Destination that offers a chance of real happiness for free! By Top Koaysomboon
 

Watpah Sunandhavanaram
110 Ban Tha Tian, Sai Yoke, Kanchanaburi, 034-546-635, 08-7045-7232, www.watpahsunan.org
Have you ever come across those cute covered pocket-sized books on Buddhism written by the Japanese monk named Phra Arjarn Mitsuo Gavesko? Back in 1990, he founded Wat Pah, a huge forest temple set on a tranquil hill in Kanchanaburi, and now the 1,500 rai space is scattered with Zen-inspired buildings (designed by A49). Arjarn Mitsuo is famous for Anapanasati meditation, which he learnt from Luangpor Cha.
Next session: Nine days during Songkran, Apr 11-19, though you don’t need to attend all nine days. A complete schedule is available on the website.
How to get there: It is approximately a four-hour drive. You can catch a bus (Bangkok–Sai Yoke) but it will only drop you off at the entrance leaving you to hitch a ride up the hill.
 

Goenka Vipassana Centres
02-993-2711, 08-1646-4695, www.dhamma.org, www.thai.dhamma.org
Sri Satya Narayan Goenka (aka S.N. Goenka), is not a Buddhist monk but a famed Indian Vipassana teacher. Raised in Burma, Goenka was tutored in the way of Vipassana by Burmese master Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Centers for Vipassana, as taught by Goenka have now appeared on every continent. There are a total of four centers in Thailand: Prachinburi, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen and Kanchanaburi. They are all located in isolated rural areas but are equipped with basic amenities including private rooms, bathrooms and meditation salas.
Course & schedule: Courses last for ten days with two courses provided each month. Check the full schedule of courses at each of the four centers on the website.
How to get there: On the first day of the course, shuttle buses are provided in front of Phra Sri Mahathat Temple at 9am to Dhamma Abha in Phitsanulok and at 1pm to Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi. Buses also leave at 9am from Leng Restaurant near the Southern Bus Station to Dhamma Kanchana in Kanchanaburi. Call 08-1710-3545 for further details of shuttle services. For Dhamma Suvanna, you’ll have to travel to Khon Kaen first and then use a shuttle service from Khon Kaen Bus Station to the center. For alternative (more complicated) options visit the website.
 

Dipabhavan Meditation Center
Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 08-9593-0121, 08-1892-3457, www.dipabhavan.com
Founded by Ajarn Poh, the current abbot of Nakorn Srithammarat’s Suan Mokkh, the Dipabhavan Meditation Center has turned a tiny part of Samui back to a time when it was still a dream destination. Located amid lush green trees on a hilltop in the South-West of the island, is hosts Anapanasati meditation classes in Thai and English every month.
Course & schedule: Courses vary from one to seven days. A one-day course is held on the first Sat of every month and runs from 8am-5pm. The English course lasts for seven days on the 20th-27th of each month. Vegetarian food is served at 7:30am and 11:30am daily.
How to Get There: It’s a good 10-12 hour drive so take a plane instead. There’s a shuttle car to Dipabhavan available in front of Sila Ngoo Temple that operates daily at 7:30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

Suan Mokkh
28/1 Moo 2, Samet, Chai Ya, Nakorn Srithammarat, 077-431-596, 077-431-661/-2, www.suanmok.com
Built in 1932 by the influential monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Suan Mokkh is situated in lush woodland areas in the Chaiya district. Before he passed away in 1993, he added the International Dhamma Hermitage Center to Suan Mokkh, which aims to convey dharma to foreigners. Each attendee is accommodated in single rooms within simply designed lodges and salas. 
Course & schedule: Each Anapanasati course lasts ten days. The maximum capacity is 250 people and they recruit on a first come first served basis. The English language course is scheduled for the 1st-10th of each month, while the Thai course runs from the 19th-27th.
How to get there: It takes about 11 hours from Bangkok via the Southern Route. Or, catch a train from Hua Lamphong to Chai Ya, followed by a taxi bus transfer to the temple.