Insight Meditation 
(Vipassana)

Extensive List of

Dharma Retreat Centres

and Teachings in the East

by Wolf K (USA)

Link below is an update (December 2022) from Wolf K.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/131O8PBjNXyH8BR0v_9Jixv8iC7ph4LM7wEuaabufdUc/edit?usp=share_link

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See first  link in Thailand section for the beautiful Wat Pah Tam Wua

in northern Thailand. Mindfulness of Breathing and Insight

Meditation (Vipassana). Arrive any day.

​

Here is a list of monasteries and centres for teachings, meditation, yoga, practices etc. 

Wolf K, a Dharma practitioner, from the USA, has kindly put together the names and websites of places for practice in India, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri. Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal  and China.

He has experience in a a number of these centres.

See also at end  of list, Wolf’s personal guide to centres and his website link to the list.

Ten Points  to Remember

At foot of page, see Christopher's list of 10 Points to Remember if you go to a monastery or centre in the East.

Experiences of  those who go to such  places vary greatly in terms of teachers, teachings, silence, diet and atmosphere.

​

 

INDIA
 

Christopher Titmuss Vipassana Retreats. Sarnath. Yearly seven day retreats in January-February.

Radha Nicholson also has a 7 day retreat in Bodhgaya following on from Sarnath.

meditationinindia.org
 

Tushita. Dharamsala. Well regarded Introduction to Buddhism courses and Intermediate Buddhism courses. Popular place.

http://tushita.info/
 

Tushita links to Dharma teachings around Dharamsala

http://tushita.info/links/buddhism-in-dharamsala/
 

Root Institute. Bodhgaya. Buddhism events and courses in season. 

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/
 

Tushita Center Arambol Goa. New center.

http://tushitagoa.info/
 

Iyengar Yoga Himalayan Center. Dharamkot. 

https://www.hiyogacentre.com/en/the-centre/dharamkot-dharamsala.html
 

Universal Yoga. Dharamkot, Dharamsala. 

http://vijaypoweryoga.site/
 

Deer Park. Bir. Buddhism Courses with visiting teachers. 

http://deerpark.in/
 

Dharmalaya. Bir. Courses and Eco-type retreats. 

http://dharmalaya.in/
 

Sherab Ling Monastery. Close to Bir. Independent retreat and occasional teachings and events. 

https://www.palpung.org/english/news/default.asp
 

Thosamling Nunnery. Near Dharamsala. Shamatha Meditation weekends & women’s residential private retreats.

http://thosamling.com/
 

Dongyu Gatsal Ling. Tenzin Palmo’s nunnery. Independent women’s retreat. 

http://tenzinpalmo.com/
 

Eco Daya Island Sanctuary. Outside of Hampi. Low key Retreats.

http://www.ecodayaislandsanctuary.elisting.in/

 

Bodhi zendo. Perumalmalai, outside of Kodaikannal, Tamil Nedu. Highly reviewed Zen retreat center. 

http://www.bodhisangha.net/index.php/en/home/
 

Shantivanam Christian Ashram. Trichy. 

http://www.bedegriffiths.com/category/shantivanam/
 

Dhyanavanam Christian Ashram. Near Dindigul, Tamil Nedu. 
 

Auroville. Near Pondicherry. New age & creative type community.

https://www.auroville.org/
 

Sivananda Madurai Yoga Center. 

http://sivananda.org.in/madurai/
 

Ramana Ashram. Tiruvanamalai. 

https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/ashram/
 

Anantha Niketan Ashram. Just outside of Tiruvanamalai. Events and retreats with visiting teachers.

http://www.sriananthaniketan.com/
 

Amma’s Ashram. Amritapuri, Kerala.  

https://www.amritapuri.org/ashram
 

Sadhguru’s Ashram. Near Coimbatore, Tamil Nedu. 

https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/center/isha-yoga-center-coimbatore
 

Dayananda Vedanta Ashram. Near Coimbatore, Tamil Nedu. 

https://arshavidya.in/
 

Bihar School of Yoga. Munger, Bihar.

http://www.biharyoga.net/bihar-school-of-yoga/about-bsy/
 

Phool Chatti Yoga Ashram. Rishikesh. 

https://www.phoolchattiyoga.com/
 

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram. Rishikesh.

https://anandprakashyogaashram.com/
 

Akshi Yogashala. Rishikesh.

https://www.akshiyogashala.org/
 

Parmarth Niketan Yoga Ashram. Rishikesh. 

https://www.parmarth.org/
 

Yoga Vini. Rishikesh. Yoga Teacher Training & Drop-ins. 

https://yogavinirishikesh.com/
 

World Peace Yoga Center. Rishikesh. 

https://www.worldpeaceyogaschool.com/
 

Dayananda Vedanta Ashram. Rishikesh. 

https://www.dayananda.org/
 

Ajatananda Ashram. Rishikesh. Non-residential Advaita teachings. 

https://ajatananda.org/
 

Kushinagar. Linh Son Monastery. Chill town and monastery.

MYANAMAR
 

Mahasi Center. Panditarma Forest Meditation Center. Forty miles north of Yangon, Burma. Sixty day rains retreat draws yogis worldwide.
 

https://www.saddhamma.org/html/panditarama.shtml
 

Pa Auk Center. Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre. Mawlamyine. Retreat center.

https://www.paaukforestmonastery.org/
 

U Tejaniya.  Shwe Oo Min. Retreat center.

https://ashintejaniya.org/
 

Chanmay Myaing Meditation Center. Metta retreats January-February. 

http://www.meditation-in-burma.com/en/index.php

MALAYSIA
 

Malaysia Buddhist Meditation Center (MBMC). Penang. Mahasi-style. 

https://www.mbmcmalaysia.org/
 

Vivekavana. Bukit Mertajam, Penang. 

http://vivekavana.com/
 

Bodhi Heart. Penang. 

http://www.bodhihearts.net/
 

Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS). Taiping. 

https://sasanarakkha.org/

THAILAND 

See link for Wat Pa Tam Wua in northern Thailand.

https://www.christophertitmussblog.org/a-beautiful-thai-forest-monastery-wat-pa-tam-wua-dedicated-for-meditators
 

Doi Suthep International Meditation Center. Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai. Good for beginners. 

https://www.fivethousandyears.org/
 

Wat Chom Tong. Near Chiang Mai. 

http://www.dhammathai.org/e/meditation/page28.php
 

Pa Pae Center. Near Chiang Mai. Short meditation courses. Good for beginners. 

http://www.papaemeditation.org/en/
 

Wat Pha Nanachat. Bung Wai, NE Thailand. Highly reviewed but it's also a working wat organized for westerners who are interested in becoming monks. 

https://www.watpahnanachat.org/
 

Thai Plum Village. In tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Ban Sa Sai Sai, Pong Ta Long, about 240 km northeast of Bangkok.

http://www.thaiplumvillage.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=208
 

Kow Tahm International Meditation Center. Koh Phangan. Monthly ten day courses.

http://watkowtahm.org/
 

The Sanctuary. Beach yoga. Koh Phangan.

https://www.thesanctuarythailand.com/

Blooming Lotus Yoga Center. Koh Phangan. 

http://www.thailandyoga.net/yoga-retreats-thailand/thailand-yoga-retreat

Dipabhavan Meditation Center. Koh Samui. Monthly ten day courses

https://dipabhavan.weebly.com/
 

Wat Suan Mokh. Chaiye, close to Surat Thani. Monthly ten day courses. 

https://www.suanmokkh.org/retreats

Little Bang has more options for retreats in Thailand. See

http://www.littlebang.org/retreats-2/

NEPAL
 

Panditarama Lumbini. Excellent Mahasi style retreat center for serious meditators. 

http://www.panditarama-lumbini.info/
 

Korean Temple Dae Sang Shakya. Lumbini. Lodging or self-retreat. 

Kopan Monastery. Courses and November one month lamrim course.

https://kopanmonastery.com/
 

Rangjung Yeshe Institute. Boudhanath. College level Buddhism courses.

https://www.ryi.org/
 

Pullahari. Boudhanath.

http://www.jamgonkongtrul.org/section.php?s1=2&s2=3
 

Lawudo Gompa. On Everest Base Camp trek. Self retreats in the Himalayas.

http://www.lawudo.com/

Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center. Bhaktapur.

http://namobuddha.org/retreat.html

Benchen Monastery. Pharping.

https://benchen.org/en/
 

Pokara, Nepal is a traveler mecca with trekking, paragliding, meditation and yoga. There’s an FPMT Buddhist center. 

http://gandenyigachozin.com/

CHINA
 

Datong Xingguo Chan Temple. In Tangshan, Hebei Province. Yearly one month course.

https://www.woodenfish.org/

SRI LANKA
 

Nilambe. Monthly 5 day courses.

https://www.nilambe.net/
 

Rathmalkanda Insight Meditation Center. Ella.

http://www.dhammikaweb.com/?p=5302
 

Kanduboda. Colombo. 

http://insight-meditation.org/
 

Krishnamurti Center. Colombo.

http://www.kinfonet.org/places/19-the-study-centre-colombo

See Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Krishnamurti-Centre-Sri-Lanka-710699285633410/

OTHER TEACHERS FROM THE WEST offering teachings in the East
 

Jaya Ashmore. Retreats in south and north India (Tiruvannamalai and Sattal).

https://www.jayaashmore.org/
 

Patrick Kearney. Retreats in India and Malaysia.

http://www.dharmasalon.net/
 

Mingyur Rinpoche. Worldwide teachings, including Nepal and India. 

https://tergar.org/mingyur-rinpoches-schedule/
 

Sanghaseva. Led by Dharma teacher Zohar Lavie. Retreats in Israel and India. 

https://www.zoharlavie.org/
 

https://www.sanghaseva.org/infosanghaseva.html

Additional guides and links:
 

Wolf's Guide to Dharma Retreats & Teachings. Expanded reviews of retreat centers and teachings.
 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cGTI8-M-XQQTSnMyqBRiskpFLMapc-FfO1S-2wxHYXw/edit?usp=drivesdk

Wolf's Guide to Dharma Books & Practice.

Includes cloud links to resources. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hlk6x2XJy8ZQfdYYTibCx2ADRtZDLPqJifQrggic47k/edit?usp=drivesdk

Link to document :

https://docs.google.com/document/d/131O8PBjNXyH8BR0v_9Jixv8iC7ph4LM7wEuaabufdUc/edit?usp=drivesdk

 

Ten Points to Remember

If you go to a Monastery or Centre in the East.

Christopher

1. Find out as much information as possible about the place and teachings before departure.

2. Take a sleeping bag. It can be cold at night.

3. Few Buddhist monasteries are vegetarian/vegan but will usually support a non-meat, non-fish diet.

4. Do not expect monasteries to be super silent. Festivals, weddings and traffic from the outside and building work etc from the inside the walls will impact on silence. If you cannot handle sound, then go to a Western centre.

5. Do not put yourself under a lot of pressure to go deep. A quietly meditative/mindful day in all postures will enable an organic experience of depth to develop.

6. Do not decide the value of a monastery or teachings within 10 days of staying there. You early response may not be the lasting one.

7. Remember practice includes letting go, equanimity, tolerance, patience and seeing through ‘I’ and ‘my.’

8. Remember to be respectful and polite to the monks and nuns. You are the guest. The monastics host you even though they have not met you before.

9. Yes, Buddhism is patriarchal. Science is male dominated, too, with less than 20% in leadership roles in science.

10. Remember to offer a donation (dana) to the monastery. Place the money in an envelope with sum written on cover of envelope and offer to the Abbot with the name of the monastery and enclose with a few words of THANK YOU.