My forest and I

When I meditate sitting outside, it makes me feel more energetic, alert and active so that I can pay closer attention to the touching point of in_breath and out_breath but when I meditate inside the room, it makes me feel too much comfortable and the mind is too much relaxed and easy to be restless.

Therefore, I do not like my meditation students to meditate inside their own room. It will make them so weak and hard to be energized for their meditation. Therefore I do not allow them to meditate inside their room.

Actually, when I started my meditation in this forest 14 years ago, it was almost terrible because there was no a proper accommodation to stay and to meditate but only a very simple shed to stay, to sleep and to meditate in sitting. I started just on zero ground under trees and bushes.

I wasn’t afraid of even snakes and any other dangerous animals living permanently in the forest. Now, my forest becomes developed in its physical structures but I’m still afraid of those who do not obey my forest rules and regulations.

I will drive them out immediately if I find them destroying my forest strict and simple rules and regulations to keep my forest in quite good discipline so that good people can meditate peacefully and happily without any disturbances.

I know how hard I have been doing and building my disciplined meditation forest since 14 years ago. I’m still struggling strongly and strictly meditating for the whole day in the forest staying alone most of the time. I will never accept anyone who will destroy my forest strict and simple disciplines as long as I’m alive. It is my strong wish to my forest.

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Author:

Ashin Kekasa is a graduate in Mathematics. He finished his both public and monastic educations. His major interest was Mindfulness-Based Vipassana Meditation instructed in Buddhism. He took six months long retreat course in Mahasi Meditation Center when he was a layman. After his six months long meditation practice, he became a Buddhist ordained in Mahasi Tradition. However, he wanted to know much more about Buddhist philosophy so he moved to Mahagandhayon monastery to study Pali scriptures seriously. He has spent teaching and practicing in Mahagandhayon monastery. He did it well. Then, he moved to the forest for his serious meditation practice. He founded his own forest meditation center 15 years ago. He has been conducting Vipassana retreat for laypeople twice a year. He has also been used to travelling to abroad since 2004 because he is invited by people to teach them meditation. It is just a brief biography of Ashin Kelasa.