In general staying at Wat Marp Jan is about a way of life. There is no opportunity for silent long retreats, but instead there is a focus for lay guests to develop themselves through living and participating within a monastic culture. Lay guests are expected to have an attitude of service towards the monastery and to the monks staying here. In participating in this service-orientated culture, Luang Pu Chah always stressed constant mindfulness in any activity and the attitude that abiding by the routines of the monastery is a way of letting go, the heart of the Buddhist practice.

If you wish to stay at Wat Marp Jan, written permission must first be granted by the abbot of the monastery. For lay guests who are coming for the first time, a maximum of 3 days stay is permitted. For guests who have visited before or who would like to specially request an extended stay, permission may be granted for a stay of up to a maximum of 7 days. WMJ is a monastery for the training of monastics so is unable to cater for long-term stay guests.

Guests who come unannounced without prior written permission will be given a grace period of 1 night stay, but will be asked to leave the following morning.

If you are interested in staying at the monastery, please send by fax, mail, or email:

Please allow several weeks in which to receive a written response. You may follow up your mail by calling the monastery directly. Acceptance is not guaranteed as at many times of the year the accommodation at the monastery is not vacant.

As this is a Thai monastery all talks are given in Thai and there are no translation of any Dhamma talks given. Usually the abbot is attending to the supervising of the monastery and the training of monks so there are no individual meetings with the abbot. Question and Answer sessions with the Abbot or other monks may be requested, but at most will be infrequent depending on availability and if there is anyone to translate. Lay guests are expected to have some basis in meditation practice, an intention to uphold the 8 Moral Precepts and knowledge of how to conduct themselves in a Buddhist culture.

Lay guests will stay in dormitories with other lay guests. The monastery provides straw mats to sleep on, pillows and blankets. As lay guests follow the 8 precepts, there are no mattresses given. Lay guests are expected to clean their places of stay each day as well as the communal toilets that they use.

As the monastery is mainly for the training of monastics, female lay guests are unable to stay at the monastery except under special permission by the Abbot.

During their stay, lay guests will wear white clothing. For men this will generally be a white shirt and loose white and long trousers. If lay men are unable to acquire this, a set can be loaned from the monastery. If women are visiting the monastery, this will generally be a white blouse and long black skirt or pants. Women should be well covered at all times.

The Kitchen Area and the surrounding tables are to be used during the meal time only. At other times these areas should not be used. No requests should be made of the kitchen volunteers.

Lay guests will share in the food offered to the monastic community by the lay people each day. Only one meal a day will be eaten, but drinks and tonics after the chores period can be taken. The monastery is unable to cater for special diets.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere within the monastery.

Usually male ordinations are very limited, with special permission required from the Abbot. The monastery is also unable to facilitate female ordinations.

If any guest acts inappropriately and intentionally or unintentionally breaks any monastery rules, the monastery has the right to ask them to leave within 15 minutes of the incident.

The written acceptance letter from the abbot as well as the completed registration form should be brought. If there are any changes to arrival and departure dates, the Abbot must be notified and permission given.

Passports will be held at the office until the morning of the guestโ€™s depature.

Guests should be in good physical and mental health and to have health coverage or travel insurance.

Lay guests are to be responsible for Visas required to stay in Thailand.

Guests should organise: visa, white clothing, toiletries, mosquito repellent (though there is no malaria in the area), towel, torch, copies of documents sent, flip flop sandals.

Before coming please contact the monastery the day before arrival to notify the estimated time of arrival. Guests should aim to arrive before 8 am before the meal and proceed to the eating hall located close to the entrance of the monastery and notify someone of their arrival. If arriving outside of this time, proceed directly to the office located 800m further down the road from the eating hall. 5 pm is the latest possible time of arrival to the monastery.

Before leaving, guests should pay respects to the Abbot.

Lay guests may be able to get a ride to the closest bus station from a layperson coming to the monastery to offer food for the morning meal. They will usually need to leave promptly after the meal at around 8:30am. The lay guest should have alternative transport arranged in the event that this is not possible.

Please clean the place of stay and any clothing or bedding used before leaving.