Malaysia Buddhist Meditation Center

[Rot]

Has anyone stayed at MBMC at the Malaysia border? How regimented and monitored is the schedule juxtaposed with the Goenka schedule? How much group sitting, vs. how much time to practice in other postures? Is it chair friendly for back issues? Is it hard to find, or too sketchy an area? Is there a thai embassy near there? Any other thoughts or suggestions about MBMC? Thanks in advance

[Goofaholix]

Has anyone stayed at MBMC at the Malaysia border? How regimented and monitored is the schedule juxtaposed with the Goenka schedule? How much group sitting, vs. how much time to practice in other postures? Is it chair friendly for back issues? Is it hard to find, or too sketchy an area? Is there a thai embassy near there? Any other thoughts or suggestions about MBMC? Thanks in advance

I've been there several times. You are expected to be doing sitting and walking pretty much all day, though you make your own schedule and don't have to do everything as a group and it's not heavily monitored but you probably should be doing about 14 hours alternating sitting and walking.

I can't say I notice anyone sitting in a chair but it probably wouldn't be a big deal if you have back issues.

It's easy to find, it's on a main road on the bus route and on the way to the airport.

There is a Thai embassy in Penang but I'm not sure how far, probably a couple of bus changes.

[bazzaman]

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[Dhammanucara]

MBMC is actually one of my famous retreat centers in Penang. I went there a couple of times as a practitioner. Yogis have to wake up about 4 or 5am and start practice alternate sitting and walking meditation until 6:30 when that is the breakfast time. After that, yogis are allowed to do their chores, cleaning, laundry, shower etc, but usually at about 8am, they resume meditation until 11am when it is time for lunch. After lunch, the meditation schedule continues, although one may do other stuff such as reading Dhamma books. If not, meditation schedule continues on until night at about 9:30pm (you can take breaks in between for shower as well). There is no morning or evening chanting session which involves the yogis except for the metta contemplation chanting at 9:30pm every night. After that, one would go off to bed, or you can practice more if you want. So, basically, it is quite an intensive meditation retreat if you consider having an intensive one.

Every Friday night, there usually involves more layperson who would come in at about 8pm and yogis and monks usually join them. Also, one could actually seek out the Sayadaw (abbot) or one of the well-versed Bhantes after the metta chanting at night for meditation progress interview (i am not sure if the Sayadaw would schedule the time for you, but you can ask).Currently, the abbot is Sayadaw U Thuzana, a disciple of Sayadaw U Pandita. In addition to teaching meditation, this Sayadaw is also very actively involved in teaching Dhamma, so occasionally he may be invited to go off to other countries or return to Burma to assist his teacher in teaching meditation and Dhamma.

Best of luck!

With metta,
Dhammanucara

[effort]

is sayadaw u thunaza health condition o'right? I was there some years ago and sayadaw had some health issue.
Also i would apriciate if someone go there and could record the metta chanting by sayadaw.

[Dhammanucara]

Sayadaw U Thuzana seems to have health problems but I think they are under good control of medications as well as his meditation practice.

Here is the link to the metta chanting that is held every night in MBMC. It is usually not led by Sayadaw but by another Bhante, but Sayadaw participated in it too. The video here is recorded when MBMC organized their annual samanera ordination program, hence the appearance of so many samanera (novice monks).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q81wgv1DvLg

With metta,
Dhammanucara

[Chi]

OK, this is an old post, but I want to comment anyway.

Sayadaw U Thuzana was my teacher for most of the 60-day retreat at Panditarama Forest Monastery. His health seemed fine and his smile was as bright as ever. He is an awesome kalyana mitta.