Rim Rock Space Center

Meditation and Relaxation Retreat
Chiang Rai, northernmost Thailand
GPS coordinates: 19º 55' 56" N  by  99º 47' 49" E

Where we are on Google Maps

Rim Rock is a secluded rural retreat in northernmost Thailand. We're located 3 Km NW of Chiang Rai, a tourist town in northern Thailand. We're 1 Km north of a the Mae Kok river, and 70 minutes drive from both the Burmese and Laos borders.

When you get to Rim Rock, you're in a lovely small valley with no traffic. We command the apex of a large hill with innumerable boulders and trees strewn about, birds singing, and lovely views. Below is a brief video showing 220 degree view from center of Rim Rock universe.

There are camp sites at various places - some nestled between large boulders and others along grassy hillsides among grapefruit, avocado wild fig, and nut trees. There are also facilities, including an open air restaurant, restrooms, shower stalls, and several meditation alcoves. One of the larger meditation spots is an open-air roofed space which leans up against a house-sized boulder.

That boulder is called 'White Rock' even though it's shades of gray. The gray is actually a minutely thin covering (oxidation?), and if you take a rock in hand, and scratch any part of that boulder, it will show sparkly white crystals. Indeed, it's likely the entire house-sized rock is made of compacted white crystal, hence its name. 

Around that rock is a brick path - which can be used for 'kirtan.' Kirtan is an old Sanskrit word, roughly translated means: walking with others single file, while singing or chanting. So, what better place to partake in a kirtan, than in a pristine natural environment, walking around a large boulder of pure white crystal? 

In the evening, you might want to relax in hot tub, or join in with others around a fire circle. Vehicles are disallowed from driving up to the main area after dark, and they're discouraged from driving up any other time, except when it can't be avoided (for maintenance, etc) – in order to preserve the tranquil atmosphere ('bhav' in Sanskrit) of the secluded property.

Rising above Rim Rock's main area, along its entire east side, is a 200 meter long wall of limestone cliffs which soar a further 100 meters up. 

The main area affords expansive views from southeast to northwest (220 degrees) which stretch out for miles. When you see the sunset at a seashore, you see about three miles out to sea - a pleasant view, for sure. Yet, when you see a sunset from Rim Rock, you see it set beyond five miles of rolling hills - and that's from the main area. If you happen to trek up to the top of the rock face, the view becomes 360 degrees, and the sun sets beyond about 25 miles of undulating purple hills.

All in all, Rim Rock is shaping up as a tranquil and secluded place for relaxing, meditation, and yoga. Located near Chiang Rai in northernmost Thailand, Rim Rock offers a unique space for freeing oneself from life's patterns and constrictions.

 

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This bumper sticker shown below is available free for the asking. Just send an email with your post address, and a promise to stick it where people will see it (vehicle bumper, or .....?), and we'll send you one (or more, if requested). 

 

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Rim Rock 'Way Stations'

Choose your own personal path at Rim Rock

We're at the early stages of developing what's on offer at Rim Rock, but we're gearing toward assisting visitors with one of more of the following options. Each of the categories mentioned below are inter-related, so picking one to focus upon doesn't preclude the others. 

The items mentioned below are more like 'way-stations' along the life's path, rather than required check points. And like a buffet, you can pick as many or as few as you like, and tarry as long or as briefly as you like at each 'way station' - though it's recommended you follow the sequence, if you choose to focus on more than one item.

1. Cleansing and Juice Fasts

Some people need to detox from years of indulgence. Others need to simply continue their on-going process of cleansing their body and glands. Regardless of whether or not you've been living a clean life, chances are you can benefit from additional cleansing.  Each person who chooses to focus on this option is dealt with on an individual basis - in order to gauge which type of fasting regimen is recommended for that individual. The emphasis at Rim Rock, is on cleansing at safe and comfortable levels, so as not to release too much stuff - too quick for the body to comfortably deal with.

2. Lessen or Eradicate Addictions

We often hear, in news reports, about drug addictions, but there are many other addictions which affect people from all walks of life. Addictions are basically things or concepts which, if a person is deprived of them, they cause that person serious anxiety or withdrawals. One addiction which is growing by leaps and bounds is, not surprisingly, addiction to computers and internet. At Rim Rock, we use a gentle combination of methods to assist those who choose to lessen their addictive habits.

3. Lessen Attachments

Not only is lessening attachments a basic premise of Buddhism, it's also a great tool for improving one's life, whether one gives a hoot about Buddhism or not. All people have attachments to things, whether they be physical attachments, like tangible possessions or conceptual attachments, like needing to be admired. The number of common attachments is as limitless, as their eradication is satisfying.

4. Less Stress and Anxiety

Pretty much everyone has stress and anxiety to some degree. There are tangible things that each individual can to lessen such things. Not surprisingly, they relate to the topics mentioned above. So, even if you come to experience Rim Rock without partaking in any particular program, we can almost guarantee that just by being here, will alleviate some measure of stress and anxiety. You've got to see it to believe it.

5. Developing Personal Creativity

Think back to your most enjoyable moments. Chances are, some of those experiences were probably when you were younger, and doing creative things. Arts and crafts can obviously be creative, but there's a wealth of other ways to express one's creativity. At Rim Rock, the sky's the limit, with music, hiking, music, dance, meditation being just some of the ways to express one's creativity.  Kirtan is a Sanskrit word for 'walking single file with others while singing or chanting' - and kirtans are yet another way to squeeze some more enjoyment out of being.

6. Towards Spiritual Enlightenment

At Rim Rock, we have a sort of 'patron saint' though we try not to get dogmatic about it (don't want to have our karma run over our dogma). His name is Milarepa, and he can be described as; 'a Tibetan singer of spiritual poems who roamed the Himalayas 900 years ago.' Some, who are familiar with his story, consider him a living Buddha. Among other things, Milarepa was a supreme master of meditation, who walled himself in to mountain caves and fasted for years on end. We won't go that far at Rim Rock, but we can look to Milarepa for inspiration.

7. Giving Back

It's all well and good to improve one's physical and mental condition, yet there should be some degree of balance involved. A sort of 'giving back' or 'sharing' the insight gained from one's journey of self-improvement. The old saying; 'tis better to give than to receive' rings as true today as when it was first spoken.

Rates for lodging and seminars offered at Rim Rock

 

 

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Do-Wop Harmony Workshop

Have you ever seen anyone singing in a do-wop group who's not having fun?

For those who aren't clear on the concept of Do-Wop, it's a type of music made popular in the 1950's, usually a-capella (voices only), and rich with harmony and rhythm. It may surprise you that do-wop can be sung by anyone, though obviously some are more adept than others. Even if you consider yourself tone-deaf, there is hope in the do-wop universe, though you'll probably not aspire to the sound of the Marcels (one of do-wop's best groups).

Sharing vocal harmony, rhythm, having an enjoyable time, those are just some of the facets of singing do-wop with others. I'll be facilitating

I've been singing do-wop since before my teenage years. If you've done some do-wop before, you'll have a taste for the joy of it. If not, it's guaranteed you'll get the hang of it, and you won't regret it. Unless the group we're working with at Rim Rock is already experienced do-wop singers, we'll likely start off with relatively easy songs like the Do-Ron-Ron (Crystals) or Speedo (Cadillacs), or Duke of Earl (Gene Chandler).

Do-Wop can encompass songs other than the classics of the 1950's and 60's. Indeed, many songs which pre-date, or came about after the mid-20th century can be adapted to do-wop with great affect. Also, if someone in the group wants to introduce a song, we'll consider that.

We start by gauging each person's musical abilities and experience. As mentioned above, even if a person has limited musical abilities or scant familiarity with do-wop, we'll find ways to be inclusive. If a person is totally tone-deaf, well, maybe we'll find him a washboard for playing a rhythm track accompinament.

We'll practice singing some harmonies. Usually a harmony is added above, whereas other times it can be added below the primary melody. Along with that, we'll start on one of more of the simpler songs, usually in the first session. In the course of subsequent sessions, we'll see how far the group can progress. We may get to more challenging songs like 'For The Longest Time' (Billy Joel) or the riveting 'BLue Moon' (Marcels). Either way, it's guaranteed you'll have a blast.

facilitator: Ken Albertsen

 

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Free E-book for filling out our brief survey

Just a few questions, to gauge what interests you - in regards to your personal spiritual growth. Click here

For taking the brief survey, you get the choice of one of three ebooks written by Ken the proprietor of Rim Rock Retreat:

1. Fasting For Health and Highness
2. Life Story of Milarepa
3. Farmsteading in Thailand

For a full list of Ken's books, go to http://www.adventure1.com

 

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Related sites:

Boomerang Rock Climbing and Adventure Park
http://thailandrocks.com

Books written by Ken Albertsen
http://www.adventure1.com

Work Exchange and Home Stay
http://www.wonderfull.com

Ancient kilns found at the Boomerang site
http://www.thailandrocks.com/kilns.htm

Yoga & Meditation Retreat
http://chiangraiyoga.com

 

 

Rim Rock Retreat

Rim Rock Meditation Retreat Thailand