So you work 12 hours a day, maybe more, everyday, week
after week, month after month, year after year. You reach that point where
you think, or rather don’t think anymore that, you are were destined to
a life time of labour, mental stress and physical pains.
A
Buddhist temple looms over the Koh Kred river bank as the morning breaks.
I didn’t realise that I had crossed that threshold
years ago. Family and friends insisted I take a break and go away for a
while. I just smiled and said to myself. ‘right, and just sit under a
coconut tree and do nothing for a week. Hah! that would really drive me
crazy.’
The
group on the way to Koh Kred.
We all know but tend to ignore the fact, which a person
really reaches a point where it doesn’t really matter any more if we are
in pain. It hardly registers, but we know that it is extremely dangerous
to both one’s physical and mental health.
Mrs.Kasemsook
Bhamornsatit in all her radiance.
Some close friends had been pestering me for months to
forget work for a couple of days and go with them for a weekend of peace
and meditation. ‘Right, meditation’, I thought, I can’t even remain
still for two minutes let alone sitting in a still posture for a longer
period with my mind in a blank.
But deep down, I knew that I desperately needed it, so
finally I relented and said, ‘I’ll go’.
The
unique chedi at the corner where the canal meets the main river.
We drove off early one Saturday morning arriving just
after day break, at a quiet pier on the banks of the mighty Chao Phya
River in Pak-kred, Nonthaburi Province, near Bangkok.
Dr.
Vichit Kittipongkosol: ‘Breathing must come from the centre of your
being.’
Our group consisted of people from different walks of
life, countries and cultures. We were a school teacher, a government
official, a business man with his wife and young son, my son, a high
school graduate from India, a high tech team building trainer and her
daughter who is a college student from Sydney, Australia. Also included
was an adventurous housewife from Finland whose husband is an executive at
one of the international companies on the eastern seaboard of Thailand.
An
old photograph showing how the man made canal created the island.
After a short while of just enjoying the peaceful cool
morning air and watching the river come to life as boats of different
shapes and sizes navigated up and down the legendary waterway, a passenger
ferry pulled up to the pier and we all climbed aboard for our final leg of
what was destined to be one of the most peaceful, emotionally moving and
spiritually invigorating two days of our lives at Baan Dvara Prateep on
the river island of Koh Kred.
Ban
Dvara Prateep showing the row of rooms on the left and the multi purpose
living room on the right.
The boat trip was a short one. We sailed along the
river, silently watching life on the riverbanks, trying to picture in our
minds of what we would experience once we arrived.
Dr.
Vichit led us through some basic exercises using the centralization
meditation through relaxation techniques.
As we reached the corner of where the canal joined the
main river we saw an old chedi (pagoda) draped in a red sash. This
was a unique chedi. It looked as if it was made out of a child’s
clay putty and had turned and twisted out of shape.
This
phenomenon, we were told was caused by the floods, as Koh Kred has
been inundated by the rising river many a time and with that has caused
this chedi to twist out of shape. The chedi is watched over
carefully and any repairs are immediately undertaken by the island
inhabitants, as they believe that if the chedi ever collapsed they would
suffer a major catastrophe which would devastate the island.
The
history of Koh Kred Island is a unique one. Up until the earlier part of
the seventeenth century the island was part of the mainland through which
the mighty Chao Phaya River flowed. At this point particularly the river
takes a huge ‘S’ bend coming back around. In the year 1636 A.D. King
Prasart Thong commanded that a canal be dug as a short cut from Ban Talad
Khwan to the mouth of Bang Kruai Canal a total distance of 5 kilometres.
The original canal was only about 8 metres wide, but with the erosion
caused by swift currents during several centuries, the canal became a
major waterway measuring over 100 metres across, hence cutting off this
land mass and effectively creating an island now known as Koh Kred (Kred
Island).
Koh
Kred Island with a land area of 5 square kilometres was developed in the
Ayudhaya period by King ‘Tai Sa’ in 1722 A.D. Legend has it that in
those days huge communities of the Mon people were migrating into Siam, so
King Tai Sa, in all his wisdom allowed them to settle on Koh Kred because
the island was ideal for containing the migrants into one area for easy
monitoring of their movements.
Pa
Sai joins the group in performing the Kasemsook Movement.
Arriving at the Baan Dvara Prateep pier, we were
welcomed by the host who guided us up a walkway built on stilts that led
us into the sanctuary. We had heard so much of this place and even more of
the person who built this home, not only as a sanctuary for herself but
also to share this humble abode with those who wished to escape the hustle
and bustle of city life if only for a brief respite.
The
priceless sunset over Koh Kred as seen form the boat.
The charming host gave us a brief introduction, ‘Baan
Dvara Prateep is known as the House of Knowledge and Sweet Sacred for
those who seek real relaxation and inner peace through meditation. At the
same time, there is also a good opportunity to learn about Thai culture
and the way of the river dwellers. But most of all, one attains true
happiness that enlightens the mind. It is like seeing the radiant light of
a candle in the dark walking through the “Gate of Light” which is what
Baan Dvara-Prateep literally means in Thai.
Johanna
did remarkably well at the fine art of flower arrangements demonstration.
The house belongs to the person who is considered the
leading proponent of meditation, namely Mrs. Kasemsook Bhamornsatit also
known as Pa Sai (Aunty Sai). Pa Sai has dedicated more than half her life
time teaching meditation. She built her home as a meditation retreat for
herself and her colleagues, but because of her strong desire to help other
people suffering from stress and depression, she agreed to open the doors
of her home to selected people.
Alisa
gives alms to the monk on his tiny sampan.
Baan Dvara Prateep is a compound of brand new wooden
buildings erected on wooden stilts by the river bank. Behind the compound
is a vast area of fruit plantations. A small village with its narrow
walkways built on stilts lies further inland. Accommodation is simple yet
very comfortable. The house has its own kitchen and the family members’
creativity in the preparation of meals never ceased to amaze us. A large
meditation and exercise room and the multi-purpose living room make up the
rest of the quarters in the retreat. There are no television sets and
refrigerators in the bedrooms. For the sake of our health, alcoholic
drinks and smoking cigarettes were strictly prohibited. This sure was
going to be a cleansing experience, we thought, really looking forward to
a couple of dry healthy days.
Sue
at peace with herself through meditation.
After our refreshments there was no time to waste and
we were led into the exercise room where we were greeted by Dr. Vichit
Kittipongkosol. A soft-spoken and gentle person, Dr. Vichit spoke to us
about understanding Thai culture and the purpose of meditation. He led us
through some basic exercises using the centralization meditation through
relaxation techniques.
Most importantly he taught us how to breathe properly.
‘Proper breathing improves blood circulation and relieves stress.
Breathing must come from the centre of your being.’ He showed us a
simple way of how to find our centre. ‘Stand up against a wall and
stretch your arms above your heads. Mark the point where your finger tips
touch the wall. Now divide the whole length into half. That is the centre
point of your body and spirit. That’s where your breathing should be
concentrated.’ What a revelation it was for me.
Dr
Vichit lectured on the characteristics, forms and philosophy of the
Pagodas and Stupas in the museum.
After learning some of the basics we adjourned for
lunch. That was the fun part as we had to make our own bowl of noodles. Of
course we were also treated a variety of dishes in the dining room. This
weekend, we thought, we can forget about our promises of dieting.
The afternoon session was the highlight. This was when
Pa Sai guided us through the Kasemsook Movement exercise culminating in a
meditation sitting. For someone who had never had such an experience, I
was rather nervous, not knowing what would happen and where it would take
me. Maybe I was afraid to find the real inner me. I could like it so much
that it would change my life forever. How would I come back to be the same
tough boss like before? To better understand the purpose of this exercise,
we were first informed of its meaning. ‘The Kasemsook Movement for
Better Health and Mind is named after the creator of the programme and
literally means the ‘Happiness Movement.’ The Kasemsook Movement
is not an exercise that involves jumping around, nor is it athletic
exertions, aerobics or any sort of play. The movement was created to
adjust the balance of the body system by enhancing blood circulation, so
as to help dissipate any left over lactic acid which causes exhaustion.
The
whole family was at the pier to bid us fond farewell.
Pa Sai was involved in two major car accidents which
caused multiple injuries to her neck, shoulders and abdomen. She was in
constant pain and her physical movements were restricted. She could not
exercise nor perform yoga which she loved to do.
To overcome these challenges, Pa Sai invented what she
calls the ‘body movement for happiness’. The movements derive from
Classical Thai dancing, Tai-Chi and her own imagination. This movement is
now an integral part of her “Body & Mind Solution” course.
Pa Sai was appointed the Educational Consultant for the
schools in Pattaya where the Kasemsook Movement has now been adopted as an
integral part of the ‘Happiness Camp’ and ‘Happiness from teachers
to students’ training programs.
We enjoyed doing the exercise tremendously as there was
no exertion and one felt truly invigorated, experiencing the tingling
feeling on our fingertips and the sensation of blood circulating through
our bodies. We were encouraged to do these movements often, whether at
home or in the office. Yanni’s beautiful musical piece ‘Tribute’ was
played during the exercise which stimulated the body and the mind like no
other experience that you ever had.
The session ends with us all sitting on the floor as Pa
Sai led us into deep meditation through music appreciation, gently
speaking to us throughout, soothing us with her soft words and pulling us
back into the path of serenity and calm when we tended to slip away. Pa
Sai is one lovely lady. One could just sit, look at her and listen to her
for hours. She has such a wonderful aura of calm about her.
Late afternoon we went on a boat ride around the island
and watched the beautiful sunset. Back home we were treated to a
demonstration of flower arrangements and fruit carving. The guests were
encouraged to join in.
We repeated the same exercise and meditation in the
evening, before retiring early to bed. With no drinks and no television,
one slept peacefully undisturbed by the poisons that one would get in our
normal environs and lifestyles.
At 5.30 the next morning we gathered on the pier to
await the arrival of a monk so we could offer him alms and make merit. We
held our breaths, for as if in a dream, out of the misty darkness of the
river a sampan came into sight, paddled by a solitary Buddhist monk,
making his early morning rounds to receive alms from the inhabitants along
the river banks. After receiving alms, he blessed all of us, before
slipping away into the darkness. We stood in silence and watched him row
away, until he was out of sight.
The second day was a repeat of the first in exercises
and meditation. As a bonus we were given a tour of the Home Museum for
Stupa Study by Dr Vichit and learned many interesting aspects of the forms
and philosophy of the Pagodas and Stupas pertaining to the Buddhist
religion.
Late afternoon we said our goodbyes and boarded the
ferry for our return journey to the frenzied world outside, hoping that
the calm and peace of mind that we had attained in the two days here at
the sanctuary, would remain with us until we returned again to re-enforce
them.
The whole family was at the pier to bid us fond
farewell, making us promise that we would come to visit them again. We
promised that we would.
Anyone interested in joining a group to Ban Dvara Prateep, please
contact M.A.Language Centre, Tel. 038 427236,
E-mail: [email protected] Khun Alvi Tel. 01 8645754
or Khun Jintana 01 6135719
Thanks
to generous members of society, many wayward kids will receive a second
chance at being productive in their lives.
Benevolent
sponsors, including the Jesters MC Club, gather outside the new building.
There
is no mistaking the Jesters when they rumble into a venue.
