Yogi Story

"Suki Yogi" Lake Retreat at the Floating Raft Bungalows in Thailand
Allison Urowitz
2009

It is difficult to imagine the jaw-dropping natural beauty of Khlong Long (lake) adjacent to Khao Sok park, in the south of Thailand. The New Year's retreat is held in a remote venue in Surat Thani province. Dramatic limestone karsts frame the lake with great majesty. This unique geological environment, spared from logging, is a rich and diverse sanctuary for many rare species, including the much-loved gibbon apes. The unmistakable mating call of the gibbons can be heard echoing across the lake, a song that rings like a search for union. Khlong long is a place that holds human beings in their rightful place, just one species on this great Mother Earth — no more or less important than any other group of sentient beings.

The notion of interconnectedness is innate and powerful at this retreat. When the animals start to reveal themselves from the dense jungle, there is no doubt that the sila (ethics) and safety of the practice, invoked before the retreat begins, are felt in many realms. A pair of otters wanders up onto the floating dock to snoop around the bathrooms where butterflies frolick in the sun. These simple yet special moments allow joy to bubble up spontaneously. This is one reason why I've affectionately named this the "Suki Yogi," or "Happy Yogi," Retreat.

Living and practicing on a floating bamboo settlement are a great way to investigate the nature of water. It is the vessel that holds us and it comprises most of our physical body. You become intimately connected with the daily rhythms of the lake, whether sitting, walking, kayaking, or bathing. For anyone who relishes fresh warm water, it is a paradise for learning swimming meditation. You often feel like a baby being rocked to sleep by the lapping of the waves.

The sangha was an intimate group this year. En route to the lake we had the rare opportunity to converse with each and every yogi, and by the close of the retreat, we knew everyone's name. Geow, a gentle, playful Burmese woman, returned to offer massages, perfect for releasing those gripping meditator's muscles. Some of us who practice yoga worked to maintain awareness of our bodies in each pose.

It is hard to share my retreat experiences without remarking on eating meditation, or the lack of it! The food was so delectable that it was difficult at first to eat less, though this occurs naturally over time as eating becomes more mindful. We were nourished by locally grown produce and fish caught fresh from the lake. Lovingly prepared and offered, pomelo and papaya, ka-nai (a bitter green) and black bean sauce and rice porridge helped fortify us for practice.

Khlong Long is a wonderful setting to hear the wisdoms of the Dhamma offered so generously by Michele and Steven. We all felt great gratitude for their commitment to teach such a small sangha this year. I so enjoyed the rich Dhamma talks and the vivid images painted by our teachers' well-crafted stories. If you have been considering this retreat, do check it out. It might not be a hidden treasure for too much longer.