user10950: I was thinking about going to a retreat in thailand called suanmok and then I saw the picture of the bed. A straw mat and a tiny wooden pillow!!! why would they make people sleep like that?  It seems like torture to me and so I decided not to go. If the Buddha didn't believe in asceticism why do some monasteries and retreat centres?   At the very least I need to sleep comfortably when on retreat. I would just end up sleep deprived and grumpy and not be able to meditate properly anyway. I can't even sleep properly in my luxurious queen size bed with pillow top mattress most nights. Does anyone know of a more comfortable retreat?

user-1: You will be discouraged from indulging in sleep on most meditation retreats. If you stay with the schedule (waking up as early as 4:00 in the morning), you will find that the most sleep you can get is around 6 hours. Simple bedding motivates you to make the most of your sleeping hours and devote the rest of the time to practicing meditation.

user11009: "I can't even sleep properly in my luxurious queen size bed with pillow top mattress most nights."
"*****"
Here is the answer to your question. Sleep is nothing to with the luxury.

user11680: Wat Doi Suthep has 'normal' beds, hot showers as well. 
fivethousandyears.org
Two years ago I stayed at the monk side of Wat Chomtong. The bed was a high one. The shower was private but cold.
northernvipassana.org/en/

Last year I stayed at the tourist side of Wat Chomtong; the matras was thinner, the shower shared but hot. 


user254: Calling it "torture" and a "concentration camp" is obviously an exaggeration; and I read the Buddha's "not believing in asceticism" as meaning that people need enough food.
There might be something to say about the eighth precept (but I don't know what):

I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.

Perhaps your apparent astonishment is a matter of what you've been accustomed to. Dhammadattu's photographs remind me of a boarding school, army barrack, boy scout camp, youth hostel, and/or camping ground. The dormitory he showed looks to me more "luxurious" than camping (sleeping) in a tent is, which lots of people do (or did) just for a holiday; and a flush toilet is preferable to a "pit latrine".
If you're not used to it (from your past experiences) perhaps that's why it's surprising to you?
Maybe an analogy is sitting in the "lotus" position: that it's not a problem for people who are used to it. I don't think I can reach the "lotus" position, but sleep on a wood (or straw) surface is feasible.
As for "why would they make people sleep like that", apart from any Dharma-related (or health-related) reasons I expect it's practical: cheap, sufficient, no bed-bugs or mice, no linen to launder.
On this page, as Dhammadattu said, someone commented that they brought their own bedding, including a foamy mattress which they bought at a local market.

user8157: Google earth of meditation centre 


They also provide a piece of 'masonite' wood over the concrete bed.

You can take your own camping mattress & pillow. 
Since the retreat is catering mostly for backpackers, people turn up with their backpacks & whatever they are carrying in them, which they take into their room.
They don't have 'dhamma police' checking for camping mattresses the rooms. 
As for taking a bath, it is outdoor, communal, cold water, using a dish. 

As for toilets, generally squat (unless you can find a sit down, somewhere). 


In the good old days, we all piled into these old wooden dorms, sleep on the floor & use this old toilet in the forest. At least recently there is an individual wooden bed.


This old toilet location is circled in red, below. One of the most beautiful toilet in the world.

Better view:

Meditate with the white Buddha.



10950: <p>I was thinking about going to a retreat in thailand called suanmok and then I saw the picture of the bed. A straw mat and a tiny wooden pillow!!! why would they make people sleep like that?  It seems like torture to me and so I decided not to go. If the Buddha didn't believe in asceticism why do some monasteries and retreat centres?   At the very least I need to sleep comfortably when on retreat. I would just end up sleep deprived and grumpy and not be able to meditate properly anyway. I can't even sleep properly in my luxurious queen size bed with pillow top mattress most nights. Does anyone know of a more comfortable retreat?</p>
 -1: <p>You will be discouraged from indulging in sleep on most meditation retreats. If you stay with the schedule (waking up as early as 4:00 in the morning), you will find that the most sleep you can get is around 6 hours. Simple bedding motivates you to make the most of your sleeping hours and devote the rest of the time to practicing meditation.</p>
 11009: <p>"I can't even sleep properly in my luxurious queen size bed with pillow top mattress most nights."</p>

<p>"*****"</p>

<p>Here is the answer to your question. Sleep is nothing to with the luxury.</p>
 11680: <p>Wat Doi Suthep has 'normal' beds, hot showers as well. </p>

<p>fivethousandyears.org</p>

<p>Two years ago I stayed at the monk side of Wat Chomtong. The bed was a high one. The shower was private but cold.</p>

<p>northernvipassana.org/en/</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/lEl3O.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/lEl3O.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Last year I stayed at the tourist side of Wat Chomtong; the matras was thinner, the shower shared but hot. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ls9DZ.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ls9DZ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
 254: <p>Calling it "torture" and a "concentration camp" is obviously an exaggeration; and I read the Buddha's "not believing in <em>asceticism</em>" as meaning that people need enough <em>food</em>.</p>

<p>There might be something to say about the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/atthasila.html" rel="noreferrer">eighth precept</a> (but I don't know what):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Perhaps your apparent astonishment is a matter of what you've been accustomed to. Dhammadattu's photographs remind me of a boarding school, army barrack, boy scout camp, youth hostel, and/or camping ground. The dormitory he showed looks to me more "luxurious" than camping (sleeping) in a tent is, which lots of people do (or did) just for a holiday; and a flush toilet is preferable to a "pit latrine".</p>

<p>If you're not used to it (from your past experiences) perhaps that's why it's surprising to you?</p>

<p>Maybe an analogy is sitting in the "lotus" position: that it's not a problem for people who are used to it. I don't think I can reach the "lotus" position, but sleep on a wood (or straw) surface is feasible.</p>

<p>As for "why would they make people sleep like that", apart from any Dharma-related (or health-related) reasons I expect it's practical: cheap, sufficient, no bed-bugs or mice, no linen to launder.</p>

<p>On <a href="https://diaryofapilgrim.com/2013/04/08/wat-suan-mok/" rel="noreferrer">this page</a>, as Dhammadattu said, someone commented that they brought their own bedding, including a foamy mattress which they bought at a local market.</p>
 8157: <p>Google earth of meditation centre </p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ip0sL.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ip0sL.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/fW9yW.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/fW9yW.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>They also provide a piece of 'masonite' wood over the concrete bed.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/i9SLu.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/i9SLu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>You can take your own camping mattress &amp; pillow. </p>

<p>Since the retreat is catering mostly for backpackers, people turn up with their backpacks &amp; whatever they are carrying in them, which they take into their room.</p>

<p>They don't have '<em>dhamma police</em>' checking for camping mattresses the rooms. </p>

<p>As for taking a bath, it is outdoor, communal, cold water, using a dish. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Cp3iZ.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Cp3iZ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>As for toilets, generally squat (unless you can find a sit down, somewhere). </p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/UYa8W.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/UYa8W.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/6J8ii.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/6J8ii.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In the good old days, we all piled into these old wooden dorms, sleep on the floor &amp; use this old toilet in the forest. At least recently there is an individual wooden bed.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/9Yi32.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/9Yi32.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/FfeGW.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/FfeGW.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>This old toilet location is circled in red, below. One of the most beautiful toilet in the world.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/x608A.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/x608A.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Better view:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/dXwV8.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/dXwV8.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Meditate with the white Buddha.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/cdFqR.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/cdFqR.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/txRb2.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/txRb2.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
