How much does a stay cost?
In keeping with the spirit of the Dhamma, the stay at Wat Sri Boen Ruang is donation based only.
NOTE-If you have paid or are intending to pay a third party to come and stay at Wat Sri Boen Ruang please be aware that Wat Sri Boen Ruang has no involvement with or support any such activity and does not gain any financial support from such parties.
NOTE-If you have paid or are intending to pay a third party to come and stay at Wat Sri Boen Ruang please be aware that Wat Sri Boen Ruang has no involvement with or support any such activity and does not gain any financial support from such parties.
How long can I stay?
In order to get as much as you can out of the Dhamma talks and Vipassana meditation practice a minimum of 10 days would be of benefit. Many people will come for a month- five weeks.
Shorter stays can also be arranged, depending on room availability.
Serene Temple gounds.
Do I need to be a Buddhist?
No. Many people who come to Thailand are not buddhists, but wish to learn more about the culture and beliefs of the Thai people. As buddhist monks we are happy for people of any religion to come to stay, or even to drop in for a chat.
Will I need to prostrate before statues of Buddha?
Yes. In many asian countries prostrating, or holding the hands in a prayer like position is a sign of respect.
Prostrating before a statue of Buddha is not worship as may happen in other religions. It is purely an act of respect to the teacher and teaching of the Dhamma. It is not idol worship.
Why do I need to take precepts?
Precepts are a formal way to remind us about morality. It is normal practice in buddhist temples for people staying to take the precepts in the presence of a monk.
All guests staying at the temple take eight precepts.
All guests staying at the temple take eight precepts.
How can I not eat after midday?
This worries many people who are used to three meals a day. It actually takes very little time to adjust to this- remember you are not doing anything too physical.
Is the course open to women as well as men?
People on medication that need to eat, either before or after their medication is taken, of course are exempted from this precept.
Will I have to shave my head?
Only if you are intending on ordaining as a novice, otherwise it is entirely up to you.
Teaching session
I have never meditated before. Will this be a problem?
No. The meditation sessions here are tailored so that a complete beginner can take part, guided by an english speaking monk from New Zealand. A daily meeting with your teacher will give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and also allow your teacher to assess your progress.
I do not know much about Buddhism. Will this be a problem?
Again, no. Short daily dhamma talks will be given by an English monk. He will be more than happy to answer any questions about the teachings of Buddha that you may have.
Is the course open to women as well as men?
Yes, both men and women are welcome to come and stay at the temple.
How can I book a stay with you?
You can contact us directly by using the comments box below or use the contact us form. If a couple of weeks notice could be given, that would be helpful, however we may be able to fit someone in at shorter notice.
Can I practice Yoga, Tai Chi, etc at the temple?
Yes. We do not have any problem with people doing Yoga, Thai Chi etc, however, in order for you to get the most out of your Vipassana meditation teaching, it is recommended that you put aside other meditation techniques while you are here.
Having fun with village children
Lunch during visit to childrens' school
Wat Sri Boonruang 
hallo i’m dieter balke i was born in germany and left germany 1984 sins than i’m in asia,i hat the last 17 years a good relationship with a philippin [chines] lady but it fall apart,i lost my house dogs and income and offcours my best friend,i’m in need to put myself together.i would like to know what i have to do to come to your tempel visa money and direction to come,i,m in cambodia in the moment. senserly dieter
Hi Dieter.Do you have any idea when it is that you would like to come and visit us, and for how long.
Being in Cambodia, I would advise that you go to the Royal Thai Embassy and apply for a tourist visa.
You can get single or multiple entry visas to the Kingdom.
You will need to show(possibly) an air ticket out of the country and 20,000 Thai Baht per month that you intend on staying.
The stay in the temple is by donation only and so that is up to you.
We are 150 kms north of Chiang Mai and can be reached by bus from Chiang Mai. Buses depart every 30 mins between 07:00 am and 17:00 pm from the Chang Puak bus station. If you tell the conductor or the guy who opens and closes the back door that you are coming to Wat Sri Boen Ruang, the bus will stop outside the temple for you.
It is about a 3 hour trip and costs 80 baht on way.
If coming from Bangkok you will need to get a bus from the Mor Chit (northern) bus station. It is a bout 15-16 hours and cost about 800 baht.
If you have any further questions then please feel free to ask.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With metta,
Phra Chuntawongso
Hi Phra Chuntawongso!Thanke you verry mutch for your fast reply .I think i should come as soon as i have my visa and would like to stay for 4 weeks,i hope that this is possible i’m realy in a mental mess, never hat a verry easy live but now its closed to be unbarrible.one more question i’m smoking do i have to stop?Not that it matters just i don’t wont to bring cigarrets if i can’t smoke. Thanke you senserly Dieter
Hi Dieter. Just let me know when you will arrive.
Trying to give up smoking isn’t a bad idea, but not always easy.
Smoking is not allowed on the temple grounds.
With metta.
Hi,
My name is Barbara Bowe, I am a college student at the University of Massachusetts, living with my family in Boston. I have been studying Buddhism for about 9 months now, and I am finding it increasingly difficult to find much time to focus on Buddhist literature and meditation in my busy lifestyle here. I would really like to come visit the temple this summer. One or two friends may also be interested. I really would like to stay at a temple for maybe a two months or so though. Do you suggest we stay at Wat Sri Boeng Ruang in Chiang Mai the whole two months or just the 10 day mediation retreat and then find another temple to stay at? Also, I noticed you mentioned to Dieter that he needs a tourist visa and also will have to pay to stay in the country? Would that be the same for my friends and I? If so, how many american dollars would it be?
Many thanks,
Barbara Bowe
Hi Barbara.
A stay in the temple here is fine. There is no need to look for another temple unless you wish to do so.
I will try to find out the cost of a multiple entry tourist visa and will get back to you.
Thank you very much! I truly appreciate it.
Hi, my name is Farah. I have visited Thailand before and studied walking meditation in Bangkok for a day only. I wanted to try temple stay for a week or maybe more. Can you please advice. One more thing though, I am a Muslim convert, I don’t have any reservations on anything but as you know, we are supposed to pray 5x a day, would it be okay if I had to leave for 10-15 minutes and come back. I would not want to disturb the schedule as it is. Thanks, will wait for your reply.
Hi Farah. That is fine. We are not here to convert people and therefore will be more than happy for you to take your prayer breaks. Just advise me of the dates you would like to spend at the temple and we can make a booking for you. If there are other religious considerations you think of, just let me know and we will work with you on these.
Thanks a lot for your quick reply. I know you’ll be considerate on this.
I am likely to visit by April or May. Do you have a scheduled retreat during that time and can you please detail the day to day activities as well.
Hi Farah.
If you are thinking of doing the Thai Temple Stay, then this is open year round.
There is no hard and fast daily routine as such.
Our guests have the opportunity to go with the monks on alms round at about 6:15 am.
This is followed by breakfast at 8:00 am.
Each afternoon at about 13:00 pm, the guests meet with me(individually) to discuss their meditation practice from the previous 24 hours.
Phra Fred gives Dhamma talks each evening at about 19:00 hours,after the evening chanting.
During the day guests are free to practice their meditation, read, and occasionally trips are organized to various places of interest around the Fang region.
If you are interested in the Vipassana meditation retreat, at the moment I am not having any particular starting dates, and so stays can be organized to suit your plans, however, it will be necessary for at least one other male to be present as I can not spend any nights away from the temple with a woman.
This protects both myself and the Sangha in general from idle gossip.
Ok, I’ll be updating the date of my arrival soon as I booked my tickets. If the Vipassana retreat coincides with my preferred date of arrival that would be amazing but otherwise I’ll visit even if there’s no retreat in schedule. I understand the need to have another person available but there are other individuals traveling alone whom I can be with as well, so I guess it would not be a problem, right?
Hi Farah. Over the next couple of months, we are expecting to have a number of arrivals. With any luck I think we will be able to organize a retreat when you are here.
With metta,
Phra Greg
Hello:
I am very interested in a month-long stay at the Wat. I am looking for more teachings on Buddhism (I have done some reading myself, but not a lot), and I would like to find out more. I’m also feeling a bit uprooted in my life and hope a stay at the Wat might help me develop some grounding. Would it be possible to come to the Wat at the beginning of April? I can be flexible with my dates if you need me to come on or after a specific day. All participants seem to wear white clothing; can this be purchased from the Wat?
hello! My name is I-Hsiang. I’m from Taiwan and about to graduate from university. I may know not very much about Buddhism, but I’m interested in meditation and wish to learn as a novice. I plan to visit Chiang Mai at 6/30 this year, and wish to visit the Wat for maybe ten days. I don’t know if it’s ok? or should I prepare anything?
Hi there. Yes you are welcome to come and stay at the temple. When you are sure of your arrival date just send a message to let us know and we can book a room for you.A stay of ten days will not be enough time for novice ordination but as a person on 8 precepts the life style and routine will be fairly similar.
thanks for replying!
it’s allright, as a person on 8 precepts the life style and routine.
I will arrive at the wat on 6/30 and will leave on 7/11 morning.
thank you for everything!
best regards.
I have booked a room for you. See you soon.
hey it’s I-Hsiang
I originally plan to arrive on 6/30
but may delay a bit
so I will arrive on 7/2 afternoon(and leave on 7/11 as schedule)
see you soon!!!
Hello!! My name is Dakota Dunlea and I’m am very excited about this opportunity! I saw earlier in the page you had mentioned it would be about 20,000 THB a month to stay in the temple. I’m very curious what that entails? I know a room would be made available for my stay, but as far as food and robes( I plan on ordaining as a novice) what will be provided? And of course I would need a tourist visa right?
Thanks so much I look forward to my stay!!
Regards,
Dakota
Hi Dakota. I don’t know where you read that it is about 20,000 baht to stay as our program is donation based only. We do not charge any one to stay here.
As far as food etc is concerned we try to help out as much as we can. There is normally enough food received each day for at least one meal, and normally there would be enough for those people who wish to eat twice a day.
We can normally supply robes etc for the novice ordination, therefore all you really need to concern yourself with is the visa.
If you only wish to remain in Thailand for no more than 30 days you can receive this for free on arrival in the kingdom( only if flying in) and come from one of the nations that is allowed this. Check online for a list of nations who are eligible. If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, I would suggest getting a tourist visa before traveling. This can save a lot of hassle later.
Hi Dakota. I just found the 20,000 baht comment you mentioned. This is not to stay in the temple. Thai immigration can ask to see this amount of money for each month that you intend on staying in Thailand.
Thanks for responding so quickly! I have a valid passport right now. So how easy is it to get a visa upon arrival? And when do you have available rooms?
We have rooms available at the moment. All we need to know is when you plan on being here and we can make a booking. The 30 day visa is not a visa on arrival. The V.O.A is only 15 days and is only given to a limited number of nations. What country are you from?
What is a V.O.A? and I live in California, USA.. I understand that if I’m staying for less then 30 days I don’t need a passport and if longer then I need a tourist visa.. Is around 25 days or so enough time to ordain as a novice?
hi Dakota. You will definitely need a passport.You will not even get out of the U.S.A without it. As an American citizen you will get a 30 day stamp in your passport on arrival in Thailand. This is free.
The V.O.A does not apply to you. This is for citizens of certain countries who for some reason(maybe no embassy) cannot get issued visas in their home country and have to apply for a visa at the airport before going to immigration and I believe it is a 15 day visa. It is confusing as many people refer to the 30 day stamp as a V.O.A but it actually is not. I can’t remember off hand the actual name for this.
25 days should be plenty of time for you to spend some time as a novice.
hi I am from singapore and I wanted to be a novice monk, but i have few questions, as I wish to stay for a month so can I apply visa at the embassy for this reason, can I get any document to prove to the embassy?
I can’t read n speak thai how can i able to get offering from the people in the morning ?
and lastly what to i need to be ready for my expereince there?
Hi there.
First of all,I can send you a letter of invitation when you know your travels dates that you can print out to take to the embassy.
Do not worry about not being able to speak Thai.
When we go on alms rounds the people will let you know that they wish to make an offering.
Once the food is placed into your alms bowl, you will do a quick chant in pali( we will help you with this) and then we will move on.
To ready yourself for the experience all you need to do is finish up any business that you have to take care of so you have nothing to worry about while you are with us, and maybe start spending a little time walking with no shoes on, Pindabaat(alms round) is done bare foot.
thank you for the quick reply, I will finish up my business here and decide on a date to come, I have read up some other website and saw there is a cost for a ordination there a need to make donation to the temple and donate rode , bowl and stuff and donate to the monk that help out, so what much do I need to get ready?
The donation to the monk who does the ordination is usually 500 THB.
As your novice ordination is a temporary one we can supply your robes and bowl free of charge.
so I just need to get ready 500thb or more as how many monk will be doing the ordination ?
There will only be 1 monk to donate to.
Hi. My name is Abby and I will be visiting Thailand in late December early January this year. I will be with one friend. Due to school our stay will be limited. I was wondering if a 3-4 day stay at Wat Sri Boen-Ruang would be possible. We wish we could stay longer but it is not possible. we hope our time crunch does not limit us from experiencing something so amazing!
Hi Abby.
That will be fine.
As time gets closer just email me about your arrival date and I will make a booking for you and your friend.
With metta,
Phra Greg
hey it’s I-Hsiang I originally plan to arrive on 6/30 but may delay a bit so I will arrive on 7/2 afternoon(and leave on 7/11 as schedule) see you soon!!!
hey it’s I-Hsiang I originally plan to arrive on 6/30 but may delay a bit so I will arrive on 7/2 afternoon(and leave on 7/11 as schedule) see you soon!!!
And btw.
Which stop should I get off?fang??
hey it’s i-hsiang! There’ssome plan changing. I will arrive on 7/2 afternoon(and leave on 7/11 as schedule) sorry for the sudden and see you soon!!!
And btw.
Which bus stop should I get off? fang??
Thx!!
Ask the man who opens and closes the back door of the bus to let you off outside Wat Sri Boon Ruang.
I am currently teaching in Fang until March. What time frame would I need to free up or might I be able to do both?
What do you mean about doing both?
Participating in daily practices to become a novice while still teaching from 7:30-4:30.
Hi Kevin. I am afraid that would be problematic. As a novice you would be expected to wear your robes at all times. This would probably not be allowed by the school where you are teaching. Your alms round would normally be finishing at the time you would be due to start work, and as you will be working, and therefore earning money you would be breaking the 10th precept. It would be best if you waited for the school holidays before ordaining.
Hello Phra Greg, I had previously spoken with Phra Fred but alas, he is no longer available. I live in CM and have been thinking about coming for a stay (I did the 10 day Goenka retreat a year ago in Lampoon). Not sure I can fit it in in my schedule but how busy is this month at the Wat? Would I fit in YOUR schedule? Also, and this might be the clinker, I am following a special diet and therefore not eating grains or starches or sugars, etc…. Is it possible to bring my own pre-prepared food and either keep it in my room or in the wat’s pantry? I’m not sure at the moment what I would prepare but it would be vegetarian, in accordance with the precepts. Thank you, cheers. Peter