monastery for older people

[convivium]

i have an about older friend who wants to go to burma or thailand and stay at a monastery for free. any suggestions? thanks.

[Goedert]

Wat pah nanachat appear is an international monastery in Thailand.

http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php

[withoutcolour]

Might avoid Burma...

But I agree with Goedert.
Also, my Lonely Planet Guide to Thailand says that it's worthwhile to drop by Wat Mahathat (http://www.discoverythailand.com/bangkok_international_buddhist_meditation_centre__i.b.m.c._.asp), which is an "International Buddhist Meditation Center" and they speak English, so it might be a good place to drop by.
I'm going to Thailand in August, perhaps I'll see your friend!

-wc

[jcsuperstar]

wat mahathat is pretty cool, its mahasi style meditation

[convivium]

it's an interesting thing to consider that these most popular monasteries might have their downsides. like in the visudhimagga describing poor choices for monasteries, these mainstream one's seem to fulfill them... at the same time i'm actually requesting to go forth at WPN as soon as i can because then i can learn the vinaya and basics, and be able to go somewhere smaller, etc. my friend doesn't want to ordain but he wants to stay long-term at a monastery. any other ideas beyond WPN and the one in Bangkok? thanks again.

[Goofaholix]

i have an about older friend who wants to go to burma or thailand and stay at a monastery for free. any suggestions? thanks.

How old are we talking? I wouldn't think WPN or any thai forest monastery would be a good bet as the lifestyle is quite physically demanding, when I was last at WPN they turned down a guy in his 60's who wanted to ordain because they thought he wasn't physically up to it.

Does your friend want to do intensive meditation practice? If so there are plenty of opportunities in Burma, but medical care is likely to be well below what is available in Thailand. There are a few monasteries in thailand that do intensive Burmese style practice, Sorn Thawee or wat Ram poeng might suit. If he's rather serve and help out with organising retreats Suan Mokh might be a good bet.

[convivium]

your probably right about labor, he's older than 60 i think. can you recommend any monasteries in burma or other monasteries in thailand? less work and more space and practicing is probably what he's looking for.

[Goedert]

There is also a good academic place in India:
Nava Nalanda Mahavihara

http://www.navanalandamahavihara.org/index.htm