Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

I am currently making a list and preparing for a trip to Thailand to visit various monasteries.
(I think I can stay up to two weeks)
Well, at least one or two, since I will not have much time.
Hopefully this will not be my last visit to Thailand, but I would need to check carefully which temples are more appropriate for me.
I am quite skeptic about a lot of issues regarding Buddhism, still I have open mind to learn.
So I would like to go to temples where there are learned monks and monks speak English.
Due to my limited time I do not want to spend all my time traveling, so I need to pick three or four temples max and not far from each other.

Here is a tentative list that I have prepared:
Wat Pah Nanachat
Wat Marp Jan http://www.watmarpchan.org
Wat Pah Ban That

I would like to hear if someone has some experience or any good suggestions

A place I often visit is Dhamma study and support foundation in Bangkok
http://www.dhammahome.com/home_en.php

appicchato wrote:The three temples you've listed are the most able to communicate in English...although their locations form a giant triangle hundreds of kilometers from each other...doable, but check the map...and your time constraints first...

That was one of my main worries, in fact..

Matteo, I can recommend Wat Sriboonruang in Fang, Chiang Mai region, Thailand. See the links below for more information. The Temple Stay and Retreat Program is directed by a very kind Scotsman Bhikkhu, assisted by an American monk. The Abbot, Dr. Apisit, is Thai and speaks fluent English.

https://www.facebook.com/TempleStayThailand http://monkordination.com http://www.templeretreatthailand.com/

Men and women from around the world have come to WSBR for retreat, Buddhist practice and education, as well as a program supervised by the abbot that can, with qualifications, lead to temporary samanera ordination. A recent guest is pictured here with the program director, on alms round in Fang: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater

The small city of Fang is a brief VIP or public bus ride north of Chiang Mai. It is a tourist area for hikers and bikers with famous hot springs parks and resorts.

BuddhaSoup wrote:Matteo, I can recommend Wat Sriboonruang in Fang, Chiang Mai region, Thailand. See the links below for more information. The Temple Stay and Retreat Program is directed by a very kind Scotsman Bhikkhu, assisted by an American monk. The Abbot, Dr. Apisit, is Thai and speaks fluent English.

https://www.facebook.com/TempleStayThailand http://monkordination.com http://www.templeretreatthailand.com/

Men and women from around the world have come to WSBR for retreat, Buddhist practice and education, as well as a program supervised by the abbot that can, with qualifications, lead to temporary samanera ordination. A recent guest is pictured here with the program director, on alms round in Fang: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater

The small city of Fang is a brief VIP or public bus ride north of Chiang Mai. It is a tourist area for hikers and bikers with famous hot springs parks and resorts.

Thank you very much!!

Can I ask you if you have ever visited there?

Have you been at any other of the temples listed?

Matteo:

I did visit at Wat Sriboonruang a number of times, and ordained there as a samanera in 2010. Take a look at the websites, and if you need more info, Phra Graham can be contacted through the sites' contact page for more information. I was at WSBR just a few weeks ago, in fact, and saw some of the new additions with Phra Graham and Dr. Apisit (office, meditation kutis) to the International Meditation Center.

I have not visited the other Wats mentioned, though I would certainly like to someday.

Mike

I've been to Wat Pah Nanachat, but it's not a monastery for talking a lot. Mainly you get a lot of time on your own for meditation.

I've also been to Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. If you find your way to Section 5, you can get meditation instruction in English. But again, the emphasis is on meditating rather than talking about it.

Derek wrote:I've been to Wat Pah Nanachat, but it's not a monastery for talking a lot. Mainly you get a lot of time on your own for meditation.

I've also been to Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. If you find your way to Section 5, you can get meditation instruction in English. But again, the emphasis is on meditating rather than talking about it.

In your opinion, where should I go to be able to talk with anyone (possibly a learned monk who speaks English)?

@Matteo1972

To be honest you'll probably find what your looking for without even coming here to Thailand.

You don't mention what country you are from, but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a Theravada temple somewhere not far away and you would probably get a much better opportunity to discuss your queries, and longer time too.

Just a thought...

Metta

Matt