TRAININGYour journey, your pace
Meditation Instructor Training
Onsite · 30 days · Pak Thong Chai
Meditation Instructor Training (MIT)
From Inner Practice to Guiding Others
Prerequisite
Completion of the Monk Life Thailand 30-day program is required before joining this program. Learn about the 30-day program →
After 30 days of living as a monk, something shifts. The noise fades. The mind sharpens. Discipline becomes natural. The Meditation Instructor Training program is designed for those who feel the call to go further, not just to practice, but to embody and transmit what they have learned.
Over an additional 30 days at iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai, participants deepen their meditation practice, train directly with senior monks and experienced practitioners in guiding others, and step into structured teacher formation. The program also includes a pilgrimage across Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist temples, experienced not as a tourist, but as an ordained practitioner receiving lineage, context, and living wisdom.
The program includes a Certificate of Participation. If you want to be accredited as a Meditation Teacher, then you’ll need to join the MONK4LIFE program for 3 months. It is a deepening of practice, a transmission of responsibility, and a preparation for service, grounded in the same monastic discipline and Sati & Sabai meditation that defined the 30-day foundation.
During the program, participants:
• Live continuously within the monastic environment
• Study Dhamma according to the Buddha’s teachings
• Deepen meditation through Sati & Sabai (Middle Way) Meditation, based on the teachings of Luang Pu Sodh of Wat Paknam
• Cultivate ethical discipline, mental stability, and insight
• Train not only to understand, but to embody and transmit wisdom
Participation donation
The program contribution is 30,000 THB. This does not include flights, local transfers from Chiang Mai to Pak Thong Chai, or visa extension fees. Your contribution supports iMONASTERY and future practitioners.
Key Components of the Meditation Instructor Training
Extensive Meditation Immersion
Deepen your meditation through long dedicated daily training
Mentorship by Senior Tutor
Receive direct tutoring and personalized guidance to deepen your practice
Meditation Teacher Training
Learn to confidently guide Sati & Sabai Meditation through structured theoretical and practical sessions
Body Discipline & Vitality
Strengthen your body and regulate your nervous system through guided Yoga, Qigong, and stretching
Dhamma Study
Learning the Dhamma to deepen your meditation practice and how to integrate it into daily life
Guided Launch into Teaching
Be supported through your first in-person & live online meditation sessions, receiving real-time feedback
iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai: Your Personal Sanctuary
iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai is a dedicated monastic training facility set in the natural landscape of Nakhon Ratchasima province. The grounds include sacred pagodas, individual bedrooms, bathrooms, a dedicated meditation space, a communal dining area, everything designed to support a life of practice without distraction.
Club House Entrance
Sacred Pagodas
Dedicated Meditation Space
Bathrooms
Individual Bedrooms
Dining Area
TRAININGYour journey, your pace
Four components of training
for self-development & community sharing
Deep Extensive Meditation Training
Immerse yourself in over 6 hours of daily meditation within a supportive environment of silence and simplicity
Monk Meditation Instructor Training
Develop the skills, confidence, and presence to guide others in meditation through structured teaching, practice, and real-time feedback
Sharing Meditation
Begin sharing your practice with others by guiding real sessions, transforming personal experience into confident, heart-centered leadership
Sacred Pilgrimage
Deepen your practice through a transformative journey across Thailand’s most sacred temples, connecting with tradition, devotion, and living wisdom
TRAININGYour journey, your pace
Supporting your journey
Monk Thirapol Athipalo
Advanced Meditation Tutor
With over a decade of intensive meditation training, Monk Thirapol brings depth, clarity, and authenticity to the path of inner cultivation. He currently guides thousands of practitioners across Thailand through his online meditation sessions.
Known for his ability to translate profound practice into clear, practical methods, he empowers fellow monks to deepen their own realization while developing the skill to guide others with confidence and compassion. A rare opportunity to train with a teacher who not only practices deeply, but cultivates future meditation leaders.
Monk River Pavuddhabalo
Teaching Monk
Venerable River Pavuddhabalo Bhikkhu is an English Theravada Monk, with over 30 years of experience in meditation along with a four-year meditation retreat, he brings a wide and deep knowledge of meditation and Eastern Wisdom to his teachings. He has studied under Buddhist Adepts, Taoist Qigong Grandmasters, Yogic Swamis, Breatharians.
Recently re-ordained at Wat Ban Khun, Chiang Mai, Thailand, in July 2022 as a Theravada Buddhist Monk after a previous 10-year ordination was interrupted by health issues. He has taught meditation internationally and worked at world’s top spas mentoring and giving therapy and guiding meditation to countless CEOs and millionaires. Now simply enjoys the meditative life of a forest monk.
Stephanie Bianchi
Program Facilitator
Molecular Biologist and Neuroscientist devoted to exploring the deep connection between the brain, human behavior, and inner well-being. With a strong foundation in scientific research, she bridges the gap between modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom, offering a holistic understanding of the mind.
As a Mindfulness Trainer and Peace Leader, she translates complex science into simple, practical tools that empower people to cultivate clarity, emotional resilience, and lasting inner peace. Through her work, she supports individuals in navigating stress, enhancing self-awareness, and living with greater balance, purpose, and compassion.
TRAININGYour journey, your pace
Experience Thailand’s Most Sacred Temples
Led by senior monastic guides, this pilgrimage offers privileged access to Thailand’s most sacred and historically significant Buddhist temples. Participants receive in-depth teaching on lineage, symbolism, and spiritual significance, engaging with these revered sites from the perspective of disciplined practitioners rather than tourists. This rare immersion into the living heritage of Thai Buddhism provides a direct and personal encounter with the depth of an unbroken spiritual tradition.
Phanom Wan Historical Park
Prasat Hin Phanom Wan
An ancient Khmer temple complex in Nakhon Ratchasima, dating back to the 11th–12th century. Originally dedicated to Hinduism and later influenced by Buddhism, the site is known for its well-preserved sandstone structures and serene, historical atmosphere
Phimai Historical Park
One of Thailand’s largest and most important Khmer temples, dating back to the 11th–12th century. Located in Nakhon Ratchasima, the sanctuary was built as part of the ancient Khmer Empire and is uniquely aligned with Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The site reflects a blend of Hindu and Mahayana Buddhist influences, showcasing intricate sandstone carvings and impressive ancient architecture
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Places are limited to preserve the depth and authenticity of each cohort. Early application is encouraged.
| PROGRAM | LOCATION | START | FINISH |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #25 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 1 Nov 2026 | 30 Nov 2026 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #6 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 1 Dec 2026 | 21 Dec 2026 |
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #26 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 7 Mar 2027 | 5 Apr 2027 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #7 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 6 Apr 2027 | 30 Apr 2027 |
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #27 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 8 May 2027 | 6 Jun 2027 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #8 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 7 Jun 2027 | 30 Jun 2027 |
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #28 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 1 Jul 2027 | 30 Jul 2027 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #9 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 1 Aug 2027 | 30 Aug 2027 |
| MONK LIFE RAINS RETREAT #6 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 1 Jul 2027 | 15 Oct 2027 |
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #29 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 1 Sep 2027 | 30 Sep 2027 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #10 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 1 Oct 2027 | 30 Oct 2027 |
| MONK LIFE THAILAND #30 | iMONASTERY Chiang Mai | 1 Nov 2027 | 30 Nov 2027 |
| MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING #11 | iMONASTERY Pak Thong Chai | 1 Dec 2027 | 21 Dec 2027 |
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY
Ready to apply?
Places are limited to preserve the depth and authenticity of each cohort.
If you feel ready to step into this journey, you are welcome.
Limited places · Application required · Early application encouraged
