alarm clock.
4. Donations are appreciated. All donations should be made with the monk staff, where an official receipt can be obtained. There is no fixed charge, however your kind donation is essential for the ongoing support of the program (food, water, electricity, and maintenance bills). You can make a donation for the monastery on the day before your check-out date. Or ask for a IBAN. You may ask for a Tax Deductible Donations (Spenden).
5. Temple authorities reserve the right to refuse entry, or to expel anyone in the case of disrespect regarding the rules or instructions.
6. Please unplug all electrical devices when not in use, and turn off all lights, fans, etc., when leaving your room.
7. Meditators are responsible for the loss or damage of temple properties.
8. You are not allowed to mix the practice with other techniques.
9. No kissing, hugging, holding hands, massaging or any other physical contact is allowed. No sun-bathing.
10. Meditators should not visit other meditators in their private rooms. Men are not allowed to enter women’s rooms. Women are not allowed to enter men’s rooms.
11. You and your clothing must always be clean, proper and hygienic. You need to wear white clothing day and night. You may use deodorant to prevent your body odor from disturbing other meditators. This is with the intention to be considerate, not to beautify.
12. Keep your room neat and tidy. Keep the bathroom and toilet clean, in order to prevent fungi and bacteria.
13. You are not allowed to smoke cigarettes in your room/building. It would be better to avoid that burdensome habit.
14. While taking a bath, make sure that the door and window/curtains are closed and locked.
15. The meditator’s room are for their privacy. Visitors are not allowed to enter the meditator’s room.
16. All temple items must be returned and the meditator’s room must be cleaned before leaving. Imagine you are the next person who will use the room. Don’t forget to return your key to the reception.
17. Upon completion of the course, meditators must pay respect to the teacher one day prior to the closing ceremony (request five precepts), and gain further advice from him about the practice.
18. If you are tired during the day, you may lay down in your room mindfully, but meditators are not allowed to sleep during the day. The condition of drowsiness reveals the true nature of the mind. After 3:00pm. lie down, set the timer for 20 minutes, then contemplate rising/ falling/ lying body scan (repeat) until the alarm goes off, get up immediately.
Meditation room
Attic room can fit up to 80 people with heizung (heater) installed in the floor.
Private meditation room and meditation report room
3 rooms are used for meditation and 1 room are used for meditation report.
Dining and kitchen for meditators
You will be served two meals per day breakfast at 06.00 am. lunch at 11.00 am. Sometimes meditators must cook their own food with the ingredients provided by the donators or the monastery. We do not have staff in the kitchen, just volunteer.
Accommodation
There are 11 rooms for meditators, separated by floors:
Second floor (female), total of eight rooms, seven single rooms, one shared room, women's shared bathroom
Third floor (male), total of three rooms, two single rooms, one shared room, and men's shared bathroom
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Contact Us
Address
Jakob-Kneip-Straße 1, 56283 Morshausen, Germany
Contact
Public transportation
Deutche Bahn Train last stop in Koblenz/Boppard. 2 options: Local Train or Bus (Löhr Center, Koblenz) to Emmelhausen, then another stop to
Jakob-Kneip-strasse. (Bus 615/628/629)
Please use the DB Navigator (Deutsche Bahn Application) to check your routes, some trains/bus may cancel without prior notice due to maintenance.